Tachi sword signed “Rai Kunimitsu”

Yamashiro province (present-day Kyoto) is one of Japan’s major sword production centers, together with Bizen (present-day Okayama) and Sagami (present-day Kanagawa) provinces. It is famous for producing many master craftsmen. Swords from Yamashiro are characterized by their elegant shapes; fine granular blade textures like that of a pear’s flesh (nashiji-hada); and blades with plain linear patterns and clusters of small crystals (ko-nie). The Rai school of sword making was active from the mid-Kamakura period (1192–1333) to the Nambokucho period (1336–92). Rai Kunimitsu, who produced this sword, was a swordsmith of the Rai School. He was active from the end of the Kamakura period to the Nambokucho period. His works are roughly classified into two types by the blade surface pattern: one is the plain linear pattern with a dynamic and powerful style (suguha) that he inherited from his grandfather, Kuniyuki, and father, Kunitoshi; the other is the irregular pattern in the cutting section with bright nie, which shows the influence of the Sōshū tradition. This sword belongs to the former type.

It fully represents the original style of the Rai School. The wide blade and dynamic curve at the middle of the blade adds to the magnificence and sophistication of the sword. By reflecting the pride of the Yamashiro swordsmiths, if never fails to fascinate its viewers. Among the Yamashiro swordsmiths, the Rai school enjoyed a particularly close relationship with their counterparts in Kyushu. One example is the Enju School, which consisted of swordsmiths retained by the Kikuchi family in Higo province (present-day Kumamoto). The school was founded by Enju Taro Kunimura, who descended from the Rai school. Like the Rai school, the Enju school swordsmiths are known for the excellent suguha style. The school of Hizen Tadayoshi, who represent the new type of swords invented during the Keichō era (1596–1603), is also known for the suguha style, which was modeled after the Rai School style; along with very fine and dense granular blade textures like rice powder (konuka-hada). In this way, Kyushu swordsmiths have been significantly influenced by the Rai School.

— Museum description: Kyushu National Museum (CC BY 4.0), via ColBase / Japan Search.