NihontoWatchA work designated as Tokubetsu Hozon Token by Osumi Toshihira, a holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property (Ningen Kokuho) and the highest rank of modern tosho. Osumi Toshihira (real name Sadao) was born in Ota City in Showa 7, and in Showa 27 he studied under the tosho Miyairi Akihira (who became a Ningen Kokuho in Showa 38) in Sakaki Town, Nagano Prefecture, to learn sakuto techniques. He became independent in Showa 33, and thereafter won the highest award, the Masamune Sho, three times at the "Shinsaku Meito Ten"; in Showa 63 he was recommended as an honorary citizen of Ota City, and in Heisei 9 he was certified as a holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property (Ningen Kokuho). His style consistently adhered to suguha, and he left behind many works that were particularly long in nagasa and large in scale. He passed away in Heisei 21. This work is a rare surviving example of a ken by Osumi Toshihira. The ken is one of the Mikkyo ritual implements, and as a weapon used by deities and Buddhas, it has been depicted many times since ancient times in Buddhist statues and paintings held by figures such as Fudo Myoo. Originally, ken possessed by deities, Buddhas, or ascetics were not for practical use by samurai, but were custom orders for dedication to deities and Buddhas, so naturally few surviving works exist. Among them, as far as my limited knowledge goes, this is the only ken produced by this smith, making it an extremely precious work. Sayagaki by Mr. Honma Kunzan, imitating Awataguchi Kuniyoshi.
Certificate reading — 銘 俊平（大隅俊平） 昭和五十五年秋吉日
NihontoWatchOffered by Iida Koendo
5 on the market
As written by the shop
Machine translation from the shop's Japanese · may contain errors ·
Osumi · around 1926-1989
5 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.
NBTHK official siteFor returns at the customer's convenience, please notify us within two days of the item's arrival. Items that have been altered cannot be accepted. Return shipping is at the customer's expense. Costs other than the item price (bank transfer fees, cash-on-delivery fees, etc.) cannot be refunded. Items delivered overseas cannot be returned or refunded.
¥2,200,000