Kanemitsu

Dates of birth and death unknown. A swordsmith from Bizen (Okayama Prefecture) during the Nanboku-cho period. A member of the Osafune school, which began with Mitsutada, and continued with Nagamitsu and Kagemitsu, he was active in the latter half of the 14th century. There are works dating from the Genko era (1331-34), and the shape is ordinary, with a rough blade with a rough texture. Around the Enbun era (1356-61), there are large swords over three shaku long, and short swords also became longer, with blade patterns with a sagging texture. One theory is that he was highly valued by Ashikaga Takauji, and there remains a large mansion in Osafune that is said to have been given to him by Takauji. Kanemitsu's production period was almost 30 years, and his style changed significantly around the Enbun era, so although there are theories that he was the first or second generation, it is more likely that he was the first generation.

[Nobuo Ogasawara]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

生没年不詳。南北朝時代の備前(びぜん)（岡山県）の刀工。光忠に始まり、長光、景光と続く長船(おさふね)派の正系で、14世紀の後半に活躍している。元弘(げんこう)（1331～34）からの年紀作があり、姿は尋常で互(ぐ)の目乱れ刃を焼き、延文(えんぶん)（1356～61）ごろには3尺を超える大太刀(おおだち)があり、短刀も寸延びになり、刃文はのたれ調の沸(にえ)づいたものとなる。一説に足利尊氏(あしかがたかうじ)に重用され、長船には尊氏から与えられたという広い屋敷が残っている。兼光の制作期間はほぼ30年で、延文ごろに大きく作風が変化しているため、初・2代説があるが、1代とみるべきであろう。

［小笠原信夫］

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