Newly Forged Japanese Katana by Fujiwara Munenaga (藤原宗永) — Reviving the Kamakura Sword in Fukushima

Commission a blade from the only swordsmith working in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture

Fujiwara Munenaga is a swordsmith of Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, whose life's aim is to recover what he calls the "lost technology" of the swords of the late Heian and Kamakura periods, the summit of Japanese swordmaking. Trained under two masters and licensed in 2008, he spent more than a decade forging dedication swords for Atsuta Shrine before returning to his hometown in 2021 to open his own forge. 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 — Fujiwara Munenaga (藤原宗永)

Munenaga was born in 1984 in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture. Captivated by the swords of the Kamakura period, he became an apprentice in 2002, at the age of eighteen, to the swordsmith Fujiyasu Masahira (藤安将平) of Fukushima City. In 2004 he met Fujita Kunimune (藤田國宗) of Niihama, Ehime Prefecture, and chose to begin his training again from the start under him; Kunimune remains his master today. As is customary, his smith name takes the character "Mune" (宗) from his teacher's name.

He received his swordsmith's license from the Agency for Cultural Affairs in 2008 and is a member of the All Japan Swordsmith Association. In 2017 he was appointed resident swordsmith at the sword forge of Ise Ninja Kingdom in Mie Prefecture. In September 2021 he opened the Munenaga Tantōjō (宗永鍛刀場) in Tabito-machi, Iwaki, holding the traditional hi-ire (first-firing) ceremony on 19 September of that year.

Awards and recognition

Munenaga won the Bronze Prize (second place) together with the Newcomer's Prize at the 9th New Sword, Polishing and Mountings Craftsmanship Exhibition (新作日本刀 研磨 外装 刀職技術展覧会), and his tachi was selected for the 10th edition of the same exhibition. His tantō have been selected for the Omamori-gatana (protective sword) Exhibition from the 13th through the 17th editions, as well as for the Omamori-gatana Special Exhibition.

Notable activities

From 2002 to 2013 Munenaga took part in the forging of dedication swords for Atsuta Shrine in Nagoya, one of Japan's most important Shintō shrines. He has also appeared as a young swordsmith in the Mie TV special Hōtō (宝刀, "Treasured Sword").

Style — the beauty of the Kamakura sword

Munenaga's goal is to reproduce the swords of the late Heian to Kamakura periods, drawing on the old Yamashiro, Bizen and Sōshū traditions and their deep, understated beauty (yūgen). He builds on the techniques of his predecessors while introducing methods of his own, a balance he describes as "the beauty of old and new combined." His blades are generous in kasane (thickness) and mihaba (width) yet comfortable in the hand. Published appraisals of his work describe a shinogi-zukuri form with iori-mune and a compact kissaki; an itame jigane with a flowing tendency and standing grain, mixed with strong mokume; a faint utsuri rising in the ji; and a hamon based on suguha (straight temper) with small gunome and small chōji, a tight nioiguchi, and ashi and yō activity. The effect he seeks is a bright, deep ji and ha that seems to softly envelop its surroundings.

A commissioned katana by Fujiwara Munenaga is a blade made in pursuit of the Kamakura ideal, by a smith who has rebuilt the swordmaking tradition in his home region. It is 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: Fujiwara Munenaga (藤原宗永)
• Born: 1984, Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture
• Teachers: Fujiyasu Masahira (藤安将平), from 2002; Fujita Kunimune (藤田國宗), from 2004
• Swordsmith license: 2008 (Agency for Cultural Affairs)
• Forge established: 2021, Munenaga Tantōjō, Tabito-machi, Iwaki, Fukushima
• Major awards: Bronze Prize (second place) and Newcomer's Prize, 9th New Sword, Polishing and Mountings Craftsmanship Exhibition
• Specialty: Reproduction of late Heian and Kamakura-period swords; Yamashiro, Bizen and Sōshū traditions
• Price: set by the All Japan Swordsmith Association (全日本刀匠会)