According to "Kaiho Kenjaku (1797)" and "Kokon Kaji Biko (1830)", the ranking of sharpness were discussed for the blades tested. Old Koto masterpieces were excluded and not tested but this ranking has played an important role on estimating the blade quality and its value in Japan. Since the Kaiho Kenjaku printed, Kokon Kaji Biko corrected and fortified their lists later. As there are some differences between the list of KK [Kaiho Kenjaku] and that of KKB [Kokon Kaji Biko], those differences are indicated here in detail.Based on the book "Nihonto Wazamono Nyumon (1974)" and "Toko Taikan (1990)", the value of these wazamono blades are listed for those appeared in "Kaiho Kenjaku". e.g. 1000 point means the value of the sword was 1000 man yen (10,000,000 Yen) for about 70cm Nagasa Katana in pefect condition. To make it clear for some same-named smiths, the main active era are indicated in bracket if needed.
Later, complete listing of values for these smiths will be done and to help the search of smith, index of "Hawley's Japanese Swordsmiths (1998)" will be listed together as these 2-volume English Meikan book is mostly well known and easy to use for Western people.
KK : 13 nin / *KKB : 14 nin
Osafune Hidemitsu 650 |
Shodai Tadayoshi 1500 |
* In KKB, Nidai Kanemoto was regarded as 'O Wazamono' and Osafune Kanemitsu and Izumi no kami Kanesada (Nosada) were regarded as 'Saijo O Wazamono'.
KK : 22 nin / *KKB : 84 nin
Sakyo no suke Yasumitsu [Oei] 700 |
Horikawa Kuniyasu 800 |
* In KKB, Izumi no kami Kanesada was leveled up to 'Saijo O Wazamono' and Nidai Kanemoto was regarded as 'O Wazamono'. Also, Tomoshige and Sadashige were down to 'Ryo Wazamono' and Nobuyoshi was down to 'Wazamono'. The following 64 smiths were also added to 'O Wazamono' in KKB.
Bizen Iyemitsu [Oei] |
Aoe Tsuguyoshi [Joji] |
KK : 56 nin / *KKB : 210 nin
Osafune Morikage 650 |
Sandai Tadamitsu 700 |
* In KKB, the following smiths were added to 'Ryo Wazamono'.
Aoe Nidai Iyetsugu |
Aoe Tsugusada |
KK : 91 nin / *KKB
: 803 nin
Tsuda Sukehiro 1800 |
Shodai Etchu no kami Kanekuni 350 |
* In KKB, the following smiths were added to 'Wazamono'.
Naminohira Iyeharu |
Shikkake Norinari |
* The following 67 smiths were added later to 'Wazamono' in KK.
Osafune Yoshimitsu |
Takada Kuniyuki |
References- Kaiho Kenjaku, 1797
- Kokon Kaji Biko, 1830
- Toko Taikan, 1990
- Nihonto Wazamono Nyumon, 1974