NihontoWatchOrdering number:26061Katana in Shirasaya (NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token)Signature: Amata Akitsugu Saku Kore (Living National Treasure)A fortunate day in January, 1977Made on request by Mr. Takeshi Muraki天田昭次作之(人間国宝)昭和五十二年正月吉日應村木毅氏需We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo Saku, Jyojyo Saku, Jyo Saku and Regular Saku.This work is ranked as Saijyo Saku (the highest grade) among the works by Amata Akitsugu.Habaki: Gold-plated double HabakiBlade Length: 72.0 cm (28.35 in)Curvature: 2.6 cm (1.02 in)Mekugi Hole: 1Width at Base (Motohaba): 3.08 cm (1.21 in)Width at Yokote: 2.29 cm (0.90 in)Thickness of rim (Kasane): 0.725 cm (0.29 in)Sword Weight: 805 gShape: A healthy blade with solid width and thickness, retaining the ubuha (original edge).There are bohi (grooves) on both sides.Jigane: Finely forged ko-itame hada of top quality, becoming a refined and excellent steel.Hamon: A bright and clear suguha with fine nioi-ashi.The boshi turns back with a gentle notare and finishes in a komaru.Features: Born in Niigata Prefecture in 1927 (Showa 2) as the eldest son of swordsmith Amata Sadayoshi.His father passed away when he was 10 years old.Following advice, he moved to Tokyo right after graduating elementary school to study under Kurihara Hikosaburo.He entered the Nihonto Tanrenjo (Japanese Sword Forging Studio) established by Kurihara and was engaged in making military swords.After the war ended in Tokyo, he returned to Niigata.In 1954 (Showa 29), he received official permission to forge swords from the Cultural Properties Sword Forging Committee and began full-scale swordsmithing.He studied the Soshu tradition, focusing deeply on sword-making, and mastered suguha with exceptional jigane, winning the prestigious Masamune Prize three times.From 1973 (Showa 48), he forged sacred treasure swords for the Ise Shrine three times.In 1997 (Heisei 9), he was designated as a Living National Treasure (Ningen Kokuho).He passed away in 2013 (Heisei 25), deeply mourned by many.Aoi Art’s C
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Niigata · around 1926-1989
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Shōwa to the present: destruction and revival
The twentieth century nearly killed the craft twice: wartime distortion, then the occupation ban. The NBTHK’s founding in 1948 and licensed forging from 1953 rebuilt the sword as an art, crowned by Living National Treasures and the mukansa rank.
A Hozon-certified blade judged to show notably superior workmanship and a better state of preservation. The bar is higher: re-tempered blades and most unsigned Muromachi/Edo works are excluded.
The NBTHK (Nihon Bijutsu Tōken Hozon Kyōkai, the Society for the Preservation of Japanese Art Swords) is a public-interest incorporated foundation founded in 1948 and supervised by Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs (Bunkachō); it is based at the Japanese Sword Museum in Tokyo. Its expert panels physically examine each submitted work (shinsa) and issue a certificate (kanteishō) ranking it by artistic and historical merit. NBTHK papers are the most widely recognized standard of authentication for Japanese swords and fittings.
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