Osafune Kagemoto

Osafune Kagemoto was a swordsmith active in Osafune, Bizen Province (present-day Setouchi City, Okayama Prefecture) during the early Muromachi period and one of the makers of the Osafune school of the early Muromachi period. In the early Muromachi period, as the turmoil of the Northern and Southern Courts came to an end, the Osafune school was in a transitional period, shifting from mass production to renewed emphasis on quality. Kagemoto was valued as a swordsmith who maintained the orthodox Bizen tradition during this period. The jigane displays fine, compact ko-itame with clear utsuri, the hamon is composed mainly of gunome with small choji and small midare mixed in for a lively appearance, and the nioi-guchi is bright and keen, showing typical Osafune workmanship. Many excellent examples of tanto and wakizashi also remain, and he was a prolific swordsmith who met the everyday armor needs of the early Muromachi period.