Book (Exhibition Catalog): Great Masters of Shinto Swordmaking in Eastern and Western Japan: Kotetsu and Sukehiro

Book (Exhibition Catalog): Special Exhibition
Great Masters of Shinto Swordmaking in Eastern and Western Japan: Kotetsu and Sukehiro
新刀・東西の巨匠
虎徹と助広

Edited and Published by: The Japanese Sword Museum and Fukuyama Museum of Art.
Publication Date: October 24, 2025.

This is the exhibition catalog for Great Masters of Shinto Swordmaking in Eastern and Western Japan: Kotetsu and Sukehiro, an exhibition being held from October 24 to December 20, 2026.
This special exhibition catalog features 2 renowned swordsmiths who represent the Edo period: Nagasone Kotetsu of Edo and Tsuda Echizen no Kami Sukehiro of Osaka.
During the Edo period, Edo and Osaka flourished as the 2 major centers of Japanese sword production alongside the development of urban culture.
Kotetsu was known for his bright, healthy jigane and hamon, particularly his distinctive juzuba (prayer-bead-shaped temper pattern).
Influenced by the samurai culture of Edo, he produced swords that combined practical functionality with artistic beauty.
Sukehiro, on the other hand, was an Osaka-based swordsmith whose lineage can be traced back to the school of Horikawa Kunihiro.
He developed the innovative toranba (rolling-wave temper pattern) and established an elegant, sophisticated style characterized by beautiful jigane and a bright, clear nioiguchi.
His works strongly reflect the influence of the prosperous merchant culture of Osaka during that period.
Although Kotetsu and Sukehiro developed their distinctive styles under different cultural influences, both were highly regarded by samurai and many other admirers of Japanese swords.
This exhibition explores the historical and cultural backgrounds that shaped their respective styles.
By comparing representative masterpieces of both swordsmiths, it highlights the similarities and differences between the swordmaking traditions of Edo and Osaka (Reference: Japanese Sword Museum exhibition description).
In addition to the exhibition catalog, the set includes charts showing the evolution of Kotetsu’s and Sukehiro’s signatures, as well as full-size oshigata (sword rubbings) of their works.

Dimensions: 30 cm (11.81 in) × 21 cm (8.27 in) × 1 cm (0.39 in).
Weight (Before Packaging): 720 g.

*Please note: The price does not include the shipping fee.