Tantō by Rai Kunitoshi

Rai Kunitoshi was one of the most highly regarded swordsmiths of the late Kamakura period in Kyoto and a representative master of the Rai school. Born as the son of Rai Kuniyuki, he left numerous works that embody the finest achievements of Kamakura sword art. He distinguished himself especially in tantō production, and works exemplifying the perfected form of flat-ground (hira-zukuri) tantō are still regarded as the supreme expression in the sword world today. This tantō, with a blade length of approximately 24 centimeters, fashioned in the hira-zukuri style with iori-mune ridge, perfectly exemplifies the refined late Kamakura tantō form. The hamon is a composed suguha with gentle ko-midare accents, and the tempered zone is quietly filled with moist ko-nie throughout. The jigane displays the characteristic flowing grain (nagare-itame) of the Rai school in refined precision, pervaded with fine, uniformly distributed ji-nie, exhibiting a dignified and refined finish. The tang is signed 'Rai Kunitoshi.' This tantō is equally celebrated by scholars and collectors as one of the supreme expressions of late Kamakura sword art. Furthermore, the Nezu Museum houses an Important Cultural Property, a "Tachi signed Rai Kunitoshi."