Japanese sword schools

Every major school of Japanese sword and fittings makers. Browse by tradition, province, or domain. Sub-schools and lineages are reachable through their parent school or the search box.

147 schools

Osafune School

長船
Bizen-den·Bizen
2,210Designated
15 Kokuhō122 Jūbun225 TokuJū1,632 Jūyō

Ichimonji School

一文字
Bizen-den·Bizen·c. Late Heian (c. 1180)
880Designated
17 Kokuhō66 Jūbun122 TokuJū543 Jūyō

Rai School

Yamashiro-den·Yamashiro·c. 1259
806Designated
10 Kokuhō57 Jūbun109 TokuJū538 Jūyō

Soshu School

相州
Soshu-den·Sagami
723Designated
15 Kokuhō52 Jūbun135 TokuJū456 Jūyō

Goto School

後藤
Goto-iebori·Yamashiro·c. Muromachi
707Designated
3 Jūbun37 TokuJū662 Jūyō

Aoe School

青江
Bizen-den·Bitchu·c. Late Heian (c. 987)
655Designated
4 Kokuhō39 Jūbun76 TokuJū464 Jūyō

Horikawa School

堀川
Shinto·Yamashiro·c. 1599
515Designated
16 Jūbun23 TokuJū444 Jūyō

Hizen Tadayoshi School

肥前忠吉
Shinto·Hizen
513Designated
1 Jūbun23 TokuJū469 Jūyō

Ko-Bizen School

古備前
Bizen-den·Bizen
485Designated
12 Kokuhō55 Jūbun72 TokuJū244 Jūyō

Sa School

Soshu-den·Chikuzen·c. late Kamakura
344Designated
5 Kokuhō17 Jūbun42 TokuJū255 Jūyō

Yokoya School

横谷
Edo-machibori·Edo·c. early Edo
335Designated
4 Jūbun20 TokuJū295 Jūyō

Awataguchi School

粟田口
Yamashiro-den·Yamashiro
309Designated
10 Kokuhō46 Jūbun52 TokuJū147 Jūyō

Taima School

当麻
Yamato-den·Yamato
286Designated
1 Kokuhō2 Jūbun12 TokuJū267 Jūyō

Ukai School

鵜飼
Bizen-den·Bizen
276Designated
13 Jūbun11 TokuJū224 Jūyō

Edo Period School

江戸時代
Period-attribution·c. Edo
260Designated
1 Jūbun9 TokuJū250 Jūyō

Higo Kinko School

肥後金工
Higo-kinko·Higo·c. Momoyama
260Designated
3 Jūbun6 TokuJū243 Jūyō

Mihara School

三原
Yamato-den·Bingo·c. Late Kamakura (c. 1278)
255Designated
1 Jūbun7 TokuJū227 Jūyō

Enju School

延寿
Yamashiro-den·Higo
243Designated
7 Jūbun17 TokuJū202 Jūyō

Seki School

Mino-den·Mino
235Designated
4 TokuJū217 Jūyō

Senjuin School

千手院
Yamato-den·Yamato
226Designated
2 Kokuhō3 Jūbun18 TokuJū192 Jūyō

Osaka Shinto School

大坂新刀
Shinshinto·Settsu
211Designated
1 Jūbun9 TokuJū194 Jūyō

Tegai School

手掻
Yamato-den·Yamato
191Designated
1 Kokuhō5 Jūbun8 TokuJū163 Jūyō

Nara School

奈良
Nara-kinko·Edo·c. Kanbun (1661)
181Designated
8 Jūbun13 TokuJū136 Jūyō

Naoe Shizu School

直江志津
Mino-den·Mino
176Designated

Sukehiro School

助広
Shinto·Settsu·c. 1648-1681
171Designated
1 Jūbun11 TokuJū149 Jūyō

Hatakeda School

畠田
Bizen-den·Bizen
168Designated
18 Jūbun14 TokuJū112 Jūyō

Nobukuni School

信国
Yamashiro-den·Yamashiro
166Designated
7 Jūbun10 TokuJū138 Jūyō

Shizu School

志津
Mino-den·Mino
163Designated
6 Jūbun19 TokuJū129 Jūyō

Kotetsu School

虎徹
Shinto·Musashi·c. 1644-1681
155Designated
5 Jūbun8 TokuJū128 Jūyō

Shimosaka School

下坂
Shinto·Echizen·c. 1596-1716
149Designated
2 Jūbun12 TokuJū115 Jūyō

Shikkake School

尻懸
Yamato-den·Yamato
148Designated
5 Jūbun9 TokuJū128 Jūyō

Hasebe School

長谷部
Soshu-den·Yamashiro·c. 1334
146Designated
1 Kokuhō10 Jūbun11 TokuJū120 Jūyō

Hojoji School

法城寺
Soshu-den·Tajima
145Designated
3 Jūbun6 TokuJū129 Jūyō

Omiya School

大宮
Bizen-den·Bizen
141Designated
2 Jūbun4 TokuJū131 Jūyō

Kozori School

古曽利
Bizen-den·Bizen
140Designated
6 Jūbun2 TokuJū125 Jūyō

Satsuma School

薩摩
Yamato-den·Satsuma
137Designated
5 TokuJū126 Jūyō

Uda School

宇多
Wakimono·Etchu·c. Late Kamakura (c. 1290)
129Designated
1 Jūbun1 TokuJū121 Jūyō

Kiyomaro School

清麿
Shinshinto·Musashi
126Designated
2 TokuJū120 Jūyō

Mishina School

三品
Shinto·Yamashiro
117Designated
8 TokuJū101 Jūyō

Nakajima Rai School

中島来
Yamashiro-den·Settsu
116Designated
2 Jūbun2 TokuJū112 Jūyō

Yamato Shizu School

大和志津
Yamato-den·Yamato
112Designated
5 TokuJū107 Jūyō

Hoki School

伯耆
Regional·Hoki
108Designated
2 Kokuhō8 Jūbun12 TokuJū75 Jūyō

Ryokai School

了戒
Yamashiro-den·Yamashiro
108Designated
3 Jūbun4 TokuJū95 Jūyō

Bizen Saburo School

備前三郎
Bizen-den·Bizen·c. 1232-1300
106Designated
3 Kokuhō10 Jūbun10 TokuJū57 Jūyō

Ko-Mino School

古美濃
Ko-kinko·Mino·c. late Muromachi
106Designated
2 TokuJū104 Jūyō

Owari School

尾張
Iron-sukashi·Owari·c. mid-Muromachi
103Designated
6 TokuJū97 Jūyō

Suishinshi Masahide School

水心子正秀
Shinshinto·Musashi
103Designated
2 Jūbun1 TokuJū91 Jūyō

Naotsuna School

直綱
Soshu-den·Iwami·c. 1334-1500
87Designated
2 TokuJū81 Jūyō

Ayanokoji School

綾小路
Yamashiro-den·Yamashiro
86Designated
1 Kokuhō3 Jūbun8 TokuJū66 Jūyō

Hosho School

保昌
Yamato-den·Yamato
82Designated
1 Kokuhō2 Jūbun7 TokuJū67 Jūyō

Umetada School

埋忠
Shinto·Kyoto
82Designated
6 Jūbun10 TokuJū56 Jūyō

Muramasa School

村正
Soshu-den·Ise·c. 1501-1592
75Designated
1 TokuJū71 Jūyō

Chikuzen School

筑前
Regional·Chikuzen
74Designated
3 Jūbun6 TokuJū61 Jūyō

Kano School

加納
Regional-kinko·Yamashiro·c. late Edo
72Designated
10 TokuJū58 Jūyō

Yoshii School

吉井
Bizen-den·Bizen
69Designated
1 TokuJū66 Jūyō

Muromachi Period School

室町時代
Period-attribution·c. Muromachi
68Designated
1 Jūbun6 TokuJū61 Jūyō

Nio School

二王
Regional·Suo
68Designated
3 Jūbun1 TokuJū57 Jūyō

Monju School

文珠
Yamato-den·Yamato
65Designated
1 Jūbun6 TokuJū50 Jūyō

Sa Yukihide School

左行秀
Shinshinto·Chikuzen·c. Kaei (1848)
64Designated
2 TokuJū61 Jūyō

Kaga School

加賀
Mino-den·Kaga
62Designated
1 Jūbun1 TokuJū57 Jūyō

Gojo/Sanjo School

五条・三条
Yamashiro-den·Yamashiro·c. Late Heian (c. 987)
61Designated
1 Kokuhō12 Jūbun5 TokuJū27 Jūyō

Bungo School

豊後
Regional·Bungo
54Designated
1 Kokuhō10 Jūbun6 TokuJū25 Jūyō

Edo Ishido School

江戸石堂
Shinto·Musashi
54Designated
1 TokuJū52 Jūyō

Otsuki School

大月
Kyoto-kinko·Yamashiro
53Designated
1 TokuJū52 Jūyō

Hankei School

繁慶
Shinto·Musashi·c. 1596-1624
50Designated
2 Jūbun6 TokuJū35 Jūyō

Murakami School

村上
50Designated
1 TokuJū49 Jūyō

Kato Tsunahide School

加藤綱英
Shinshinto·Musashi
48Designated

Ko-kinko School

古金工
Ko-kinko·c. late Muromachi (15th century)
45Designated
3 TokuJū42 Jūyō

Aki Teruhiro School

安芸輝広
Mino-den·Aki·c. 1596-1644
43Designated
1 TokuJū41 Jūyō

Naminohira School

波平
Regional·Satsuma
43Designated
4 Jūbun3 TokuJū33 Jūyō

Sendai Kunikane School

仙台國包
Yamato-den·Rikuzen·c. 1624-1716
43Designated
1 Jūbun1 TokuJū35 Jūyō

Kaneie School

金家
Iron-sukashi·Yamashiro·c. Momoyama (c. 1560)
42Designated
1 Jūbun5 TokuJū20 Jūyō

Takagi School

高木
Soshu-den·Omi
40Designated
2 TokuJū36 Jūyō

Miike School

三池
Regional·Chikugo
39Designated
1 Kokuhō2 Jūbun2 TokuJū30 Jūyō

Mito School

水戸
Mito-kinko·Hitachi·c. mid Edo
39Designated
1 TokuJū37 Jūyō

Senoo School

瀬尾
Bizen-den·Bitchu·c. 1184-1317
39Designated
1 Kokuhō2 Jūbun9 TokuJū19 Jūyō

Heianjo School

平安城
Yamashiro-den·Kyoto
38Designated
1 Jūbun34 Jūyō

Ichinomiya School

一宮
Kyoto-kinko·Yamashiro·c. 1720
38Designated

Shimada School

島田
Soshu-den·Suruga·c. 1394-1673
34Designated

Takada School

高田
Bizen-den·Bungo
32Designated
1 Kokuhō1 Jūbun2 TokuJū22 Jūyō

Kongobyoe School

金剛兵衛
Regional·Chikuzen
31Designated
2 TokuJū27 Jūyō

Fujishima School

藤島
Yamashiro-den·Kaga
30Designated

Shoami School

正阿弥
Katchushi·Kyoto·c. late Muromachi (c. 1500)
28Designated

Momoyama Period School

桃山時代
Period-attribution·c. Momoyama
27Designated
4 Jūbun7 TokuJū15 Jūyō

Tetsugendo School

鉄元堂
Regional·Yamashiro·c. 1750
26Designated

Hoju School

宝寿
Regional·Oshu
21Designated
2 Jūbun15 Jūyō

Inaba Kagenaga School

因幡景長
Regional·Inaba·c. 1288-1428
20Designated
1 Jūbun14 Jūyō

Owari Masatsune School

尾張政常
Mino-den·Owari·c. 1596-1644
20Designated

Nanbokucho Period School

南北朝時代
Period-attribution·c. Nanbokucho
19Designated
3 Jūbun4 TokuJū11 Jūyō

Ishido School

石堂
Shinto·Omi
18Designated

Kashu Kanewaka School

加州兼若
Shinto·Kaga·c. 1596-1644
18Designated

Fukuoka Ishido School

福岡石堂
Shinto·Chikuzen
17Designated

Katchushi School

甲冑師
Katchushi·c. Muromachi (15th century)
16Designated

Wake School

和気
Bizen-den·Bizen·c. late Kamakura
16Designated
1 TokuJū13 Jūyō

Akasaka School

赤坂
Iron-sukashi·Edo·c. early Edo (c. 1620)
15Designated

Ezo School

蝦夷
Regional-kinko·Ezo·c. Muromachi
14Designated

Mito (Swordsmiths) School

水戸鍛冶
Shinshinto·Hitachi
14Designated

Momokawa School

百川
Soshu-den·Echigo
14Designated
2 Jūbun1 TokuJū11 Jūyō

Hikone School

彦根
Regional-kinko·Omi·c. Enpō
13Designated

Tegarayama School

手柄山
Shinshinto·Harima·c. 1789-1830
13Designated

Osaka Ishido School

大坂石堂
Shinto·Settsu
12Designated
2 TokuJū10 Jūyō

Chiyozuru School

千代鶴
Yamashiro-den·Echizen
11Designated

Egawa School

江川
Regional-kinko·Kai·c. mid Edo (c. 1650)
11Designated
1 TokuJū10 Jūyō

Oda School

小田
Regional-kinko·Satsuma·c. early Edo
11Designated

Aizu Miyoshi School

会津三善
Shinto·Iwashiro·c. 1624-1681
10Designated

Gassan School

月山
Regional·Dewa
10Designated
1 Jūbun6 Jūyō

Kamakura Period School

鎌倉時代
Period-attribution·c. Kamakura
10Designated
2 Jūbun1 TokuJū5 Jūyō

Osaka Awataguchi School

大坂粟田口
Osaka Shinto
10Designated
1 Jūbun9 Jūyō

Goban Kaji School

御番鍛冶
Period-attribution·c. 1180-1239
9Designated
4 Jūbun2 TokuJū1 Jūyō

Ito School

伊藤
Regional-kinko·Musashi·c. Genroku (c. 1688)
9Designated

Kaifu School

海部
Regional·Awa·c. 1394-1573
9Designated

Taniyama School

谷山
Yamato-den·Satsuma
9Designated
1 TokuJū8 Jūyō

Wakasa Fuyuhiro School

若狭冬広
Soshu-den·Wakasa
9Designated

Nitta-sho School

新田庄
Bizen-den·Bizen
8Designated
1 Jūbun6 Jūyō

Yoshioka School

吉岡
8Designated

Kaga-kinko School

加賀金工
Regional-kinko·Kaga·c. early Edo (early 17th century)
7Designated

Sue-Naminohira School

末波平
Regional·Satsuma
7Designated

Mino School

美濃
Ko-kinko·Mino·c. Nanbokucho (c. 1350)
6Designated

Mizuta School

水田
Shinto·Bitchu·c. 1570-1716
6Designated

Tatsubo School

立坊
Regional·Bingo·c. 1330-1400
6Designated

Daruma School

達磨
Yamashiro-den·Yamashiro
5Designated
2 Jūbun3 Jūyō

Ko-Yamato School

古大和
Yamato-den·Yamato
5Designated
1 Jūbun1 TokuJū2 Jūyō

Koyama Munetsugu School

固山宗次
Shinshinto·Musashi
5Designated
1 Jūbun4 Jūyō

Mogusa School

舞草
Regional·Oshu
5Designated

Tsutsui School

筒井
Yamato-den·Yamato·c. 1100-1400
5Designated

Dotanuki School

同田貫
Bizen-den·Higo
3Designated

Hazama School

Regional-kinko·Ise·c. Hoei (1704)
3Designated

Heianjo-Zogan School

平安城象嵌
3Designated

Kagamishi School

鏡師
3Designated

Ko-Kyo School

古京
Yamashiro-den·Yamashiro
3Designated

Kusakari School

草苅
Sendai Kinko·Mutsu (Sendai)·c. Edo (c. 1680)
3Designated

Omura Kaboku School

大村加卜
Shinto·Hitachi·c. Kanbun (1661)
3Designated

Shitahara School

下原
Shinto·Musashi·c. 1558-1615
3Designated

Shonai School

庄内
Shinshinto·Dewa·c. 1801-1868
3Designated
1 TokuJū2 Jūyō

Unshu School

雲州
Regional·Izumo·c. 1400-1700
3Designated

Choshu School

長州
Regional-kinko·Nagato·c. early Edo
2Designated

Heian Period School

平安時代
Period-attribution·c. Heian
2Designated
2 Jūbun

Ko-tosho School

古刀匠
Ko-kinko·c. late Heian
2Designated

Nanban School

南蛮
2Designated

Sakakura Seki School

坂倉関
Mino-den·Mino·c. 1487-1521
2Designated

Zensho School

善正
Mino-den·Mino
2Designated

Echizen Rai School

越前来
Yamashiro-den·Echizen
1Designated

Haguroyama School

羽黒山
1Designated

Ko-Akasaka School

古赤坂
1Designated

Kyo-kanagushi School

京金具師
Kyoto-kinko·Yamashiro·c. Muromachi (15th century)
1Designated

Nomura School

野村
1Designated

Yasuda School

安田
1Designated