The Horikawa school, established by Kunihiro in Kyoto's Ichijo Horikawa district around 1599, marks the dawn of the Shinto sword era. Kunihiro, born a samurai in Hyuga Province, wandered Japan as a swordsmith after the fall of his lord's clan. His synthesis of Soshu-den aesthetics with innovative techniques produced a revolutionary style that influenced virtually all subsequent Shinto schools. Called "the greatest educator in sword history," Kunihiro trained students who founded the Osaka Shinto tradition (Kunisada, Kunisuke), the Echizen tradition (Kunikiyo), and many others. The school's output includes some of the finest Shinto-period blades, with Kunihiro himself rated Sai-jo saku.