Bizen 備前 Bizen tradition — the most prolific school in nihonto history. Ko-Bizen, Ichimonji, Osafune; utsuri, nioi, chōji. Collector reference. UK dealer.
Gassan 月山 The Gassan school — Kamakura-period origins, ayasugi hada, an unbroken tradition with a Living National Treasure. Reference page for collectors. UK dealer.
Higo Dōtanuki 肥後同田貫 Higo Dōtanuki school — robust Kumamoto blades from late Muromachi onward. Identification, attribution caveats, market notes. UK dealer.
Hizen 肥前 Hizen school — Tadayoshi line, the dominant Shintō-period tradition. Nukeme nashi hada, refined suguha, Nabeshima patronage. UK dealer reference.
Mantetsu 満鐵 Koa Isshin Mantetsu blades — wartime gendaitō from the South Manchuria Railway forge. History, attribution, what to look for. UK dealer.
Mino 美濃 Mino tradition — Seki-based late-Muromachi production. Kanemoto, Kanesada, sanbon-sugi hamon. Honest martial nihonto. UK dealer reference.
RJT 陸軍受命刀匠 RJT — Army-Appointed Swordsmith programme. Star-stamped gendaitō, traditional tamahagane forging, the wartime distinction from shōwatō.
Sōshū 相州 Sōshū-den — Masamune and the Sagami tradition. Coarse nie, chikei, hitatsura. Why this is the most copied style in nihonto. UK dealer reference.
Suishinshi Masahide 水心子正秀 Suishinshi Masahide — the smith and theorist who founded the Shinshintō revival movement. Lineage, characteristics, market position. UK dealer.
Yamashiro 山城 Yamashiro tradition — Sanjō, Awataguchi, Rai. Kyoto-school nihonto; quiet elegance, fine itame hada, ko-midare in nie. Collector reference. UK dealer.
Yamato Tradition 大和 Yamato tradition — the five temple schools of ancient Nara. Masame hada, suguha hamon, religious patronage. Collector reference. UK dealer.