Kajiyama Yasunori

Kajiyama Yasunori was one of the foremost swordsmiths of the Shōwa era, ranked alongside Miyaguchi Yasuhiro and Ikeda Yasumitsu as a leading "Yasukuni swordsmith." His birth name was Kajiyama Tokutarō.

Career

Born in Hiroshima Prefecture in 1881 (Meiji 14), he joined the Nihontō Tanren Kai (Japanese Sword Forging Association), established at Yasukuni Shrine, in 1933 (Shōwa 8). He was granted the craftsman name "Yasunori" and became a head swordsmith.

Notable Work

In January 1934 (Shōwa 9), he forged a military sword for Emperor Shōwa using tamahagane steel smelted in the Yasukuni tatara. Over the course of his career, he is said to have produced a total of 23 blades bestowed by the Emperor.

Reputation and Awards

He received numerous honors at the Japanese Sword Exhibition, including the Minister of Education's highest honor special selection, and is regarded as having attained the highest reputation among the Yasukuni swordsmiths.

Disciples

His students included his nephew Kotani Yasunori, his fifth son Kajiyama Yasutoshi, his sixth son Kajiyama Suminaki, and Ōsaki Yasumune, through whom the craft of Yasukuni sword-making was passed to the next generation.