Sword guard with openwork design of triple tomoe crest/ HIRATSUKA Collection/Kumamoto prefectural Museum of Art

This sword guard is considered to have been created by the first head of the Nishigaki school, Kanshiro (1613-93), based on the style of the work.
Kanshiro was born in Nakatsu, Buzen Province. After studying under Hirata Hikozo in Yatsushiro in Higo Province, he moved to Kumamoto and succeeded as a sword guard craftsman.
Besides iron sword guards with openwork design, he actively used other metals called ‘irogane’, such as copper and brass, and produced technical and elegant sword guards.