Newly Forged Japanese Katana by Hidehira (秀平) — A Smith Inspired by Masamune

Commission a blade from the Nagano swordsmith trained under Miyairi Kozaemon Yukihira

Hidehira is a swordsmith of Nagano Prefecture whose path to the forge began in front of a single blade: the National Treasure Kanze Masamune (観世正宗), which he saw as a high-school student at the Tokyo National Museum. A graduate in materials engineering who chose the swordsmith's life, he trained under Miyairi Kozaemon Yukihira (宮入小左衛門行平) and, from his first year as a licensed smith, has been a consistent prize-winner, including the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Prize at the New Sword, Polishing and Mountings Craftsmanship Exhibition. A katana commissioned through Tozando is forged to order by the smith himself and priced as set by the All Japan Swordsmith Association (全日本刀匠会).

On the smith — Hidehira (秀平)

Hidehira was born Nezu Kei (根津啓) in Tokyo in 1983. The encounter with Kanze Masamune decided his future on the spot: he resolved to become a person capable of making such a sword. He studied materials engineering at the Faculty of Engineering of Hokkaido University, choosing a field related to the steel of the sword, and graduated in 2006.

That same year he entered the forge of Miyairi Kozaemon Yukihira in Sakaki, Nagano Prefecture, and trained there for five years, receiving his swordsmith's license from the Agency for Cultural Affairs in 2011. In 2015 he became independent, opening the Hidehira Tantō Dōjō (秀平鍛刀道場) in Shinkō-machi, Nagano City. His blades are signed Shinano no Kuni Hidehira (信濃國秀平, "Hidehira of Shinano Province").

Awards and recognition

In 2012, the year after he was licensed, Hidehira entered the 3rd New Sword, Polishing and Mountings Craftsmanship Exhibition (新作日本刀 研磨 外装 刀職技術展覧会) and won a Gold Prize (second place) together with the Newcomer's Prize. He won Gold Prize second place again in 2013 and a Silver Prize first place in 2014, and in 2015 received the exhibition's Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Prize. Further Gold Prizes followed in 2016 (first place) and 2017 (second place).

At the Omamori-gatana (protective sword) Exhibition he has also been recognized regularly since 2012, winning the Newcomer's Prize and the Nagano Prefectural Board of Education Prize in 2013 and first place in the blade division with the Okayama Governor's Prize in 2016.

Style — bringing life to the steel

Masamune, the great master of the Sōshū tradition, remains the inspiration behind Hidehira's work. He speaks of swordmaking as a discipline of close self-examination, carried out in front of the fire and the steel, from preparing the raw steel and folding it to shaping the blade, applying the clay for yaki-ire (differential hardening) that determines the hamon, and finally cutting the signature. What fascinates him most, he says, is whether he has succeeded in giving life to the steel as he refines it. Each sword begins with a prayer at his forge, and his aim is to keep refining both his understanding of the principles of the craft and his technique in an unbroken cycle.

A commissioned katana by Hidehira is the work of a smith of the younger generation whose commitment to the craft began with one of Japan's greatest swords. It is a blade made for one owner, forged with care from start to finish. Please contact us to discuss specifications and lead time.

Smith profile

• Swordsmith name: Hidehira (秀平)
• Real name: Nezu Kei (根津啓)
• Born: 1983, Tokyo
• Teacher: Miyairi Kozaemon Yukihira (宮入小左衛門行平), from 2006
• Swordsmith license: 2011 (Agency for Cultural Affairs)
• Forge established: 2015, Hidehira Tantō Dōjō, Shinkō-machi, Nagano City
• Major awards: Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Prize (2015); Gold Prizes (2012, 2013, 2016, 2017); Newcomer's Prize (2012)
• Specialty: Classical blades inspired by the work of Masamune
• Price: set by the All Japan Swordsmith Association (全日本刀匠会)