Osafune

A Bitchu Province school active from late Heian through Nanbokucho. Known for chirimen-hada and refined workmanship.

A prestigious Yamashiro school in Kyoto, active from late Heian through Kamakura. Known for refined tanto and elegant workmanship.

A Higo Province school active from Kamakura through Muromachi. Known for Yamato-influenced work.

Imperial smiths; the select group of master swordsmiths summoned by retired Emperor Go-Toba in the early 13th century to forge swords under his personal instruction at the imperial court.

The Five Traditions; the main sword-making schools (Yamashiro, Yamato, Bizen, Soshu, Mino).

A Yamato school near Hatakeda. Known for masame-heavy forging patterns.

A Shinto-era Yamashiro school, founded by Horikawa Kunihiro. Active in early Edo period.

The Hōshō school of Yamato Province, based in Takaichi District from the late Kamakura into the Nanbokuchō period, known for masame-hada throughout the blade.

One-character; famous Bizen school signing with the character 'ichi'.

Old Aoe; early Bitchu school work.

Old Bizen; early Bizen school work before Ichimonji.

Old Hōki; the earliest swordsmiths of Hōki Province, led by Yasutsuna, active from the late Heian into the early Kamakura period.