Tokyo Kindai Tosho (1867-1945)
Copyright by
Chris Bowen
Tokura 1014-6
Mishima, Shizuoka 411
Japan
The following index contains the names and student/teacher
relationships of Tokyo kindai tosho. Also included are the
names of some smiths who continued working after the war; some
are still active. Smiths who worked predominately in the
shinshinto period are not included. Formally organized schools
or groups are also listed.
This information is constantly being updated and expanded.
However, any future additions will undoubtedly be obscure and
rather mundane smiths whose production was either nil or of poor
quality. If the readership should have information which
superceeds the following, or adds to it, please do me the favor
of contacting me and letting me know.
This list forms the skeleton of a book I am currently writing.
If by chance you should have a blade by any of the following
smiths, especially the more obscure smiths, please send me
details of the blade and an oshigata.
I have tried very hard to check, cross-check, and re-check the
following information. However, errors are bound to surface.
Should you find any, please feel free to call me nasty names,
but in the end, let me know the error of my ways...
I. Nihon To Tanren Denshujo (日本鍛練伝習場) and the Nihon To
Gakuin (日本刀学院)
The Nihon To Tanren Denshujo was located in Akasaka, Hikawa-cho,
on the grounds of the estate of Kurihara Hikosaburo, who was a
member of the National Diet, as well as an amateur swordsmith.
He had a deep interest in nihonto from an early age, and after
several attempts, finally secured enough financial backing to
open the Denshujo on July 5, Showa 8. In Showa 16, for a
variety of reasons, the school closed and a new academy, the
Nihon To Gakuin, was opened on the grounds of the Imperial
Army's facility in Zama (Sobudai), Kanagawa Prefecture. The
following smiths are associated with the Denshujo and/or the
Gakuin. Full-time smiths were all given the meiji 'Aki' (昭)
by Akihide. Several others were students of Kasama Shigetsugu,
who was the head teacher in Showa 9-10. These students used
'Tsugu' in their mei. The teacher-student relationship is often
indistinct at the Denshujo and at the Gakuin because often
students studied under more than one teacher. Although it is
said that Akihide wasn't a professional swordsmith and wasn't
trained to produce swords independently from start to finish, he
made a specialty out of yaki-ire, and tempered many blades made
by others. Out of respect, he is referred to as a 'teacher'.
The second half of this group trained at the Nihon To Gakuin.
Both students and student's students are listed. (NOTE: **
denotes a part-time student):
1. Akihide (昭秀)/ Hikosaburo (彦三郎)
1.1. Akitomo (昭友)
1.2. Akimune (昭宗)
1.3. Akifusa (昭房)
1.4. Akihira (昭平)/ Yukihira (行平)
1.5. Akitoshi (昭寿)
1.6. Akikuni (昭国)
1.7. Akitsugu (昭次) / Akimasa (昭聖)
1.8. Akiyoshi (昭嘉)
1.9. Akimori (昭守)/ Morikuni (守国)
1.10. Akihiro (昭広)
1.11. Akihisa (昭久)
1.12. Akinobu (昭信)
1.13. Akimasa (昭正)
1.14. Masanori (将応)
1.15. Akitoshi (昭俊)
1.16. Akikane (昭兼)/ Mitsukane (光兼)/ Munefusa (宗房)
1.17. Akiyasu (昭康)
1.18. Akizane (昭真)
1.19. Akikiyo (昭清)
1.20. Shigechika (重親) **
1.21. Akinori (昭則)
1.21.1. Shigehide (重秀) / Hifumi (一二三)
1.22. Akimori (昭盛)/ Munetsugu (宗継)
1.23. Akitsugu (昭継)/ Tsugukiyo (継清)
1.23.1. Akihiro (昭広)/ Tsuguhiro (継広)
1.24. Akimitsu (昭光)
1.24.1. Akitsugu (昭次)
1.25. Akisada (昭貞)
1.26. Akitaka (昭孝)
1.27. Akitaka (昭隆)
1.28. Akimasa (昭正)
1.29. Masakiyo (正清) **
1.29.1. Masaryu(正留)
1.29.2. Masakane (正兼)
1.29.3. Masakatsu (正勝)
1.30. Kunitoshi (国俊) **
1.31. Tadayoshi (忠善) **
1.32. Kunimitsu (国光) **
1.33. Masatsugu (正次) **
1.33.1. Tadataka (忠孝)
1.33.2. Tadahisa (忠久)
1.34. Yoshisaku (善作) **
1.35. Akitoshi (昭利)
1.36. Akitake (昭武)
1.37. Akimichi (昭道)
1.38. Tadashi (タダシ) **
1.39. Tosuke (東助) **
1.40. Akifuku (昭福)
1.40.1. Akihisa (昭久) /Akimasa (昭正)
1.41. Akiyuki (昭行)
1.42. Akikuni (昭国)
1.43. Akikuni (昭国)
1.44. Akiyoshi (昭吉)/ Yoshikane (吉包)
1.44.1. Akiyoshi (昭吉)
1.44.2. Sadatomo (貞友)
1.44.3. Yoshikane (吉包)
1.44.4. Kunimitsu (国光)
1.44.5. Noriyoshi (徳吉)
1.44.6. Yoshichika (義近)
1.45. Akimichi (昭道)
1.46. Akitomi (昭富)
1.47. Akimaro (昭麿)
1.48. Akiyoshi (昭良)
1.49. Akitake (昭武) / Yoshihiro (義弘)
1.50. Kunitake (国威) **
1.51. Kuniyoshi(国慶) **
1.52. Morikuni (守国) **
1.53. Kazuyuki (一行) **
1.54. Kaneshige (兼重) **
1.55. Chikahide (親秀) **
1.56. Mitsuhiro (光広) **
1.57. Kunimitsu (国光) **
1.58. Morikuni (守国) **
1.58.1. Masamichi (正道)
1.59. Teruhide (輝秀) / (輝日天) **
1.60. Mitsunori (光矩) **
1.61. Masafusa (正房) **
1.62. Yoshifusa (吉房) / Yoshihisa (吉久) **
1.63. Tsuneharu (常治) **
1.64. Terumasa (照正) **
II. Ikkansai Ke (一貫斎)
The following swordsmiths are considered to be members of the
Ikkansai group. The first 5 mainline smiths usually included
'Ikkansai' in their signatures.
1. Shigetoshi (繁寿)
1.1. Masatoshi (正寿) / Masafusa (正房)
1.1.1. Motohiro (基広)
1.1.1.1. Masamoto (正基)
1.1.2. Shigetsugu (繁継) / Masateru (正輝)
1.1.2.1. Toshihiro (寿広) / Yasuhiro (靖広) /
Kunimori (国護)
1.1.2.1.1. Tsunatoshi (恒寿) / Toshimune
(寿宗)
1.1.2.1.2. Uju (宇寿)
1.1.2.1.3. Kamikuni (神国)
1.1.2.1.4. Chikafusa (親房)
1.1.2.1.5. Mitsuhiro (光広)
1.1.2.1.6. ? (林幸太郎)
1.1.2.1.7. Masatoshi (正寿) / Hiromoto
(広元)
1.1.2.1.8. Mitsuyasu (光保) **
1.1.2.2. Shigemasa (繁正) / (繁政)
1.1.2.2.1. Masayuki (政幸)
1.1.2.2.2. Masatsune (正恒)
1.1.2.2.3. Ichibun (一文)
1.1.2.3. Masataka (正尊) / Noriaki (徳顕)
1.1.2.4. Okimasa (起正)
1.1.2.4.1. Masaaki (正和)
1.1.2.4.2. Kiyoaki (清和)
1.1.2.4.3. Masasumi (正澄)
1.1.2.4.4. Yoshiaki (喜昭) / Masamitsu
(正光)
1.1.2.4.5./1.1.2.1.7. Masatoshi (正寿) /
Hiromoto (広元)
****The following students studied under Kasama Shigetsugu at
the Denshujo. Also listed are these student's students:
1.1.2.5. Kuniiye (国家)
1.1.2.5.1. Masasane (正真)
1.1.2.5.2.. Kuninobu (国展)
1.1.2.5.3. Kuniyasu (国安)/ Kunitoshi
(国寿)
1.1.2.5.4. Yoshimitsu (吉光)
1.1.2.5.5. Shoji (荘二) / Kuniiye (国家)
1.1.2.5.6 Yoshindo (義人)
1.1.2.6. Akitomo (昭友)
1.1.2.6.1. Tomomaro (友麿)
1.1.2.6.1.1. Sukefusa (助房)
1.1.2.6.2. Tomohide (友秀) / Sukehide
(介秀)
1.1.2.6.3. Sadatomo (貞友)
1.1.2.6.4. Mitsuyasu (光保) **
1.1.2.7. Akimune (昭宗)
1.1.2.7.1. Munetsugu (宗次)
1.1.2.8. Akihisa (昭久)
1.1.2.9. Akifusa (昭房)
1.1.2.10. Munetsugu (宗継)/ Akimori (昭盛)
1.1.2.11. Tsugukiyo (継清)/ Akitsugu (昭継)
1.1.2.11.1. Tsuguhiro (継弘)
1.1.2.12. Munetoshi (宗利)/ Munehide (宗秀)
Hidemune (秀宗)
1.1.2.13. Tsuguyasu (継康)
1.1.2.14. Tsuguyoshi (継義)
1.1.2.15. Kanetsugu (兼継)
1.1.2.16. Tsugunobu (継延)/ Kaneharu (兼春)
1.1.2.17. Tsugumasa (継政)
1.1.2.18. Teruhide (輝秀)
1.1.2.18.1. Teruyoshi (輝吉) / Teruhide
(輝日天) (Teruhideﾕs younger brother)
1.1.2.18.1.2. Teruiye (輝家)
1.1.2.18.2. Terukatsu (輝勝)
1.1.2.18.3. Yoshiteru (義輝)
1.1.2.18.4. Terumitsu (輝光)
III. Nihon To Tanren Kai (日本刀鍛錬会)
These are the smiths who worked at the Yasukuni Shrine, and
their students. The Nihonto Tanrenkai opened on the grounds of
the Yasukuni Shrine, in Kudanshita, Tokyo, in Showa 8. Under
the sponsorship of the Imperial Army, smiths produced swords for
graduates of the Army's Officer's Academy. The army conferred
the kanji 'Yasu', from the shrine, on the smiths upon
commencement of production. Some 8000 swords were produced by
this group during the period from Showa 8-20.
1. Yasuhiro (靖広)
1.1. Shigemasa (繁正)/ Shigemasa (繁政)
2. Yasunori (靖徳) / Ujimasa (氏正)/ Takenori (武徳)/ Masamune
(正宗)
2.1. Yasunori (靖憲)/ Takenori (武憲)
2.1.1. Yasuharu (靖春) / Yasuyoshi (靖吉)
2.1.2. Masatada (正忠) / Michimasa (道正)
2.1.3. Masataka (正孝) / Morimitsu (森光) / Masamitsu
(正光)
2.2. Yasutoshi (靖利)
2.3. Yasuoki (靖興) / Yasuoki (靖典)
3. Yasumitsu (靖光)/ Kazumitsu (一光)
3.1. Yasunobu (靖延)
3.1.1. Suketoshi (助寿) / Toshimitsu (寿光)
3.2. Yasushige (靖繁)
3.3. Yasutake (靖武)
3.3.1. Tsunamitsu (恒光)
3.4. Yasuaki (靖要)
IV. The Tokiwamatsu Tanren Kenkyu Jo (党盤松鍛練研究場)
This forge was located on the estate of ultranationalist Toyama
Mitsuru. Smiths who made swords here part-time include the
following:
1. Shigetsugu (繁継)
2. Akihiro (昭広)
3. Toshihiro (寿広)
4. Okimasa (起正)
V. Hanazawa Tanren Jo (羽沢鍛練場) and the Horii (堀井) Group
The Hanazawa Tanrenjo was opened in the late Meiji period and
operated until the late Taisho period. The following list
includes smiths from the Hanazawa Tanrenjo and their students:
1. Horii Taneyoshi (胤吉) / Yoshiaki (吉文)
1.1. Horii Taneaki (胤明)
1.1.1. Horii Toshihide (俊秀) / Kaneaki (兼明) /
Hideaki (秀明)
1.1.2. Kurihara Akihide (昭秀)
1.1.3. Masakuni (真国) / Nobuaki (信明)
1.1.3.1. Masayoshi (正義) / Sukeyasu (祐康)
1.1.3.2. Sukehiro (祐弘) / Sukemitsu (祐光)
1.1.3.2.1. Suketsune (祐恒) / Sukekuni
(祐国)
1.1.3.3. Kuniyoshi (国芳)
1.1.3.4. ? (藤田五三郎)
1.1.4. Sukekuni (祐国) / Toshiaki (寿明)
1.1.4.1. Tsuneyasu (恒康)
1.1.4.1.1. Suketsune (祐恒) / Sukekuni
(祐国)
1.1.4.2. ? (池田？吉)
1.1.5. Kanekuni (兼国) / Yoshiaki (良明)
1.1.5.1. Kanekuni (兼国) / Masahira (真平)
1.1.5.1.1. Kanekuni (兼国)
1.1.5.2. Kuniaki (国明)
1.1.6. Muneaki (宗明)
1.1.7. Yasuaki (保明)
1.1.8. Masatada (正忠)
1.2. Tanekatsu (胤勝)
1.3. Tanetsugu (胤次)
1.4. Yoshisumi (吉澄)
2. Ukoh (羽皐) (amateur)
VI. The Okura Tanrenjo (小倉鍛練所)
The following smiths produced swords at the Okura Tanrenjo,
which was located on the grounds of the estate of the Baron
Okura:
1. Kunimori (国護) / Toshihiro (寿広) / Yasuhiro (靖広)
1.1. Masatoshi (正寿) / Hiromoto (広元)
2. Shigemasa (繁正)
3. Akinori (昭則)
VII. The Hayama Enshin Ke (羽山円心家)
The following smiths were members of the Hayama group in Tokyo:
1. Jounsai Hayama Enshin (浄雲斎羽山円真) / Masahiro
(正寛)
1.1. Hayama Enshin (羽山円心) / Masahiro (正寛)
1.2. Hayama Masasane (羽山正真)
1.3. Masahiro (正寛)
1.4. Hiromasa (寛赤)
1.5. Taizo (対蔵)
1.6. Masafusa (正房) **
VIII. The Sakurai Ke (桜井家)
The following smiths were members of the Tokyo Sakurai group:
1. Sakurai Masatsugu (桜井正次)
1.1. Masayuki (正幸)/Masatsuna (正綱)
1.2. Masayo (正世)
1.3. Torasaku (虎作)
1.4. Masamichi (正道)
1.5. Maiko (舞子) / Shigesuke (稠助) / Hidemaru
(日出丸) (amateur)
IX. Kanenori Ke (包則家)
The following smiths belong to the Minamoto Kanenori group:
1. Kanenori (包則) / Toshiie (寿家)
1.1. Kanesada (包貞)
1.2. Kaneharu (包治)
1.3. Kanemitsu (包光)
1.4. Morioka Masayoshi (森岡正吉)
X. Tsuchino Ke (土野家)
The following smiths are members of the Tsuchino group in
Saitama Prefecture:
1. Naotaka (直孝)
2. Naohiro (直弘)
2.1. Naohiro (直弘)
2.2. Naohiro(直弘)
2.2.1. Naohiro (直弘)
2.3. Masayuki (正幸)
2.3.1. Akinobu (昭信) **
(Masayukiﾕs son-in-law)
2.4. Masayoshi (昌喜)
XI. Yoshichika Ke (良近)
The following smiths are members of the Yoshichika group:
1. Yoshichika (良近)
1.1. Nidai Yoshichika (良近)
1.2. Sukeyuki (介之)
1.3. Kiyonosuke (神之助)
1.4. Yoshiharu (義治)
XII. Koishikawa Hohei Kojo (小石川砲兵工所)
These smiths worked in the Imperial Army's arsenal factory in
Koishikawa. Sometimes the blades have a kokuin composed of
three interlocking circles.
1. Morioka Masayoshi (正吉)
2. Nidai Yokoyama Sukekane (祐包)
2.1. Sukekazu (祐一)
3. Mitsuhira (光平)
4. Kanehira (兼平)/ Nihei (仁平) (kodai Inaba
Kanesaki-brother of Mitsuhira?)
5. Tsuneyoshi (経芳) (Murata blade inventor)
XIII. Tokyo Dai Ichi Rikugun Zoheisho (東京第一陸軍造兵廠)
These smiths made swords at the Imperial Army's arsenal factory
in Akabane, Tokyo (1943-45). These swords are usually inscribed
'Tokyo Dai Ichi Rikugun Zoheisho'. Others may have also worked
here on a part-time basis.
1. Nobutaka (宣威)
2. Kanemasa (兼正)
3. Katsunobu (勝信)
4. Morikuni (守国)
XIV. Other
The following smiths include:
1. Those working in the late Bakumatsu period on into the Meiji
Period.
2. Smiths not formally affiliated with any of the above groups
who nonetheless made swords in Tokyo.
3. Smiths which have not yet been proven to be connected with
any of the above groups.
Akimi (昭美) (Denshujo?)
Akitaka (昭高) (Denshujo?)
Akiyuki (昭通) (Denshujo?)
Genji (源次)
Hisahiro (久弘)
Hidetoshi (秀俊)
Hidemori (英守)
Hirotsugu (広次)/ Hirotsugu (寛次) ( Sokanﾕs son )
Hironaga (寛長) (Enshin ?)
Hisayoshi (久義)
Ishinsai (一心斎)
Kiyokane (清兼) (Denshujo?)
Kunihide (国秀) ((kodai Tsunatoshi)
Kunimitsu (国光)
Kunimune (国宗)
Kunihiro (国博)
Kunitada (国忠)
Kunitaka (国隆)
Korehide (是秀) (kodai Tsunatoshi)
Korekazu (是一) (kodai Korekazu)
Kunimasa (国和)
Masatada (正周) ( Suzuki Masaoﾕs group)
Masanori (正則) (Joukeishi Masaakiﾕs student)
Masakazu (正一)
Masanobu (正与)/Masataka (政賢)
Masayoshi (政善)
Masatsuna (聖綱)
Masasuke (正助)
Mitsukazu (光一)
Miyotaro (三代太郎)
Morikuni (盛国)
Morimichi (守道)
Moritoshi (盛俊) ( Kurihara Nobuhideﾕs student)
Morotaka (師敬)
Muneshige (宗重)
Nanta (楠太)
Nankoku (南国)
Naokatsu (直勝)/ Naomune (直諒) (Sandai Naokatsu; Naomune is
early mei)
Naohide (直秀) (Naokatsuﾕs student; Naotane group)
Naohiro (直広)
Naotake (尚武)
Noriyuki (則行)
Saneoki (真興)
Saneyoshi (真義) (Kato Ichitaro (加藤一太郎); Hanazawa
Tanrenjo?)
Sanezumi (真澄)
Senshu (仙綉)
Shizukuni (鎮国)
Sukenobu (祐信)
Tadakazu (忠和)
Takaoki (高興)
Takeshi (武)
Tokiyoshi (時吉)
Tsuguesuke (継え助)
Ujiyori (氏白)
Yasufusa (康房)
Yasushige (康重) (12th generation Shitahara)
Yasumoto (康元)
Yoshisaburo (与三郎)
Yoshihiro (義広)
Yoshisada (義定)
Youichiro (興一郎)
Yoshitame (義為)