Shinano-no-kami Daidō

Shinano-no-kami Daidō was a swordsmith active in the Early Edo period (from around the Keian era onwards), known as a representative lineage of the Mino Mishina school. The Mishina school is a lineage descended from Kanemichi of Mino Seki (Mutsu-no-kami Daidō) as founder; Daidō inherited these techniques and established a representative style of the shintō period in Mino. His jigane displays tightly packed ko-itame with fine and evenly distributed jinie, presenting a clear appearance. The hamon combines active gunome and chōji in a vigorous midare with abundant nie, bright and sharp at the edge. Blade proportions exhibit the bold characteristics of the Early Edo period, and as a representative swordsmith of the shintō period connected to the Mino Mishina school lineage, he is positioned in Japanese sword history. Signed works reading "Shinano-no-kami Daidō" and "Shinano-no-kami Fujiwara Daidō" survive in collectors' collections and art museums throughout the region.