Skillfully Tempered Sharp Blades

(Sayetate no uchi kitai no wazamono)

Publisher: Ise-ya Ichibei

1847-1848

This series of prints recognizes the contributions of famous sword smiths, as well as the warriors who used their swords. Even today, great artisans are officially honored in Japan as ‘living national treasures’. The prints in this series are each about 14 by 10 inches (36 by 25 centimeters), a size known as ôban.

	Subject: Awa no Jurobei dragging his terrified daughter Sword smith: (Rai?) Kunitsuga Robinson: S51.1
	Subject: Fukuoka Mitsugi Sword smith: Aoi Shimosaka Yasutsugu Robinson: S51.2
	Subject: Kamiya Jihei about to perform seppuku while a dog carries off the severed head of his beloved Koharu Sword smith: ? Robinson: S51.3 NOTE: The term ‘hara-kiri’, although more common in English than ‘seppuku’, is considered in Japan to be a vulgar and disrespectful description of an honorable action.
	Subject: Katsuma Gengobei holding the severed head of a woman Sword smith: Morimitsu of Bizen Robinson: S51.4
	Subject: Ôkumo Hikoroku Tessan Sword smith: Gorô Masamune of Sagami Robinson: S51.5
	Subject: Sano Jirozayemon Sword smith: “Two-character” Kuniyuki Robinson: S51.6
	Subject: Sasaki Ganryû standing besides a stone statue of Jizô in the rain Sword smith: Shinsoku Robinson: S51.7
	Subject: Shirai Gompachi crouching to wash his hands while two dogs bark at him from behind Sword smith: Sengo Muramasa of Ise Robinson: S51.8
	Subject: Shundô Jiroyemon with a grey face from impending death plunges sword into heap of straw Sword smith: Shimosaka Yasutsugu Robinson: S51.9
	Subject: Yodoya Shinshichi with bloodstained scroll Sword smith: “Two-character” Kunitoshi Robinson: S51.10

‘Robinson’ refers to listing in Kuniyoshi: The Warrior-Prints by Basil William Robinson (Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY, 1982).

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