Mino no Kami Fujiwara Masatsune-
政常Masatsune was the son of the famous 美濃Mino school smith 大道Daido (early Mei 兼道Kanemichi), with an original Mei of 兼常Kanetsune. He was adopted by the 1st gen 相模守政常Sagami no Kami Masatsune and inherited the 政常Masatsune Mei, as his son. The 2nd gen 相模守政常Sagami no Kami Masatsune, passed away at young age. Thus, in some context, he (Mino no Kami Masanori) were referred to as “the 2nd gen Masanori”, and in the others, he was referred to as “the 3rd gen Masanori”.
Mino no Kami Fujiwara Masatsune- 美濃守藤原政常 政常Masatsune was the son of the famous 美濃Mino school smith 大道Daido (early Mei 兼道Kanemichi), with an original Mei of 兼常Kanetsune. He was adopted by the 1st gen 相模守政常Sagami no Kami Masatsune and inherited the 政常Masatsune Mei, as his son. The 2nd gen 相模守政常Sagami no Kami Masatsune, passed away at young age. Thus, in some context, he (Mino no Kami Masanori) were referred to as “the 2nd gen Masanori”, and in the others, he was referred to as “the 3rd gen Masanori”. He was rewarded with the title of 美濃守Mino no Kami during 2nd year of 寛文Kanbun (1662), Together with the 2nd gen, he was listed as 上作Josaku (“upper rank”) within the 新刀位列Shinto Iretsu (“Shinto smith ranking”). Acording to some writings, he was considered as a 業物Wazamono ranking smith, as the entire 相模守政則Sagami no Kami Masanori smithline were recorded as 業物Wazamono smith in Edo period’s test cutting record with no specification on generation. Additional info on 1st gen Sagami no Kami Masanori: During 19th year of 天正Tensho, he was summoned by the famous late Warring States period 大名Daimyo 福島正則Fukushima Masanori and became a 抱工Kakae-ko (formally designated/ supported smith) of him due to the great skill in Nihonto smithing. It was recorded that the 政Masa character in the Mei 政則Masanori was given by Daimyo 福島正則Fukujima Masanori to reward his great skill in Nihonto smithing. Together with 信高Nobutaka and 氏房Ujifusa, they were known as the 尾張三作Owari Sansaku (“The Three Greatest Smith of Owari”). Sayagaki Mino no Kami Fujiwara Masatsune 銘 美濃守藤原政常 長さ 二尺？寸六分 Nagasa 2 Shaku 4 Sun 6 Bu Koshirae- NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho Token (Green) Tachi- NBTHK Hozon Token
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Masatsune
美濃守藤原政常Mino no Kami Fujiwara Masatsune (2nd generation) was a prominent figure of the Owari-Seki school active during the Genna to Kanbun eras, continuing a prestigious lineage that served the Owari Tokugawa family in Nagoya [1], [7]. Following the tradition of the first generation—who was the adopted son of the famed Sagami no Kami Masatsune—this smith refined the utilitarian Mino style into a sophisticated Shinto aesthetic characterized by a dense, well-forged *ko-itame* hada and a brilliant *suguha* or gently undulating *notare* hamon executed in *ko-nie deki* [1], [15]. His blades often exhibit the robust *sugata* typical of the Kanbun Shinto period, featuring a thick *kasane* (thickness) and shallow *sori* (curvature) that reflect the practical, martial preferences of the mid-17th century samurai [15]. While the school is historically celebrated for masterful *naginata*, *yari*, and *kogatana*, the 2nd generation's rare *daito* are highly esteemed by collectors for their dignified presence and technical excellence, marking him as a pillar of Edo-period craftsmanship [7], [15].