Ōmi no Kami Sukenao

Ōmi no Kami Sukenao (1639–) was a swordsmith of the Ōsaka Shintō period, born in Takagi village, Ōmi Province (present-day Shiga Prefecture), and is known as the son-in-law and successor of the celebrated Ōsaka Shintō master Tsuda Echizen-no-kami Sukehiro.

Training and Career

Sukenao traveled to Ōsaka and studied swordmaking under the second-generation Sukehiro (Tsuda Echizen-no-kami Sukehiro). In 1669 (Kanbun 9), he received the title "Ōmi no Kami." Around 1675 (Enpō 3), he became the son-in-law of his master Sukehiro, adopted the Tsuda surname, and returned to his hometown of Takagi to continue forging.

Succession of the Tsuda School

After Sukehiro's death in 1682 (Tenna 2), Sukenao moved back to Ōsaka to lead the Tsuda school as its successor, supporting its continued prosperity. His date of death is unrecorded, but since no dated works are known after 1693 (Genroku 6), he is presumed to have died not long thereafter.

Style and Characteristics

Sukenao's work closely resembles that of his master Sukehiro, inheriting the "gunome-midare" and "tōran-midare" hamon patterns Sukehiro perfected, but is distinguishable by a slightly narrower blade width with a forward-curving tendency, and the near-absence of the "tamayaki" (round tempering spots) characteristic of Sukehiro's work.

Representative Work

Sukenao is said to have produced roughly 1,700 blades in his lifetime. A representative example is the 63.9cm blade signed "Ōmi no Kami Takagi-jū Sukenao," designated an Important Sword (Jūyō Tōken) and held by the Touken World Foundation.