List of Wazamono


This list of Wazamono is a list of 228 swordsmiths of katana and other weapons in the book Kaihō kenjaku or Kaihō-kenshaku, released in 1815 by Yamada Asaemon..
The work lists 12 saijō ōwazamono, 21 ōwazamono, 50 ryōwazamono, 80 wazamono, and 60 makes with mixed levels of sharpness.
As is well-known, the names of Japanese swords take after its maker. Thus by "sword" here, the "make of the sword", i.e., the signature mark of the swordsmith is meant.
The authoritative list, compiled by the samurai whose job was testing a katana, had been and is still used as a benchmark for a katana. However, this list has also been used by those who sell fake katana.
The list does cover both shintō as well as the kotō. However it omits pieces by the most preeminent smiths from the kotō period, blades by e.g. Sōshū Masamune, Sōshū Sadamune, Bizen Nagamitsu and Ise Muramasa. Such treasure swords never underwent test-cutting during the Edo period, being considered too valuable as historical art objects to risk damage.
In the following list, the generation designation is converted to Roman numeral, thus Shodai="I "; Nidai="II ", etc.

Saijō ōwazamono

12 in this category.
21 in this category.
50 in this category.
80 in this category.
Swordmakers that produced a mixture of quality, ōwazamono, ryōwazamono, or wazamono. 60 in this category.