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.
This is a tanto by Gassan Sadakazu, a Living National Treasure, dated 1976. It features a beautiful Nie-tsuki, deep Nioi, and a clear Jiba. The blade exhibits a small-Itamehada-tsumi, fine Chikei, and a vibrant hamon of small-Notare mixed with Gunome, thick Ashi, and prominent Kinsuji and Sunagashi.
NihontoWatchmei · Gassan · Showa (1926-1989) · nagasa 28.6cm · sori 0.1cm
Yamato · around 1907-1995
Tōken Taikan top 49%
5 pieces on the market now
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.
Certifies a genuine blade worth preserving: a signature confirmed correct, or, if unsigned, an era, province, and school that the NBTHK can reliably identify.
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 siteReturns/exchanges/cancellations not accepted after shipment except for significant defects; if defective, return/exchange possible within 3 days of arrival (return shipping paid by customer).
This is a tanto by Gassan Sadakazu, a Living National Treasure, dated 1976. It features a beautiful Nie-tsuki, deep Nioi, and a clear Jiba. The blade exhibits a small-Itamehada-tsumi, fine Chikei, and a vibrant hamon of small-Notare mixed with Gunome, thick Ashi, and prominent Kinsuji and Sunagashi.
NihontoWatchmei · Gassan · Showa (1926-1989) · nagasa 28.6cm · sori 0.1cm
Yamato · around 1907-1995
Tōken Taikan top 49%
5 pieces on the market now
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.
Certifies a genuine blade worth preserving: a signature confirmed correct, or, if unsigned, an era, province, and school that the NBTHK can reliably identify.
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 siteReturns/exchanges/cancellations not accepted after shipment except for significant defects; if defective, return/exchange possible within 3 days of arrival (return shipping paid by customer).
![Katana - Tokuho - by Gassan Sadakazu - Signed Naniwa ju Gassan Unryushi Sadakazu tsukuru [Seal] Keio gannen 11 gatsujitsu](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fitbhfhyptogxcjbjfzwx.supabase.co%2Fstorage%2Fv1%2Fobject%2Fpublic%2Flisting-images%2Fchoshuya%2FL805711%2F00.jpg&w=2560&q=90)
