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Kiyota Jirokunietsu
Japanese Swordsmith

Born Hiroki Kiyota (first name, surname)
in Amagazaki, between Osaka and Kobe, Japan, he followed the common
path of all young Japanese until High School, where he decided to join
an institution proposing the regular curriculum enriched with arts and
craft studies.
Japanese students generaly decide what to do
next a year before graduating. Although Kiyota considered many options
(art teacher, architect, cook), the idea of being a craftman, and more
precisely a swordsmith, crossed his mind. As his councelling teacher
had nothing to say about this, he went on to find out for himself by
visiting the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai (NBTHK), or Society for the Preservation of Japanese Art Swords.
He was very impressed by the refined beauty of swords, and told himself
that he might choose to become a swordsmith. But it is upon his second visit to
the NBTHK, when he formally had an appointment with a curator, that he was introduced to who became his master, Kawachi Kunihira. Kawachi accepted him, and asked him to start the following year,
right after his graduating in High School. His apprenticeship started in July 1994. He is the second apprentice,
right below Takami Tarokuniichi. At this time, Hiroki enters apprenticeship while allowing himself to give up anytime should he not be convinced.
But right away he feels he is at the right place and makes great efforts to learn well his trade. During these six years
of apprenticeship, the idea of dropping out doesn't cross his mind even
once. It is then in 1999 that his master suggests he takes the test
then co-organized by the Agency for Cultural Affairs and the NBTHK, which was
held in Shimane prefecture, Southern Japan, at that time. The test, intended for
swordsmiths-to-be, consists of the making of one sword from scratch up
to basic polishing within about a week. After having received the licence necessary to legaly make swords in Japan, he
stayed at his master's for another year during which time he produced
the sword illustrated in the oshigata (sword rubbing and tracing) presented in the Kunietsu Sword Gallery — a Bizen-style tachi.
—:—
He settled as an independant swordsmith in Shimizu (now called Aritagawa), Wakayama
prefecture, in 2000, and remained there until may 2009, when he decided
to move out to build his very own forge, about two kilometers away. A
friend lent him at no cost a family property that Kiyota may use freely.
Each year, the NBTHK organizes a competition for
every
sword-related craft. To this day, Kiyota has submitted a sword alsmost
every year. All have been accepted in the top ten of the general
ranking "nyusen" and two have received the Prize in Recognition of
the Effort (Doryokusho).
The valley where Shimizu lies
This
ranking is very important in Japan for it determines the market price
of a given smith's work. It is said that, to survive, a smith must rank
within the first 30 positions (this includes the top prizes, which can be attributed to more than one swordsmith). Above
these categories exist about ten Special Prizes such as the Emperor
Honorary Prize, the NBTHK President's Honorary Prize, and so forth. If
a smith is to enter this category 10 times, he shall be declared Mukansa
(without supervision). Kawachi is one of them. Even rarer is the title
often refered to as "Living National Treasure",
which exists for many traditional arts and crafts in Japan, in the case
that such a master in skills and spirit does exist. In each domain, there is never more than
one or two craftmen that have reached such a level of mastery, personal
accomplishment, research and reflection of the ideal spirit of the craft.
For Kiyota, today's swordsmiths are on an upward hill in regards to the
quality of their work, although he still considers them far from the
ideals. "Our greatest responsability is to continue a
tradition already over 1000 years old, and to upgrade the standards of
quality." He therefore tries to grasp the essence of the best swords
ever produced - during the golden age, i.e. the
Kamakura period, from the twelvth to the fourteenth centuries, hoping to
reproduce their refined beauty, "while
not reproducing the exact same swords."
"The world of japanese swords is one of collectors and appraisers, not
of makers" says he. "When I study a sword, I try to understand in
what state of mind was its creator when he made it, what was his
intention, instead of simply assessing the sword's aesthetical properties."
Well aware that most people cannot afford a japanese
sword, he hopes that they will anyhow aim to better understand their
unique appeal. Kiyota is now building his new forge in Tooi, not far
from Shimizu.
Please visit the Kunietsu Gallery Kunietsu Gallery Here are presented works by Kiyota More details
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News
Kiyota got married Learn how he met his wife, Emy! More details
Kiyota gets Doryoku-sho at the NBTHK 2007 competition For the 2nd time! More details
Kunietsu Swords Here are presented works by Kiyota More details
Kiyota goes to Lithuania for a demonstration! Joining his master, Kawachi Kunihira More details
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