Kawashima Tadayoshi II

Kawashima Tadayoshi II was a modern swordsmith active from the Taisho into the Showa period, residing in Nita town, Nita District, Shimane Prefecture. Born as the son of the first-generation Kawashima Tadayoshi, he inherited the "Unshu Tadayoshi" sword signature founded by his father. According to the touken-world.jp directory of contemporary swordsmiths, the second-generation Tadayoshi carried on his father's forging techniques and devoted himself to Bizen-tradition sword-making in Shimane.

He specialized in the Bizen tradition and is admired for stately tachi with deep curvature, fine jihada, and gorgeous hamon. Bizen-den work is characterized by itame-hada with midare-utsuri and flamboyant temper patterns of choji-midare and gunome — a tradition Tadayoshi embodied in the modern era.

For his skill he was awarded the rank of Mukansa (exempt from screening) by the Japan Art Sword Preservation Society (NBTHK) in 1972 — the highest rank below Living National Treasure, reserved for smiths who have repeatedly won special prizes at the new-work exhibitions. Alongside sword-making, Tadayoshi produced more than forty kinds of blades, including farming implements and cutlery, under the "Unshu Tadayoshi" brand established by his father, working to preserve traditional blacksmithing techniques. In carrying on both Japanese sword-making and vernacular smithing, he stands as a transmitter of regional forging culture into the present day.