We are pleased to announce the arrival of a Daisho set by Ikkansai Shigetsugu, master of the living national treasure Miyairi Akihira, who made many excellent Japanese swords during the turbulent period from the Meiji to Showa eras. This Daisho set was made in 1936 and is in excellent condition.

Let's start with the katana details. The hada is itame, with jinie attached, showing chikei, and is very strong. Hamon is a gunome with a tight nioi and a gorgeous choji forged on when held up to the light. The ha has active yo and ashi in the ha, and ends in a midarekomi boshi. Both sides of the blade are decorated with horimono, with Fudo Myo-o(Acala) on the sashi-omote and Kulika on the sashi-ura, beautifully and delicately engraved. On the nakago, the surface is engraved, “Kazama Ikkansai Shigetsugu made the carving as well, in response to Tezuka Tadatsugu's request. On the reverse side is engraved “February Good Day, 1936. Records indicate that Tezuka Tadatsugu was a wealthy merchant who lived in Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture, and paid a large amount of taxes. It is assumed that this Daisho set was made as a family heirloom of the Tezuka family.

Next is the wakizashi. Like the katana, the hada is a strong and beautiful itame with a jinie attached. Hamon is a gunome with a tighter nioi, and hataraki such as tama and yo are also active. Boshi, like katana, is midarekomi. Both sides of the blade are decorated with very exquisite flying dragon horimono. The notation on the nakago differs slightly from that on the katana, with only the name “Kazama Ikkansai Shigetsugu” engraved on the front. On the reverse side, the inscription reads, “Made on June 1, 1936, in response to Tezuka Tadatsugu's request.

Kazama Ikkansai Shigetsugu was born in Shizuoka in 1878 and his name is Kazama Giichi. His uncle was Miyaguchi Ikkansai Shigetoshi, a disciple of Morioka Masakichi. He was appointed by the Ministry of the Imperial Household to work on the restoration and transmission of Japanese swordsmithing methods, serving as the vice president of the Eastern Japan Forged Sword Industry Association and as a teacher at the Japanese Sword Denshujo in Akasaka, Tokyo. He was selected for the highest rank at the Imperial Exhibition and created numerous sword offerings.

Kazama Ikkansai Shigetsugu's works are rarely seen on the market, especially those with horimono and daisho set pieces. Considering their rarity and state of preservation, the Society for Preservation of Japanese Art Swords granted Tokubetsu Hozon status to both katanas and wakizashi, and issued certificates in May 2021.

These masterpieces rarely appear on the market. Please act now.

• Blade length: 70.6 cm(Katana)/51.4 cm(Wakizashi)
• Curvature: 2.0 cm(Katana)/1.2 cm(Wakizashi)
• Number of Mekugi hole: 1(Katana)/1(Wakizashi)
• Sakihaba: 22.2 mm(Katana)/21.5 mm(Wakizashi)
• Sakikasane: 5.3 mm(Katana)/4.3 mm(Wakizashi)
• Motohaba: 32.8 mm(Katana)/29.1 mm(Wakizashi)
• Motokasane: 6.7 mm(Katana)/5.1 mm(Wakizashi)
• Signature: Teduka Tadatsugu Shi no Motome ni Ojite Kazama Ikkansai Shigetsugu Hori wo Onajiku Tsukuru/Showa Juichi-nen Nigatsu Kchijitsu(Katana)/Kazama Ikkansai Shigetsugu/Teduka Tadatsugu Shi no Motome ni Ojita(Wakizashi)
• Era: Gendai
• Structure: Shinogi-zukuri, Iori-mune(Katana/Wakizashi)
• Jitetsu: Itame(Katana/Wakizashi)
• Hamon: Gunome/Choji(Katana)/Gunome(Wakizashi)
• Boshi: Midarekomi(Katana/Wakizashi)
• Weight(Blade only): 770 g(Katana)/480 g(Wakizashi)
• Nakago: Ubu(Katana/Wakizashi)
  
• Koshirae: Shirasaya(Katana/Wakizashi)
• Original Registration No.: Shizuoka 20526(Katana)/Shizuoka 20527(Wakizashi)

Please contact us if the katana you are looking for is not listed here.