A Century of Japanese Sword Culture in the Early Edo Period: From the Battle of Sekigahara to the Eve of the Genroku Era

Transformation of Sword Demand Born from the Battle of Sekigahara

In the fifth year of Keichō (1600), the Battle of Sekigahara concluded with Tokugawa Ieyasu's establishment of hegemony. This historical turning point became a major catalyst for transformation in the sword-making industry. The massive demand for swords that had peaked during the Sengoku period rapidly cooled, and a transition began from an era when mass-produced "kazuuchi-gatana" (common blades) were sought to an era where individual quality and aesthetic value were prioritized.

From the Keichō through Genna periods (1600–1623), swords inherited from numerous Sengoku warlords circulated in the market. During this period when echoes of warfare lingered, demand for koto (old swords) with practical functionality remained strong, and appreciation for works by renowned ancient masters increased. Conversely, as the Edo shogunate began implementing policies to regulate and favor sword makers from major production centers, the production environment for new swords (shintō) was being established.

From Kanyei to Jōō: The Dawn of Edo Shintō

The Genna and Kanyei periods (1624–1644) were when the foundation of sword culture in Edo was being formed. During the reign of the third shogun, Tokugawa Iemitsu, military government was strengthened and various systems to reduce the military power of daimyō (such as the mandatory alternate attendance) were implemented, while at the same time, the wearing of swords by samurai became institutionalized as a symbol of social status.

One particularly noteworthy trend in sword making during this period was the migration of sword smiths to Edo. Skilled sword makers from traditional production centers such as Ōsaka, Kyoto, and Bizen were summoned to Edo and served as official sword makers to the shogunate. While maintaining their traditional techniques, they developed styles adapted to the demands of the new market in Edo.

A characteristic feature of swords from this era is the change in sugata (the overall form of the blade). A transition began from the Keichō shintō style, which had been popular during the Sengoku period with its wide and heavy blade, toward a more slender and supple form. The form of the nakago (tang) also changed, and the manner of engraving the mei (signature) began to reflect the characteristics of the era.

The Emergence of Kanbun Shintō—Innovation in Sword Forms

The Manji and Kanbun periods (1658–1673) represent one of the most important turning points in early Edo period sword history. During this period, a distinctive blade type called "Kanbun shintō" was established.

The characteristics of Kanbun shintō are a relatively narrow width at the hilt with a large difference from the width at the point (clear distinction between hilt and point), combined with a medium kissaki (point) and moderate curvature. This was the result of pursuing refined appearance over practicality, reflecting the social demand for "swords as an accomplishment of samurai" in a time of peace.

Among notable sword makers of this period was Nagasone Kotetsu Okisato. Kotetsu, who migrated from Echizen Fukui to Edo, captivated his contemporaries with his distinctive jigane (steel body) and richly featured hamon (blade pattern), gaining fame as "the foremost sword maker of Edo." His swords commanded high prices even during his lifetime, and later, it was said that "many swords with forged Kotetsu signatures existed," such was his popularity.

In Ōsaka, Inoue Shinkai (the first Morikuni) was active. Shinkai's swords, representative of Ōsaka shintō, were known for their sharp, keen hamon and dignified sugata, and were sought after not only by samurai but also by wealthy merchant classes.

From Enbō to Jōkyō: Maturation of the Sword Market

From the Enbō through Jōkyō periods (1673–1688), the sword market matured further. Distribution networks for swords centered on three major cities—Edo, Ōsaka, and Kyoto—were established, and the authority of the Honami family in authentication and issuance of ori-gami (authentication certificates) became firmly established.

During this period, the evaluation criteria for sword value were shifting from mere quality of materials and technique to the prestige of the mei (maker's signature), presence or absence of authentication documents, and authenticity of provenance. The sale and purchase of celebrated swords became incorporated into the monetary economy, and swords began to take on the character of speculative collecting objects.

Sword Culture on the Eve of Genroku—The Shift from Militarism to Civilianism

After passing through the Tenna and Jōkyō periods (1681–1688), during the reign of the fifth shogun, Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, the shogunate's political direction shifted decisively from militarism toward civilianism. As the Genroku period (1688–1704) loomed, samurai society's perception of swords underwent decisive transformation.

The concept of "swords for actual combat" receded, and the notion of "swords as works of art and formal wear demonstrating samurai pride" came to the fore. Swords shifted their central function from battlefield tools to evidence of social status, and their evaluation criteria gradually changed from "sharpness" to "beauty," "provenance," and "prestige of the maker's signature."

The hundred years of the early Edo period served as a bridge from Sengoku-style sword culture to Edo-style sword culture. The transition from utility to aesthetics, from mass production to individualized craftsmanship, and the change in the social status of sword makers—these multifaceted transformations led to the brilliant sword arts of the subsequent Genroku culture and mid-Edo period.