265 Seki Swordsmiths in 1944

[Kiipu]

14昭和19年（1944）関刃物工業組合に届出のあった刀工は233人、未登録を含めると265人。関鍛冶伝承館「企画展 近現代刀匠列伝 廃刀令以降の刀匠たち」パンフレット（2004）、岐阜県博物館『伝統と創造 岐阜県重要無形文化財のわざと美』図録（2016）を参照。

 

Footnote 14: In 1944, there were 233 swordsmiths registered with the Seki Cutlery Industry Association 関刃物工業組合, and 265 including unregistered ones. See the Seki Blacksmith Heritage Museum's "Special Exhibition: Modern and Contemporary Swordsmiths: Swordsmiths Since the Sword Ban" pamphlet (2004) and the Gifu Prefectural Museum's "Tradition and Creation: The Skill and Beauty of Gifu Prefecture's Important Intangible Cultural Properties" catalog (2016).

 

https://www.gifu-kenpaku.jp/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/岐阜県博物館_調査研究報告_第40号（2019・2020）_南本有紀_青木啓将著『現代日本刀の生成』書評に代えて.pdf

[Bruce Pennington]

And if the 70% rule of thumb still applied in that year, then there were 344 smiths working in the whole country.  Great find, Thomas!