Newly Forged Sword | Kaneyasu / 71.0cm

[Newly Forged Sword] Higo-no-Kuni-jū Akamatsu Tarō Kaneyasu / Auspicious Day in June, Reiwa 6 (2024)

Swordsmith Akamatsu Tarō Kaneyasu (real name: Kaoru Kimura) resides in Yatsushiro City, Kumamoto Prefecture.
Born in 1961 (Showa 36), he began forging swords in 1981 (Showa 56) under his father, swordsmith Kaneshige, who was regarded as a high-ranking smith (Ō-wazamono, Sekiwake level) during the wartime era. He is particularly skilled at reproductions in the style of Kiyomaro and has won numerous awards at the Newly Made Masterpiece Sword Exhibitions.

The Kimura family descends from the official smiths of the Sagara clan of the Hitoyoshi Domain. Kaneyasu is the third son among three brothers who are all swordsmiths—his elder brothers being Kanetsugu and Kaneteru.

The mountings (koshirae) feature a Higo-style design with fine inlay work. The fittings, including the kashira, fuchi, tsuba, kurigata, and kojiri, are all matched as a set, allowing the design of a flying rain dragon to flow seamlessly across them. This is a decorative Higo-style mounting, a piece highly recommended for appreciation.