Goban Kaji

Emperor Go-Toba had keen interest in swordmaking. At some time after his abdication in 1198 he has summoned 13 leading swordsmiths to Kyoto for his personal instruction and further development and perfection of Nihontō. These smiths were then called Goban Kaji [1]. They were summoned to work with the retired Emperor for one month during the year.

Old books mention three different groups of smiths. The first group had 12 smiths, one smith per month. The second group had 24 smiths, two per month. The last group which was formed after Go-Toba's banishment to Oki Island had 6 smiths [2].

Go-Toba selected Awataguchi Hisakuni and Ichimonji Nobufusa as his personal instructors. They are known as hoju kenko (swordsmiths selected for the honour of working with Go-Toba) [3].

It is not clear when exactly Goban Kaji were summoned. First two groups must have been in attendance some time between 1198 when (Go-Toba abdicated) and 1221 (Jōkyū war). The third group served him from 1221 until his death in 1239.

The list of Group 1 smiths comes from Showa Mei Zukushi, one of the oldest lists of swordsmiths. It was produced in Showa era (1312-1317) and now preserved at the Kanchiin Temple [3].

Goban Kaji (Group 1)

Month Swordsmith Province School
January Norimune Bizen Fukuoka Ichimonji
February Sadatsugu Bitchu Aoe
March Nobufusa Bizen Fukuoka Ichimonji
April Kuniyasu Yamashiro Awataguchi
May Tsunetsugu Bitchū Aoe
June Kunitomo Yamashiro Awataguchi
July Muneyoshi Bizen Fukuoka Ichimonji
August Tsuguie Bitchū Aoe
September Sukemune Bizen Fukuoka Ichimonji
October Yukikuni Bizen Fukuoka Ichimonji
November Sukenari Bizen Fukuoka Ichimonji
December Sukenobu Bizen Fukuoka Ichimonji

Goban Kaji (Group 2)

Month Swordsmith Province School
January Kunitomo Yamashiro Awataguchi
Kanemichi Bizen Fukuoka Ichimonji
February Nagasuke Bizen Fukuoka Ichimonji
Morosane Bizen Ko-Bizen
March Shigehiro Yamato Senjuin
Yukikuni Bizen Fukuoka Ichimonji
April Chikafusa Bizen Fukuoka Ichimonji
Yukihira Bungo
May Kanechika Bizen Fukuoka Ichimonji
Sanefusa Bizen Fukuoka Ichimonji
June Yoshifusa Bizen Fukuoka Ichimonji
Noritsugu Bizen Ko-Bizen
July Tomosuke Bizen Fukuoka Ichimonji
Munetaka Hoki Ōhara
August Akisane Bizen Fukuoka Ichimonji
Sanetsune Bizen Ko-Bizen
September Kanesue Bizen Fukuoka Ichimonji
Nobufusa Bizen Fukuoka Ichimonji
October Tomotada Mimasaka
Sanetsune Mimasaka Ko-Bizen
November Kanesuke Bizen Fukuoka Ichimonji
Norimune Bizen Fukuoka Ichimonji
December Koresuke Bizen Fukuoka Ichimonji
Norisane Bitchū Ko-Aoe

Oki Goban Kaji (Group 3)

Month Swordsmith Province School
January-February Norikuni Yamashiro Awataguchi
March-April Kagekuni Yamashiro Awataguchi
May-June Kunitsuna Yamashiro Awataguchi
July-August Muneyoshi Bizen Fukuoka Ichimonji
September-October Nobumasa Bizen Fukuoka Ichimonji
November-December Sukenori Bizen Fukuoka Ichimonji

References