{"product_id":"authentic-tachi-masachika-ajsa-certificate-tozando","title":"Authentic Japanese Tachi - The Living National Treasure Sumitani Masamine - Shirasaya(Sayagaki by Masamine himself and Kanzan) - NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate | Tozando","description":"\u003ch2\u003eJapanese Tachi by the Living National Treasure Sumitani Masamine (隅谷正峯), signed and dated Shōwa 41 (1966) — NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōken — a masterwork in the Kamakura Bizen tradition with his signature \"Sumitani-chōji\" — with a rare double sayagaki by Masamine himself and Satō Kanzan\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSigned and dated masterpiece tachi forged by Sumitani Masamine at his Sanryūtei forge · superbly packed ko-mokume with vivid Bizen midare-utsuri · the gorgeous \"Sumitani-chōji\" temper alive with ashi, yō, kinsuji and sunagashi · over 2 shaku 5 sun · double (both-side) sayagaki, gold-foil habaki\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA jewel of a blade in which the great Shōwa master and Living National Treasure \u003cem\u003eSumitani Masamine\u003c\/em\u003e reproduced, to the very limit, the Kamakura-period Bizen tradition at his own forge, the \u003cem\u003eSanryūtei\u003c\/em\u003e. Designated an NBTHK (Nihon Bijutsu Tōken Hozon Kyōkai) \u003cem\u003eTokubetsu Hozon Tōken\u003c\/em\u003e, this is a masterpiece tachi that reigns at the very summit of modern swords. Its \u003cem\u003eshirasaya\u003c\/em\u003e carries an exceptionally rare \u003cem\u003edouble sayagaki\u003c\/em\u003e — \"Sumitani Masamine\" on the front, and on the reverse an inscription by the towering authority of the sword-appraisal world, \u003cem\u003eSatō Kanzan\u003c\/em\u003e. Where the hand of a master smith and the authority of the connoisseur's world cross, the result is a piece of truly National-Treasure \/ Important-Cultural-Property character.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWorkmanship and condition\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePerfectly polished by a specialist togishi, the blade is preserved in the finest condition, without a single flaw or fault. The \u003cem\u003ejigane\u003c\/em\u003e is a \u003cem\u003eko-mokume\u003c\/em\u003e forged and packed with extreme finesse, showing a fresh, moist surface; delicate \u003cem\u003echikei\u003c\/em\u003e well up, and across the whole blade rises the clear, graceful \u003cem\u003emidare-utsuri\u003c\/em\u003e peculiar to the Bizen tradition — a superb ground that could be mistaken for an old masterwork of Ko-Bizen or Ichimonji. The \u003cem\u003ehamon\u003c\/em\u003e is the gorgeous \u003cem\u003eSumitani-chōji\u003c\/em\u003e that is the smith's signature: a bold, Shigefusa-like \u003cem\u003echōji-midare\u003c\/em\u003e of layered clusters with pronounced highs and lows, mixed with \u003cem\u003egunome\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003etogari-ba\u003c\/em\u003e, and richly filled with \u003cem\u003eashi\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eyō\u003c\/em\u003e. Tempered in \u003cem\u003enie\u003c\/em\u003e, the temper boundary shows fine \u003cem\u003ekinsuji\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003esunagashi\u003c\/em\u003e, and the whole, bright and utterly clear, radiates overwhelming vigor. The \u003cem\u003ebōshi\u003c\/em\u003e enters as a \u003cem\u003emidare-komi\u003c\/em\u003e and returns gracefully in \u003cem\u003eko-maru\u003c\/em\u003e, tempered soundly right to the tip, while a crisp, well-drawn \u003cem\u003ebō-hi\u003c\/em\u003e is carved through both faces, tightening the entire figure. The tang (\u003cem\u003enakago\u003c\/em\u003e) bears neat \u003cem\u003ekatte-sagari\u003c\/em\u003e file marks and is cut, clearly and powerfully, with the signature \u003cem\u003eKaga no Kuni jū Masamine oite Sanryūtei kore o tsukuru\u003c\/em\u003e and the date \u003cem\u003eShōwa 41 (1966), a lucky day in the eighth month\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eForm\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA commanding long blade with a \u003cem\u003enagasa\u003c\/em\u003e of 2 shaku 5 sun (75.8 cm). It shows the deep \u003cem\u003ekoshi-zori\u003c\/em\u003e and graceful curvature proper to a tachi, with solid, well-planted \u003cem\u003emotohaba\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003esakihaba\u003c\/em\u003e — magnificently capturing both the grandeur and the elegance of the great swords of the Kamakura age.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThe smith — Living National Treasure Sumitani Masamine\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSumitani Masamine (1921–1998) devoted himself to swordmaking at his forge, the \u003cem\u003eSanryūtei\u003c\/em\u003e, in Matto (present-day Hakusan), Ishikawa Prefecture, and in Shōwa 56 (1981) was certified a Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property (a Living National Treasure) — the foremost master of the modern sword world. He reached the very summit in the study of the Kamakura-period Bizen tradition, establishing his own distinctive \u003cem\u003eSumitani-chōji\u003c\/em\u003e, and is also renowned for having made numerous swords connected with the Japanese Imperial household (including sacred swords for the Ise Grand Shrine). His works are highly prized, in both dignity and artistic value, as treasures of the modern age.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThe mounting and sayagaki\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cem\u003eshirasaya\u003c\/em\u003e that houses the blade is of the highest grade, of exceptional value within a sword collection. Its front face bears a powerful \u003cem\u003esayagaki\u003c\/em\u003e in Masamine's own hand, and its reverse a meticulous appraisal \u003cem\u003esayagaki\u003c\/em\u003e by \u003cem\u003eKanzan\u003c\/em\u003e — an extremely rare \"both-side double sayagaki.\" It is proof that both the maker himself and the leading authority of the appraisal world recognized the quality of the work, heightening the joy of ownership to the utmost. A dignified gold-foil (\u003cem\u003ekin-kise\u003c\/em\u003e) \u003cem\u003ehabaki\u003c\/em\u003e with a finely worked lattice file pattern is also fitted.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA supreme masterpiece uniting a commanding, over-2-shaku-5-sun figure; the finest Sumitani-chōji, alive with kinsuji, sunagashi and utsuri; an NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon certificate; and a rare double sayagaki — a sword worthy of heading any collection, in which one may savor the very essence of the Living National Treasure Sumitani Masamine to the full.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eType:\u003c\/strong\u003e Tachi (shinogi-zukuri), with bō-hi on both faces\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSignature (mei):\u003c\/strong\u003e Kaga no Kuni jū Masamine oite Sanryūtei kore o tsukuru (加賀国住正峯於傘笠亭作之); dated Shōwa 41 (1966), 8th month, on a lucky day\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCertification:\u003c\/strong\u003e NBTHK \u003cem\u003eTokubetsu Hozon Tōken\u003c\/em\u003e (No. 1018512); double sayagaki by Sumitani Masamine and Satō Kanzan\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSmith:\u003c\/strong\u003e Sumitani Masamine (1921–1998), Living National Treasure (1981)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eJigane:\u003c\/strong\u003e finely packed ko-mokume with chikei and vivid Bizen midare-utsuri\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHamon:\u003c\/strong\u003e \"Sumitani-chōji\" — layered chōji-midare with gunome and togari-ba, nie-deki, ashi, yō, kinsuji and sunagashi; bright and clear\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBōshi:\u003c\/strong\u003e midare-komi, ko-maru return\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePeriod made:\u003c\/strong\u003e Shōwa 41 (1966) — modern (gendaitō)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBlade length (nagasa):\u003c\/strong\u003e 75.8 cm \/ 29.84 in (2 shaku 5 sun)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCurvature (sori):\u003c\/strong\u003e 2.8 cm (deep koshi-zori)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWidth at base (motohaba):\u003c\/strong\u003e 33.3 mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThickness at base (motokasane):\u003c\/strong\u003e 7.3 mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWidth at tip (sakihaba):\u003c\/strong\u003e 22.3 mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThickness at tip (sakikasane):\u003c\/strong\u003e 4.3 mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWeight (blade only):\u003c\/strong\u003e 750 g\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e perfectly polished, flawless\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMounting:\u003c\/strong\u003e shirasaya with double sayagaki (Sumitani Masamine \/ Satō Kanzan); gold-foil (kin-kise) habaki with lattice file pattern\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTorokushō (Japanese registration) No.:\u003c\/strong\u003e Okayama 123522\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Tozando Katana Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53627845247339,"sku":"611-ATQSWD-Okayama123522","price":5000000.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0491\/2178\/8069\/files\/okayama123522_masamune_1.jpg?v=1785369825","url":"https:\/\/japanesesword.net\/products\/authentic-tachi-masachika-ajsa-certificate-tozando","provider":"Tozando Katana Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}