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.
This is a tanto by Miyairi Shohei, a Living National Treasure, forged in 1964. It features a hira-zukuri shape with a slightly thick kasane and uchi-zori. The blade exhibits a well-forged itame hada with strong ji-nie and chikei, and a bright, clear hamon in ko-notare mixed with gunome and ko-gunome, showing rich activity. It comes with NBTHK Hozon papers.
Certificate reading — 銘 宮入昭平作 昭和甲辰年春
NihontoWatchmei · Showa (1926-1989) · nagasa 24.2cm
Tokyo · around 1926-1989
3 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 siteReturns accepted within 8 days of receipt (cooling-off). Excludes items with alterations, exhibitions, or photography; return shipping is customer's responsibility. No returns/refunds for overseas deliveries.
Price on request
This is a tanto by Miyairi Shohei, a Living National Treasure, forged in 1964. It features a hira-zukuri shape with a slightly thick kasane and uchi-zori. The blade exhibits a well-forged itame hada with strong ji-nie and chikei, and a bright, clear hamon in ko-notare mixed with gunome and ko-gunome, showing rich activity. It comes with NBTHK Hozon papers.
Certificate reading — 銘 宮入昭平作 昭和甲辰年春
NihontoWatchmei · Showa (1926-1989) · nagasa 24.2cm
Tokyo · around 1926-1989
3 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 siteReturns accepted within 8 days of receipt (cooling-off). Excludes items with alterations, exhibitions, or photography; return shipping is customer's responsibility. No returns/refunds for overseas deliveries.
Price on request
