Description
“KANESHIGE with Mutsu-no-kami title 陸奥守包重 in 3rd generation who is commonly called “Migi-Mutsu 右陸奥” , literarily means “right-handed MUTSU”. He was born in Miyazu, Tango domain (now Miyazu city, Kyoto), real name is Dan Kyutaro 団九太郎. He became a favorite pupil of, later adopted by Mutsu-no-kami KANEYASU 陸奥守包保 in Osaka. His master of Mutsu-no-kami KANEYASU has been is called “Hidari-Mutsu 左陸奥” in a literal sence of “MUTSU of mirror writing” who writes in mirror by left-handed. The subject sword maker KANESHIGE 包重, like this example, purposely practiced mirror writing and “slanting right filemark” to prove that he used to be a left-hander under the influence of foster father “Hidari-Mutsu 左陸奥” while he initially inscribed as Mutsu-no-kami KANESHIGE 陸奥守包重. On before he succeeded and changed his smith name to the 3rd generation of Mutsu-no-kami KANEYASU 陸奥守包保, he independently quited his own unique style of inscription and changed to the normal writing and slanting left filemark by his dominant right-hand. Both father and son exclusively served for the Mizuno clan of Matsumoto, Shinshu domain in later years. The latest year of his posthumous works is Genroku 2 (1689).”