NihontoWatch傘笠 両山子正峯作之(人間国宝) 乙卯年八月日 We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo Saku, Jyojyo Saku, Jyo Saku and Regular Saku. This work is ranked as Jyo Saku among the works of Masamine. Shape:Wide blade with thick kasane, bohi carved on both sides. Deep curvature, with a relatively wide boshi. Jigane:Well-forged ko-itame hada forming a fine and refined steel surface. Hamon:Nie-based gunome-midare with variations in height. Thick nioiguchi with a midarekomi boshi. Features: Sumitani Masamine (real name: Yoichiro) was born in Taisho 10 (1921) in Matto City, Ishikawa Prefecture. After graduating from Ritsumeikan University in 1941, he entered the university’s Japanese sword forging research center and studied under Sakurai Masayuki. He began independent sword research in 1942. After the war, he was officially recognized as a swordsmith in 1954. In 1956, he established his smithy “Sanryūtei” in his hometown Matto, where this sword was also forged. In 1966, he became a mukansa swordsmith and a judge in exhibitions. He made sacred swords for the Ise Grand Shrine in 1964, 1966, 1969, and 1989. His work was closely connected with the imperial family, having crafted ceremonial swords for Emperor Akihito's enthronement in 1990, and protective daggers for Princess Mako (1991), Crown Princess Masako (1993), and Princess Kako (1994). Aoi Art’s Comment: From the first Sword Forging Techniques Exhibition in 1955, he submitted works continuously for 38 sessions. He pursued the Bizen tradition, perfected the so-called “Sumitani Chōji,” and led the revival of chōji hamon in modern swordsmithing. This piece also exhibits a vigorous and dynamic hamon. He researched Kamakura-period steelmaking and produced his own steel, resulting in tasteful, classically styled jigane. In addition to the Bizen tradition, he also left excellent works in the Soshu tradition, and even produced kodogu such as small swords and tantos with mountings. In 1981, he became the fourth swordsmith to be designated a Living National Treasure. He passed away in December 1998. NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token
Offered by Aoi Art
7 on the market
Ishikawa · around 1921-1998
7 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.
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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¥2,850,000
Certificate reading — 銘 傘笠両山子正峯作之 乙卯年八月日