Tachi, signed "Masaya saku" (正也作), dated February Heisei 28 (2016) — a Kanzan-Prize-winning modern master of Mino, with a dramatic ō-midare temper and a matching "carp ascending the dragon gate" koshirae

Koto spirit in a living smith's hand: a bold, dimensional ō-itame ji and a wild, high-reaching ō-midare hamon by Masaya (Yoshida Masaya), 2024 Kanzan Prize winner — dressed in a koshirae themed on the auspicious "登竜門" legend of worldly success.

We are pleased to offer a powerful, full-length tachi by Masaya (正也), one of the most accomplished younger swordsmiths working today, based in Mino Province (present-day Gifu). Signed "Masaya saku" on the front and dated February Heisei 28 (2016) on the reverse, the blade pairs a deep, three-dimensional forging with a wild, high-reaching ō-midare temper that recalls the flamboyant work of the old Bizen masters. It comes complete with a finely matched uchigatana koshirae built around a single, auspicious theme — the carp that climbs the waterfall to become a dragon.

On the smith — Masaya (正也 / Yoshida Masaya)

Masaya, whose given name is Yoshida Masaya, trained under the fine swordsmith Yoshida Masaaki II, from whom he inherited the traditional forging techniques and the composed, classical sense of form that descend from the koto era. He obtained his licence to forge swords from the Agency for Cultural Affairs in 2005 and has steadily built a formidable record of results and recognition: an Effort Prize (2019) and a Bronze Prize at the Sword-Craft Technical Exhibition (2019), culminating in the Kanzan Prize at the 2024 Modern Swordsmith Exhibition (Gendai Tōshoku-ten) hosted by the NBTHK — a prestigious honour among today's makers. He is particularly noted for his renderings of the flamboyant Bizen tradition, including "Yamatorige utsushi" (homages to the celebrated Ichimonji masterpiece), a background that shows clearly in the exuberant temper of this blade. Fusing sound traditional method with a highly developed aesthetic — and welcoming apprentices from abroad — Masaya is one of the young masters carrying the beauty and spirit of the Japanese sword to the next generation and to the wider world.

Selected career highlights:

• 2000: Apprenticed under Yoshida Masaaki (2nd generation)
• 2005: Received forging certification from the Agency for Cultural Affairs
• 2019: "Gendai Tōshoku-ten," hosted by the NBTHK — Effort Award
• 2019: "Craft Technique Exhibition," hosted by the Nihontō Bunka Shinkō Kyōkai — Bronze Award
• 2024: "Gendai Tōshoku-ten," hosted by the NBTHK — Kanzan Prize
  

Form, workmanship and condition

The jigane is forged in a large itame (ō-itame) that stands up boldly to give the surface real depth and dimensionality, with fine chikei threading intricately through it and dense ji-nie laid richly across the steel — an evocative, koto-like texture. The hamon is a fierce, high-reaching ō-midare that rises from the flat of the blade almost to the shinogi ridge, mixed with tobiyaki-like activity for a truly dramatic temper. Ko-nie gather beautifully along the habuchi, the nioiguchi is bright and clear, and the interior of the temper is rich in ashi and yō, drawing a dynamic, impassioned pattern of surging waves. The bōshi carries that same momentum, tumbling deep into a midare-komi and turning back — a thoroughly satisfying finish. As a newly made blade it is in flawless, as-forged condition, with no defects or rust.

The shape is a well-ordered shinogi-zukuri with iori-mune, of ample width and thickness and a beautiful curve, carrying an air of dignity. A slender yet powerful bōhi (single groove) is cut cleanly through, adding a taut tension and refinement to the whole. The nagasa is 76.5 cm (about 30.12 inches, roughly 2 shaku 5 sun 2 bu) with a sori of 1.4 cm (about 0.55 inch); motohaba 34.7 mm and sakihaba 23.5 mm, motokasane 8.2 mm and sakikasane 6.2 mm, with one mekugi-ana. The blade alone weighs 830 g, and 1,090 g mounted (without the scabbard).

The mounting (koshirae)

The blade is furnished with a high-quality uchigatana koshirae assembled around one spirited, unified motif. Its great charm lies in the coordinated fittings, which evoke the "Dragon Gate" (登竜門 — a carp climbing a waterfall). The tsuba is an iron openwork piece rendering, with tremendous energy, a carp battling its way up through churning waves, and the menuki hidden within the hilt are likewise valiant carp. The image of the carp that surmounts the rapids and at last transforms into a dragon is a highly auspicious emblem of "success in life" and of the indomitable spirit that breaks through adversity. The tsuka is bound in dignified, deep wisteria-purple (fuji-murasaki) silk ito, wrapped in neat, orderly hishi over black-dyed same. A weighty black ishime-textured saya with a matching sageo draws the whole together and sets off the "Dragon Gate" story told by the tsuba and menuki. Blade and mounting meet at a high level — the martial spirit and aspiration of the samurai given form.

Specifications

• Type: Tachi (太刀), shinogi-zukuri, iori-mune
• Signature: Front "Masaya saku" (正也作); reverse "February, Heisei 28" (平成二十八年二月 = 2016)
• Smith: Masaya (Yoshida Masaya), Mino / Gifu; pupil of Yoshida Masaaki II; 2024 Kanzan Prize, Modern Swordsmith Exhibition (NBTHK)
• Jigane: Bold, standing ō-itame with intricate chikei and abundant ji-nie — deep and dimensional
• Hamon: Vigorous, high-reaching ō-midare with tobiyaki-like activity; ko-nie, bright nioiguchi, plentiful ashi and yō; bōshi midare-komi, deep, with return
• Horimono: Bōhi (single groove), both faces
• Nagasa (blade length): 76.5 cm (≈ 30.12 in / ≈ 2 shaku 5 sun 2 bu)
• Sori (curvature): 1.4 cm (≈ 0.55 in)
• Motohaba: 34.7 mm
• Motokasane: 8.2 mm
• Sakihaba: 23.5 mm
• Sakikasane: 6.2 mm
• Mekugi-ana: 1
• Weight: 830 g (blade only); 1,090 g (mounted, without scabbard)
• Condition: New, as-made; no defects or rust
• Mounting: Uchigatana koshirae — iron openwork "carp in waves" tsuba, carp menuki, wisteria-purple silk hishi-maki over black-dyed same, black ishime-nuri saya with matching sageo ("Dragon Gate / 登竜門" theme)
• Certification / included: Koshirae included
• Registration No.: Gifu No. 83032