Newly Forged Japanese Katana by Ishida Kunihisa (石田國壽) — Kawachi Kunihira's Pupil in Gunma

Commission a blade from the Tomioka smith who rebuilt Mikazuki Munechika and works toward the spirit of Heian and Kamakura kotō

Ishida Kunihisa is a swordsmith of the generation trained in the forge of Kawachi Kunihira (河内國平), one of the most respected teachers in modern swordmaking. Since opening his own forge in Tomioka, Gunma Prefecture, in 2002, he has built a steady exhibition record at the Shinsaku Meitō-ten (New Sword Exhibition) and its successor, the Gendai Tōshoku-ten (Contemporary Sword Craftsmen Exhibition), and has taken part in some of the most closely watched sword projects of recent years, including the estimated reconstruction of the National Treasure Mikazuki Munechika (三日月宗近). 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 — Ishida Kunihisa (石田國壽)

Kunihisa was born in 1977 in Tomioka, Gunma Prefecture. His real name is 石田智久. In 1995 he entered the forge of Kawachi Kunihira in Nara, a holder of Nara Prefecture's Intangible Cultural Property designation, and trained under him for several years. As is customary, his smith name takes the character 國 (kuni) from his teacher's name.

He received his swordsmith's license from the Agency for Cultural Affairs in 2001 under the full name Ishida Shirō Kunihisa (石田四郎國壽), and in 2002 he opened the Kunihisa Forge (國壽鍛刀場) in Tomioka, where he works today. Alongside swords, he makes small objects from tamahagane (traditional Japanese steel), such as knives, mekugi-nuki (peg pullers) and netsuke.

Awards and recognition

Kunihisa made his debut at the Shinsaku Meitō-ten in 2001, the year of his license, winning both the Effort Prize and the Newcomer Prize. He received the Fighting Spirit Prize (Kantō-shō) at the first Omamori-gatana (protective sword) Exhibition in 2005, and further Effort Prizes at the Shinsaku Meitō-ten in 2008, 2013 and 2016. In 2018 he won the Excellence Prize at the Gendai Tōshoku-ten, followed by another Effort Prize there in 2020. In 2022 his work was selected for the Reiwa no Meikō・Meitō-ten (Reiwa Master Craftsmen and Swords Exhibition).

Notable projects and activities

From 2017 to 2018 Kunihisa took part in the restoration project for Mikazuki Munechika, one of the Tenka Goken (Five Great Swords under Heaven), completing a study blade in 2017 and the finished blade in 2018. In 2020–2021 he worked on the repair of a spear dated Bunroku 2 (1593) held by Uesugi Shrine, an Important Cultural Property. His work was shown at the Evangelion and the Japanese Sword exhibition at the Bizen Osafune Japanese Sword Museum in 2012, he has exhibited each New Year at the Hōnō Shinshun Tōken-ten (New Year Sword Dedication Exhibition) at the Yūshūkan of Yasukuni Shrine, and in 2007 he demonstrated forging with Kawachi Kunihira in Lithuania.

Style — the spirit of Heian and Kamakura kotō

Kunihisa's aim is to bring the qualities of Heian- and Kamakura-period kotō (old swords made before about 1596) into the present, in the classical approach of the Kawachi Kunihira school. His work on Mikazuki Munechika gave him close, hands-on study of one of the oldest and most elegant tachi forms in Japanese swordmaking. He describes his own aim as a blade that holds stillness and movement together. A commissioned katana can be discussed with him in terms of shape, hamon and the classical model the owner has in mind.

A commissioned katana by Ishida Kunihisa is the work of a smith trained in one of the leading forges of his generation and tested on some of the most demanding reconstruction projects of recent years. It is a blade made for one owner, to be handed down as a family treasure. Please contact us to discuss specifications and lead time.

Smith profile

• Swordsmith name: Ishida Kunihisa (石田國壽); licensed as Ishida Shirō Kunihisa (石田四郎國壽)
• Real name: 石田智久
• Born: 1977, Tomioka, Gunma Prefecture
• Teacher: Kawachi Kunihira (河内國平), from 1995
• Swordsmith license: 2001 (Agency for Cultural Affairs)
• Forge established: 2002, Kunihisa Forge (國壽鍛刀場), Tomioka, Gunma
• Major awards: Gendai Tōshoku-ten Excellence Prize (2018); Shinsaku Meitō-ten Newcomer Prize (2001); Effort Prizes (2001, 2008, 2013, 2016, 2020); Omamori-gatana Exhibition Fighting Spirit Prize (2005)
• Notable projects: Mikazuki Munechika restoration (2017–2018); Uesugi Shrine spear repair (2020–2021)
• Specialty: Recreating the spirit of Heian and Kamakura kotō
• Price: set by the All Japan Swordsmith Association (全日本刀匠会)