NihontoWatchOrdering Number: 25012Katana in Shirasaya (NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token)Signature:Yamato Hosho Sadamune-den 大和保昌貞宗伝Yoshinoyama Nihon Gassan Seiten Saku 吉野山日本月山精鍛作Showa 12 nen 3 Gatsu Kichijitsu (March, 1937) 昭和十二年三月吉日We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo Saku, Jyojyo Saku, Jyo Saku and Regular Saku.This piece is ranked as Jyojyo Saku among the works of Gassan Sadakatsu.Habaki: Single-layer silver, Gassan-style Habaki.Blade Length: 67.6 cm (26.61 in)Curvature: 2.2 cm (0.87 in)Mekugi Hole: 1Width at Base (Motohaba): 2.98 cm (1.17 in)Width at Yokote (Sakihaba): 1.82 cm (0.72 in)Thickness of rim (Kasane): 0.71 cm (0.28 in)Sword Weight: 710 gramsEra: March, Showa 12 (1937)Shape: The blade has a solid width and slightly thick kasane with a visible ubuha (original temper).It is a healthy piece with deep curvature and extended kissaki.Jigane: Well-forged straight grain (masame-hada) with ji-nie and the same straight grain pattern on the shinogi-ji.Hamon: Tight masame-hada with ji-nie and a midare-komi boshi.The blade contains sunagashi and kinsuji activities.Features:This sword is a work of Gassan Sadakatsu, made in the tradition of Yamato Hosho Sadamune.The masame-hada is excellently forged and the polish is outstanding.Highly recommended piece.It is believed that Sadakatsu made this sword in place of Sadakazu due to his advanced age.This work shows a highly skilled execution of the difficult masame-hada.NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token CertificateAoiArt estimation paper: Whole Oshigata*Shipping fee is not included in the price.Price:2,200,000JPYOrder FormRelated Items:Katana:Mumei (attributed to Den Hosho).(NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token)Katana: Osaka Ju Gassan Sadakatsu Kinsaku (Kao)(NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token)Katana:Osaka Ju Gassan Sadakatsu (Kao) (NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token)Katana:Osaka Gassan Sadakazu Saku(stamped) Meiji 30 Nen 8 Gatsu Hi Motte Soushu Kamakura Masamune Den(NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token)Katana: Naniwa ju Gassan Unryushi Sadakazu Kitae (Kokuin) (NBT
Certificate reading — 銘 大和保昌貞宗伝吉野山日本刀月山精錬作(貞勝) 昭和十二年三月吉日
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Shinshinto · Osaka · around 1926-1989
Fujishiro Jo saku · Tōken Taikan top 60%
6 pieces on the market now
Where Sadakatsu stands among comparable artisans: across all of nihontō, and within tradition, era, and period. The tiers (Foremost · Leading · Major · Notable) weigh official designations from the NBTHK and Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs, together with historical honors of lasting repute such as the Sansaku and Meibutsu-chō.
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Shinshinto · Settsu
27 pieces on the market now
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Sadaharu貞晴 | 1865-1868 | 0 |
| Sadayoshi貞吉 | 1926-1989 | 0 |
| Yoshiaki吉明 | 1844-1848 | 0 |
| Naonobu直信 | 1854-1860 | 0 |
| Sadayoshi貞吉 | 1830-1863 | 0 |
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.
NBTHK official siteIf you wish to return an item, please notify us within 3 days of receipt. After this period we cannot accept cancellations. Please ship the return to us within 5 business days. Cancellation is conditional on the item being kept in the same condition as at the time of sale, so please handle it with care.