Osaka shintō traditionShintō (New Swords)

Mutsu no Kami Kaneyasu

陸奥守包保

Period

early Edo period (Kan'ei era, 1624–1645)

School

Descendant of the Tegai school lineage, relocated to Osaka

Active Years

寛永年間(1624〜1645年)頃

Tradition

Osaka shintō tradition

Rank

Description

Lineage

Mutsu no Kami Kaneyasu was a swordsmith whose family was originally from Yamato Province, said to descend from the Tegai school, and who later relocated to Osaka in Settsu Province. He is popularly known as "Hidari Mutsu" ("Left-handed Mutsu").

Distinctive Trait

He is believed to have been left-handed, as he engraved his signatures and file marks in mirror-reversed characters, a trait that gave rise to his nickname "Hidari Mutsu." Tradition holds that a model signature written on paper for him to copy was accidentally flipped, and he continued signing his blades in reversed characters thereafter.

Reputation

He excelled at tōran-ba (billowing wave-pattern) blades and is noted for the clear jigane characteristic of Osaka-made swords. Alongside smiths such as Kawachi no Kami Kunisuke and Ikkanshi Tadatsuna, he is counted among the leading jōsaku (superior-grade) makers representing Osaka shintō. He was active around the Kan'ei era (1624–1645).

Related Swordsmiths

和泉守国貞

Osaka Shinto (Settsu Province). Carrying on the Osaka tradition of refined shinto swordmaking, Kunisada inherited the techniques of his predecessor (Kunisada I) and refined them further, becoming recognized as the foremost swordsmith in Osaka.

Izumi no Kami Kunisada

Active during the mid-Edo period (late 17th to early 18th century), coinciding with the flourishing Genroku era of Osaka culture. Under the peaceful governance of Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, demand for swords shifted toward artistic refinement, and Kunisada embodied this spirit with his polished craftsmanship.