IMPORTANT KOTO ERA SWORDSMITHS

Emperor Gotoba was the 82nd Emperor of Japan from 1184 to 1198. He was also an ardent student of the sword. When he retired, he summoned some of the major swordsmiths of the time to work at his palace forge and to teach him the techniques of making and tempering swords. He became a fine swordsmith in his own right. Gotoba had the top swordsmiths of the day as his teachers and they were recognized as among the top swordsmiths of the Koto era. The swordsmiths were summoned to work with the retired Emperor for one month during the year. The following list of the Goban Kaji give the month in which the smith was in attendance to the Emperor and the sword making tradition in which the smith worked. (Some references will give different months or dates as the Japanese calendar does not match that of the West.)

Masamune worked in Sagami Province during the last part of the Kamakura Era (1288 - 1328) and is undoubtedly the most reknown Japanese swordsmith of all time. All of his blades are considered National Treasures. During his career several noted swordsmiths came to study with him; they are now noted as some of the finest swordsmiths of all time. The Masamune Jittetsu were already well established swordsmiths who worked in their own tradition as well as studying the techniques of Masamune. Masamune's adopted son, Sadamune succeeded him as master of the Soshu tradition of sword making.