***New In***Yasukuni-To Signed ‘Takenori’ (憲武) in Shingunto Mounts.

A rare Yasukuni-To smith made Katana in mint polish and early Shingunto mounts. Yasukuni-To are highly sought by collectors as traditionally made Gendai-To made by a small number of Tosho at the Yasukuni Jingu. I have owned many Yasukuni-To over the years by all of the Tosho that are recorded as working at the Shrine. Many assume that these swords are always made in the same style, shape and tradition, but they are very wrong. Each Tosho made swords to his own style and many variations can be see if you know what you are doing and have handled enough Yasukuni-To.

This example is signed 'Takenori' (憲武) (Kotani Yasunori (小谷 靖憲)) who made 67 Katana from February 1935 to January 1936, 123 from February 1936 to January 1937 and 155 from January 1937 to December 1937. He also made 23 Tanto from February 1935 to December 1937 (Kishida, 2004: 150).

Kotani Yasunori was born on the 7th January 1909, he died on the 1st March 2003. His given name was Kenzo (憲 三) and was originally from Hiroshima Prefecture.

• Became a member of the Nihon Tanren Kai Foundation as Kajiyama Yasunori's Sakite.
• Given the Yasukuni smith name 'Yasunori' by the War Minister, Hayashi Senjuro, on 1st July 1935.
• Moved to Zentsuji Town, Kagawa Prefecture, in order to open a branch factory of Nihon Tanren Kai, on 15th July 1945.
• Left the Foundation in the wake ofJapan's defeat by allied forces on 15th August 1945.
• Participated in the foundation of the Kotohira Daily Necessities Research Laboratory in 1945, but retired on 28th December in the same year and went back to his hometown.
• Obtained a licence to make art swords on 29th May 1945.

Kotani Yasunori made approximately 1,600 swords whilst working at the Nihonto Tanren Kai.

Main works:

• Donated a sword to the Yasukuni shrine in 1935.
• Made a military sword for the Kuninomiya family (for the coming-of-age celebration of Prince Moriatsu in 1936).
• Donated a sword to the festival that commemorated the 700th anniversary of the then retired emperor Gotoba in Mach 1939.
• Donated a sword in the celebration of the 2600th Imperial year at the request of Governor of Kanagawa prefecture.
• Donated a sword to the Atsuta shrine at the request of the War Minister, Tojo Hideaki.
• Mae about 13 Onkashi-To.

Awards:

• Exhibition Chairman Award at 2nd Gunto Tenran Kai held by The Head Office of Arms Administration of The Army.
• Accepted 5 times at the Shinsaku Meito Ten.

This sword is in mint polish and is signed 'Takenori' (憲武) we can just make out the lower part of the character 'Take' on the Nakago and then more clearly beneath Nori. The Mei and Nakago on this sword is corroded, as can be seen from the photographs, which is totally normal when dealing with a totally untouched original Nihon-To. He became a Sakite of Kajiyama Yasunori whilst Kajiyama was studying sword making under Yokoyama Sukeyoshi. Shortly after the foundation of The Nihonto Tanren Kai, his teacher, Kajiyama Yasunori, became a Yasukuni swordsmith, and Kotani Yasunori entered the foundation at the same time. He was given a certificate of the Yasukuni smith name 'Yasunori' by then War Minister Hayashi Senjuro, on 6th July 1935. Kotani Yasunori got married in 1937 and started his new life at San-bancho, Kojimachi Ward (Chiyoda) in Tokyo, and dedicated himself to sword making. He moved to a branch factory of the Foundation located at Zentsuji of Kagawa Prefecture on 15th July 1945 with the help of Lieutenant General Yamaoka Juko, who was an inspector at the Foundation. He saw the end of the war there and returned to his hometown.

Kotani Yasunori was called up by Kurata Shichihiro, the managing director of The Tanren Kai, and Nara Taketsugu, who was an imperial officer, was asked to make swords for The Japan Horse Racing Association and started work there in winter 1938. He only forged 20 swords there in five years. Kotani Yasunori used the name 'Takenori' when he made swords for the Association, and Nara Taketsugu, who was an Imperial officer and gave him the first character 'Take' of his first name and allowed him to use it in his smith's nane. The workmanship of the swords made at this time demonstrates a traditional tachi sugata, and sugu-ha with gunome -ashi is tempered in ko-nie-deki. This period and the swords made by Kotani Yasunori (Takenori) are, to a large extent, reminiscent of fine Yasukuni swords and his works are currently highly appraised (Kishida, 2004: 150).

Mei: 'Takenori' (憲武)

Date: Showa 15th Year (1940) 5th Month (May) Kichi Jitsu ( A lucky Day in May 1940)

Nagasa: 66cm (25.98 inches)

Construction: Shinogi Zukuri

Mune: Iori

Nakago: Ubu

Kitae: Itame/ Mokume

Hamon: Midare Gunome

Boshi: Maru

Condition: Excellent polish

UK sales only