肥前忠広（二代）
Hizen Tadahiro II
Description
Hizen Tadahiro II was a swordsmith of the early Edo period (c. 1661–1704), working in Hizen Province (modern Saga and Nagasaki Prefectures) within the celebrated Hizen sword-making tradition. The Hizen school, founded by the legendary first-generation Tadayoshi (Hashimoto Shinsaemon), became one of the most prestigious sword-making traditions of the Shintō (new sword) era, and Tadahiro II represents the continuation of this tradition at its qualitative peak. The defining characteristic of Hizen swords — and of Tadahiro II's work specifically — is the incomparable jihada known as "nashiji-hada" (pear-skin texture): an exquisitely fine, uniformly granular ko-itame that resembles the skin of a Japanese pear, produced by the unique combination of local Hizen steel from the Arita/Imari region and the specialized tempering techniques developed by the Hizen school's founders. The hamon of Hizen swords tends toward suguha or ko-midare with fine, even nie and a clear, crisp nioi-guchi — elegant rather than dramatic, projecting quiet dignity in the manner perfectly suited for the sword-wearing culture of the Edo aristocracy. The Nabeshima domain's strong patronage of the Hizen school created an environment where smiths could focus on artistic refinement rather than commercial survival, resulting in consistently high-quality work. DATEKATANA presents Hizen Tadahiro II as a master of the distinguished Hizen tradition — swords whose nashiji-hada and refined suguha represent one of the most elegant achievements of Edo-period swordsmanship, appreciated by collectors worldwide for their quiet, aristocratic beauty.
Famous Works
- 刀（重要美術品）
- 脇差（寛文紀年作）
- 短刀