Two of the most renowned masters of sword smithing from the province of Mino are Kanemoto and Kanesada. Kanemoto, a second-generation smith, was also known by the name "Seki no Magoroku." It is said that the sharpness of his swords was so extreme that a man who had been cut by one of his blades did not realize it until he had reached the opposite side of the river.

This sword has the Kanemoto inscription on the nakago (tang) with gold inlay and is in excellent condition. There are no flaws or cloudiness. It is a gem that is well worth the price as a work of art alone. The hada has a very active pattern of itame mixed with mokume. Kanemoto excelled at the gunome blade pattern called sambonsugi in every generation, and this feature is also evident in this sword. The hamon is niedeki and is very beautiful.

The shirasaya is decorated with sayagaki by Sato Kanzan and bears the inscription "Kanemoto with gold inlay. A genuine Kanemoto. The blade length is 2 shaku 5 sun 1 bu." Sato Kanzan served as director of the Sword Room of the Curatorial Department of the Tokyo National Museum, secretary general of the Society for Preservation of Japanese Art Swords, and deputy director of the Sword Museum. Kanzan also recorded that this sword is an authentic Kanemoto blade.

The uchigatana koshirae which accompanies this sword is of the handachi style, equipped with tachi sword fittings containing a chrysanthemum crest motif. The saya lacquer is a gorgeous gold-scattered shinobue, also fitted with a kogai, again with chrysanthemum crest. The sword is also paired with a certificate of conservation appraisal from NBTHK.

We hope you will enjoy adding this wonderful Kanemoto with gold inlay inscription to your collection.

• Blade length: 76.1 cm
• Curvature: 1.5 cm
• Number of Mekugi hole: 2
• Sakihaba: 19.5 mm
• Sakikasane: 4.2 mm
• Motohaba: 30.4 mm
• Motokasane: 6.9 mm
• Signature: Kanemoto(gold-inlaid signature)
• Era: Koto
• Structure: Shinogi-zukuri, Iori-mune
• Jitetsu: Itame with partly Mokume
• Hamon: Suguha
• Boshi: Omaru ni Kaeru
• Weight(Blade only): 780 g
• Nakago: Ubu
  
• Original Registration No.: Committee for Cultural Heritage Preservation 80558