Kazusa-no-suke Kaneshige

Kazusa-no-suke Kaneshige was a master smith who represented the Edo shintō (new swords of Edo) of the early Edo period. Based in Edo, Musashi Province (present-day Tokyo), he made many fine works, mainly during the Kanbun era. He is listed as a ryō-wazamono in the sword assessment record Kokon Kaji Bikō, and his blades were highly regarded as practical swords. The jigane shows a fine koitame with jinie and a clear appearance that stands out for its quality even among the Edo shintō of the time. The hamon is mainly gunome, mixed with ko-chōji, a lively midare with fine, even nie, and a bright, crisp habuchi. Many of his blades are long, and his style, which combines a commanding taihai with practicality, was handed down to later generations as a masterpiece that met the demand of Edo samurai. Together with Izumi-no-kami Kaneshige, said to be his father or teacher, he raised the reputation of the Kaneshige name as a representative of Edo shintō.