NihontoWatchKatana in Shirasaya (NBTHK Hozon Token) We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo Saku, Jyojyo Saku, Jyo Saku and Regular Saku. This sword is ranked as Jyojyo Saku for works by Sakai Ikkansai Shigemasa. Shape: A wide-bodied sword with remaining ubuha (original blade edge), moderate curvature, and a slightly wide kissaki. Jigane: Finely forged ko-itame hada, dense and of excellent quality. Hamon: Nie-based gunome-midare with deep nioiguchi, well-developed ashi, and fine kinsuji within the ha. The boshi is rounded and returns. On one side, the nie becomes sweeping toward the tip. Features: Sakai Ikkansai Shigemasa was recognized as a Mukansa smith. "Mukansa" is the highest rank given to swordsmiths by the NBTHK, requiring multiple top awards in their competitions. He was born in 1905 (Meiji 38) in Shizuoka as Sakai Kojiro. At age 16, in 1921 (Taisho 10), he decided to become a swordsmith and moved to become a disciple of Kasama Ikkansai Shigetsugu. He received the name “Shigemasa” from his master. In 1941 (Showa 16), he was appointed as an army-commissioned swordsmith, and in 1944, he was also appointed by the navy. After the war, he was certified as a Mukansa smith in 1981 (Showa 56). He later changed his name to Shigemasa and became known as a master of horimono (blade carvings), producing many works. He passed away in 1996 at the age of 91. Aoi Art’s Comment: You may refer to the back side of the Shinshinto Taikan for detailed information about Shigemasa after he changed his name. He is a renowned Japanese swordsmith. The 1970 Japan World Exposition was held in the same year this sword was made. NBTHK Hozon Token Aoi Art estimation paper Whole Oshigata
Certificate reading — 銘 酒井一貫斎繁政作之 昭和二十五年八月吉日
NihontoWatchOffered by Aoi Art
4 on the market
As written by the shop
around 1926-1989
4 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.
Certifies a genuine blade worth preserving: a signature confirmed correct, or, if unsigned, an era, province, and school that the NBTHK can reliably identify.
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 siteIf you wish to return an item, please notify us within 3 days of receipt. After this period we cannot accept cancellations. Please ship the return to us within 5 business days. Cancellation is conditional on the item being kept in the same condition as at the time of sale, so please handle it with care.
¥950,000