Gifu NBTHK 2026 Calendar

[Takezo]

For some reason I never opened a document tube that was sent to me along with the paperwork of a sword I submitted to 2026 Juyo Shinsa, posted here: 

 

But when I opened it, I found out that NBTHK Gifu chose this sword as their 2026 members calendar sword - kinda cool! Verified it on another member's TikTok, which took me a while to find.  Apparently these calendars always feature Kondō Kuniharu's oshigata work, who was prolific and has handled some incredible swords and submitted oshigata for said works as well. It makes me wonder exactly when and why he chose this sword to document so thoroughly...well now I have some digging to do. Any insight into this selection process or how/why/when Kondō Kuniharu would do oshigata would be awesome. I do know from some research that he explicitly researched Shiga-Seki Kanenobu and his migration from 1st gen Naoe-shizu Kanenobu's area (as he was second gen overall as I understand it) to the area where he settled. This sword in particular is basically the Soden-Bizen version of Mino, some call it Mino-Soshu around the forum I see. Anyway, kinda cool like I said.

 

Edited August 21 by Takezo

[Takezo]

[Takezo]

I was able to contact Kondo-sensei (head representative of NBTHK Gifu) directly and it seems he personally chooses the swords on these calendars every year. Also he let me know that he is releasing a new book of oshigata called Mino-tō Zufu (『美濃刀図譜』) next year (Gifu members only?) and that this Kanenobu will be featured in it, as he has stated that long swords in hitatsura from Mino are extremely rare, but found that this one was valuable/significant as a representative of hitatsura from Shiga-Seki.

[eternal_newbie]

Very nice oshigata work there! And yes, you do see hitatsura in Mino now and then but they're usually tanto or hira-zukuri wakizashi; on a full-sized sword like this it's a rare treat.

[Takezo]

@eternal_newbie apparently so, as that’s exactly what he elaborated on. He was able to send me what I assume are 3 entries from the upcoming book, showing the breadth of ability from Kanenobu. There is one that he labels as having Aoe style dan-utsuri. 

119 兼延2.pdf 121 兼延.pdf 117 兼延1.pdf

[eternal_newbie]

Very interesting, thanks for sharing! I'll be sure to keep an eye out for that book.