1400-1900Sword Culture (Establishment of Specialized Professions in Polishing, Appraisal, and Preservation)
研磨師・鑑定師の系譜
Polishers and Appraisers: A Lineage
The value of a Japanese sword is not determined solely by the swordsmith's forging skill; rather, it is completed only through the integration of specialized craftspeople—polishers, appraisers, habaki makers, and scabbard makers. The Hon'ami family and other specialized polishing and appraisal workshops became established from the Muromachi period onward and provided the intellectual infrastructure that elevated swords from mere weapons to artworks and cultural treasures.
Notable Swordsmiths:Honami Kōetsu (Kyoto, Tenshō–Kan'ei era) — The most renowned member of the Hon'ami family. Beyond his work in sword polishing and appraisal, he was the greatest versatile artist in early Edo cultural history, excelling in calligraphy, ceramics (Raku ware), lacquerware, and maki-e decoration. He founded an artistic community at Takagamine and, as a central figure of Kan'ei culture, exerted profound influence on Japanese culture as a whole.Honami Kōtoku (Kyoto, Tenshō–Keichō era) — Sword Commissioner under Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The practical architect of the oridame certificate system. Kōtoku's appraisals were regarded by posterity as the highest authority, and 'Kōtoku attribution (Kōtoku-gime)' remains one of the most important authentication credentials in modern times. An intellectual giant who systematized sword appraisal knowledge.Honami Kōson (Tokyo, Meiji–Shōwa era) — As the modern head of the Hon'ami family, he devoted himself to modernizing sword research and appraisal. Through postwar negotiations with the GHQ, he achieved the protection of fine art swords and was a central figure in establishing the NBTHK. A savior-like figure for modern sword culture.