Mei:
Izumo Kuni Ju Kawashima Tadayoshi Saku (Shodai) / Showa 19th year, March
Nagasa: 64.5cm
Sori: 1.9cm
Hada: Ko-itame
Hamon: Choji-gunome
(From the book, Dai Nihon Token
Shoko Meikan)
Kawashima Tadayoshi worked in Shimane Prefecture during the WWII. His real name was Kawashi Zenzaemon. The province where he and his ancesters had lived was famous for good quality of Tamahagane in Japan. So he could improve his skill in this merciful environment. He was a blacksmith but started swordmaking in 1934. He learned swordmaking from Sanada Masutaro Tadayoshi in Hiroshima and Inoue Sadakane. He made a dedication sword for German Foreign Minister in 1941.
He was ranked as a "National Swordsmith" according to the 6th Shinsaku Nihonto Denrankai's result in 1941 (Refer to pp.215-216 of John Slough's book). He established a Kawashima school. His son Tadayoshi Nidai (Kawashima Makoto) was also a very famous swordsmith, became a Mukansa in 1972, and passed away in 1988. This Shodai Tadayoshi's sword is in excellent condition with fully polished and papered from the NBTHK. Shirasaya is a high quality as well as a silver double habaki.