-, 45th Session — Designated October 29, 1999
, : Tango no Kami Kanemichi (丹後守兼道)
Measurements 76.05 cm, 2.05 cm, 3.15 cm, 2.25 cm, 3.8 cm, 22.6 cm, slight
Description Keijō: , ; wide and slightly long in overall proportion; noticeable taper from base to tip; comparatively wide for the blade width; thick ; with a sense of ; deep curvature with ; with a tendency toward -nobi. : Tight with mixed; fine (surface martensite) adheres; fine (dark steel lines) appear. : ; above that, in a rather wide tempering width, a small is interposed, and alternating groups of paired and triple are repeated to form a tōran (rolling-wave) style; enter long and well; the is deep, and attaches thickly; overall, fine (sweeping lines) runs throughout, and on the around the middle portion a long (lightning-like line) appears; the is bright. : Tempered rather deeply, running straight and turning back in with a long return; the tip shows slight (brushed effect). : None. : ; tip ; filemarks with finish; two ; beneath the , toward the side, there is a boldly cut five-character signature.
Artisan Nidai Tango no Kami Kanemichi (二代 丹後守兼道)
Era period, around the Jōkyō–Genroku era (late 17th century)
Explanation The second-generation Tango no Kami Kanemichi was the son of the first-generation Tango no Kami Kanemichi, and his common name is said to have been Kiheiji. Tradition holds that during the Genroku era he also made swords in . Dated works by the second generation are few among those extant; however, examples occasionally encountered bear dates from Genroku and Hōei, which allows one to broadly discern his period of activity.
The father, the first-generation Kanemichi, is commonly said to have been the second son of Kyō nidai Tanba no Kami Yoshimichi, and he styled himself Kichibee. Dated works by the first generation are likewise extremely rare, with only a very small number bearing dates. Many works by the first generation have a chrysanthemum crest and the character “” cut in below the ; this is not seen in the second generation’s work. In addition, their styles differ: whereas the first generation frequently produced (“bamboo-blind” ) and mixed with a -like flavor—techniques that may be called his hallmark—the second generation took a different approach, producing (in styles not seen in the first generation) -toned works with deep , as well as flamboyant tōran-style like the present example, reflecting the vogue of Ōsaka of the time.
This is a work by the second generation. It shows a tightly forged with the at the base in ; above that, in a rather broad tempering width, a small is inserted, and paired and triple are alternated in repeated sequence, creating a rolling-wave effect. The are long and enter well; the is deep; thick adheres; fine runs overall; long appears; and the is bright—together presenting a notably accomplished workmanship. As described above, a major hallmark of this smith’s tōran style lies in beginning with , then alternating paired and triple (with small interposed) and repeating this blade pattern; this sword displays precisely that style and is a textbook example, and moreover shows an especially outstanding result among his works.
In addition, the blade presents a shape with wide , deep curvature, and an elongated . This type of is frequently seen in the work of smiths around the Jōkyō and Genroku eras, and thus the itself displays contemporaneous features. Further, the slightly long length together with a thick gives an imposing, powerfully forceful impression.







































