Consigned
Shinshinto Tanto made by Korekazu in the 5th year of the Ka-Ei era (1851). He is also known as the seventh-gen Ishido Korekazu(七代石堂是一)
Mounted in Aikuchi Koshirae and also has Shirasaya
Nagasa is 23 cm
The first-gen Korekazu was originally from Omi Koku(Today’s Shiga prefecture). It is said that he was a descendant of Ichimonji Sukemune(一文字助宗) from Bizen Koku(Today’s Okayama prefecture). He moved to Edo and founded Edo Ishido school at the beginning of the Edo period.
This school flourished during the whole Edo period and became one of the most popular ones in Edo city, Musashi Koku. Ishido Korekazu became an Okakaekaji for the Edo government in 1721, exclusively forging swords for the Tokugawa clan. In total, the smith name “Korekazu” lasted 8th generations.
The seventh-gen Korekazu, who was active at the end of the Edo period, is especially highly regarded among Japanese sword experts because of his superb craftsmanship. The 7th-gen Korekazu is also known as Unjyu Korekazu. The seventh gen Korekazu’s real name is Masataro, and he was born in 1820 and learned the sword-forging technique from his uncle Kato Cho Unsai Tsuna Toshi, who lived in Dewano Kuni(Today’s Yamagata prefecture). Later he became a son-in-law of 6th-gen Ishido Korekazu and eventually took over Edo Ishido school. Seventh-gen Korekazu forged swords up until the early Meiji period. He died at the age of 75 in the 24th year of the Meiji era.
The 7th-gen Korekazu was ordered to forge a sword for Ise Shrine in Mie prefecture and Toshogu Shrine in Tochigi prefecture.
And he was allowed to inscribe the Tokugawa family emblem on these swords. Furthermore, in 1854, he was ordered to forge a sword for sending to the USA and created Naginata for the UK, which was gifts from Japan for diplomatic relations. This fact indicates that Korekazu was one of the Edo government’s trusted swordsmiths and played an essential role at the end of the Edo period.
The 7th-gen Korekazu was a great master as well because he trained quite a few renowned swordsmiths, such as Katsumura Norikatsu. His sword style is called Bizen-Den, and he was great at forging blades with Choji Midare Hamon,
