{"product_id":"authentic-japanese-sword-katana-sadanao-nbsk-shinsakuto-certificate-tozando","title":"Authentic Japanese Sword - Katana - Sadanao - NBSK Shinsakuto Certificate | Tozando","description":"\u003ch2\u003eModern Japanese Katana, signed \"Aki-no-kuni Mikami Sadanao saku kore\" (安藝國三上貞直作之), dated Heisei 28 (2016) — by the Mukansa master Mikami Sadanao\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eA masterwork of Sōden-Bizen by a Mukansa smith and 7th chairman of the All Japan Swordsmiths' Association — brilliant, dynamic hamon on a flawless, densely forged ground, brand-new in shirasaya with an NBSK new-sword certificate\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTrained under the great master, the second-generation \u003cstrong\u003eGassan Sadaichi\u003c\/strong\u003e (a Living National Treasure), \u003cstrong\u003eMikami Sadanao (三上貞直)\u003c\/strong\u003e reigns over the contemporary sword world at its very summit, holding the highest rank a living smith can attain — \u003cem\u003emukansa\u003c\/em\u003e (exhibition-exempt). The quiet passion burning beneath his composed manner is realized here in a beautiful, densely packed \u003cem\u003ejigane\u003c\/em\u003e and a bright, dynamically active temper line. Bearing the supreme technique of a smith who has revived countless masterpieces for the modern age, this is a superb work to be treasured for a lifetime.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOn the smith — Sadanao (貞直)\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHis real name is \u003cstrong\u003eMikami Takanori (三上孝德)\u003c\/strong\u003e. Born in 1955, he entered the workshop of the Living National Treasure, the second-generation Gassan Sadaichi (then active in Nara), in 1974 at the age of nineteen. He received his swordsmith certification in 1980 and established the Mikami Sadanao Japanese Sword Forging Dōjō in Kita-Hiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture. From 1981 he won a host of awards at the Shinsaku Meitō-ten (New Masterpiece Sword Exhibition) — including the Takamatsu-no-miya Prize (twice) and the Agency for Cultural Affairs Commissioner's Prize (twice) — and in 1995 he was recognized as a \u003cem\u003eMukansa\u003c\/em\u003e smith, the highest rank in the modern sword world. Designated a Holder of Hiroshima Prefecture Intangible Cultural Property and a Japanese Sword Master Craftsman, in 2013 he became the 7th chairman of the All Japan Swordsmiths' Association, succeeding Yoshihara Kuniie. Highly esteemed for his restorations and faithful copies (\u003cem\u003eutsushi\u003c\/em\u003e) of National Treasure and famous blades, he is one of the representative master smiths of our time, particularly renowned for his \u003cstrong\u003eSōden-Bizen\u003c\/strong\u003e workmanship — the Bizen tradition enriched with elements of the Sōshū school.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSelected career highlights:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1974 — Entered the workshop of the Living National Treasure, 2nd-generation Gassan Sadaichi, at age 19\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1980 — Received swordsmith certification; opened the Mikami Sadanao Sword Forging Dōjō\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1981 — First entry to the Shinsaku Meitō-ten (to 1995: 7 special prizes, 4 awards, 4 selections)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1989 — Took part in the restoration of the famed spear \"Nihongō\" for the 400th anniversary of Hiroshima Castle\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1995 — Recognized as a \u003cem\u003eMukansa\u003c\/em\u003e (exhibition-exempt) master smith\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e2005 — Helped launch the All Japan Swordsmiths' Association's 1st Omamori-gatana Exhibition; participated in the Murakumo-kai Paris exhibition\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e2006 — Designated a Holder of Hiroshima Prefecture Intangible Cultural Property\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e2011 — Hiroshima Cultural Prize; Hiroshima Prefecture Regional Culture Contributor Award\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e2013 — Became the 7th chairman of the All Japan Swordsmiths' Association\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWorkmanship and condition\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cem\u003ejigane\u003c\/em\u003e is extremely healthy and exquisite — an intensely packed \u003cem\u003eko-itame\u003c\/em\u003e (small wood-grain) ground. Forged through painstaking folding, the steel shows a deep, blackish luster and is thickly covered all over with microscopic \u003cem\u003eji-nie\u003c\/em\u003e. Within its crystal-clear texture it holds a quiet depth and dignity, letting one fully savor the crispness of modern master technique. Over it is tempered a dynamic \u003cem\u003egunome\u003c\/em\u003e-style \u003cem\u003emidare\u003c\/em\u003e that draws bold, undulating waves of pronounced peaks and valleys. The \u003cem\u003enioiguchi\u003c\/em\u003e is deep, bright and clear; the interior of the hamon carries fine \u003cem\u003eko-ashi\u003c\/em\u003e, with faint \u003cem\u003esunagashi\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003ekinsuji\u003c\/em\u003e weaving through to create a three-dimensional landscape. The \u003cem\u003ebōshi\u003c\/em\u003e tempers in an irregular pattern (\u003cem\u003emidare-komi\u003c\/em\u003e) and turns back deeply in a \u003cem\u003eko-maru\u003c\/em\u003e, beautifully tightening the whole elegant figure. The blade is brand-new, as-made, with no flaws or rust of any kind.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eForm\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA full-length, powerful katana of \u003cem\u003eshinogi-zukuri\u003c\/em\u003e form, with a broad base, ample thickness, and a healthy tip. At 73.2 cm of edge with a graceful 1.7 cm curvature, it has the confident, dignified presence of a first-class modern blade.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThe mounting (shirasaya)\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe blade is preserved in a plain honoki-wood \u003cem\u003eshirasaya\u003c\/em\u003e (resting scabbard), the traditional way of keeping a fine sword in ideal condition and letting its steel and temper line be appreciated without distraction.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn short, this is a flawless, freshly forged Sōden-Bizen masterwork by one of the great \u003cem\u003emukansa\u003c\/em\u003e masters of our time — a densely forged ground, a brilliant and dynamic hamon, and the authority of a smith who leads the modern sword world. A supreme collection piece to be cherished for a lifetime.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eType:\u003c\/strong\u003e Katana (刀), shinogi-zukuri\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSmith:\u003c\/strong\u003e Mikami Sadanao (三上貞直), Mukansa; Aki Province (Hiroshima)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSignature (mei):\u003c\/strong\u003e Omote — \"Aki-no-kuni Mikami Sadanao kore o tsukuru\" (安藝國三上貞直作之); Ura — \"Heisei nijūhachinen nagatsuki kichijitsu\" (平成二十八年長月吉日 \/ an auspicious day in the 9th month, Heisei 28 = 2016)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eJigane:\u003c\/strong\u003e Extremely dense, healthy and refined ko-itame with abundant ji-nie and a deep luster\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHamon:\u003c\/strong\u003e Dynamic gunome-style midare of bold peaks and valleys; deep, bright nioiguchi with ko-ashi, faint sunagashi and kinsuji; midare-komi bōshi with ko-maru return\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLength of edge (nagasa):\u003c\/strong\u003e 73.2 cm (approx. 28.82 in \/ approx. 2 shaku 4 sun 2 bu)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCurvature (sori):\u003c\/strong\u003e 1.7 cm (approx. 0.67 in)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWidth at base (motohaba):\u003c\/strong\u003e 34.2 mm (approx. 1.35 in)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThickness at base (motokasane):\u003c\/strong\u003e 7.0 mm (approx. 0.28 in)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWidth at tip (sakihaba):\u003c\/strong\u003e 26.5 mm (approx. 1.04 in)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThickness at tip (sakikasane):\u003c\/strong\u003e 5.4 mm (approx. 0.21 in)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePeg holes (mekugi-ana):\u003c\/strong\u003e 1\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWeight (blade only):\u003c\/strong\u003e 833 g\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Brand-new, as-made; no flaws or rust\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMounting:\u003c\/strong\u003e Shirasaya (plain honoki wood)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCertification:\u003c\/strong\u003e NBSK (Nihontō Bunka Shinkō Kyōkai) new-sword certificate (shinsakutō shōmeisho)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRegistration No.:\u003c\/strong\u003e Hiroshima No. 62937 (広島 第62937号)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Tozando Katana Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53793964163435,"sku":"588-HSK062937C","price":10000000.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0491\/2178\/8069\/files\/hiroshima62937_sadanao_1.jpg?v=1788400812","url":"https:\/\/japanesesword.net\/products\/authentic-japanese-sword-katana-sadanao-nbsk-shinsakuto-certificate-tozando","provider":"Tozando Katana Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}