NihontoWatchTanto in Shirasaya with Koshirae (NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token), accompanied by a maki-e lacquer box. (We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo Saku, Jyojyo Saku, Jyo Saku and Regular Saku). This blade is ranked as Jyojyo Saku among the works of Osaka ju Gassan Sadakatsu. Shape: A slightly compact tanto with a width at the base of 2.16 cm (0.85 in), retaining abundant original cutting edge. Jigane: Beautiful Yamashiro-style jigane. Hamon: Suguha with soft ko-ashi, the boshi returning in a rounded form. Features: Gassan Sadakatsu was the son of the first-generation Gassan Sadakazu and one of the foremost swordsmiths from the Taisho period through the early Showa era. Although renowned for his distinctive ayasugi-hada, he was also a master of a wide variety of forging styles. This tanto was forged on an auspicious day in May 1934, making it a pre-war work by Sadakatsu. Historical Background: Showa 9 (1934) was a year marked by a series of devastating natural disasters in Japan. In March, the Great Hakodate Fire, driven by strong winds, destroyed much of the city's center. In September, the Muroto Typhoon struck the Kansai region, causing catastrophic damage and resulting in more than 3,000 deaths and missing persons. Internationally, Austrian Nazis assassinated Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss on July 25, 1934, and Adolf Hitler became Führer of Germany on August 19, 1934. NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token.
NihontoWatchOffered by Aoi Art
7 on the market
As written by the shop
Shinshinto · Osaka · around 1926-1989
Fujishiro Jo saku · Tōken Taikan top 60%
7 pieces on the market now
Where Sadakatsu stands among comparable artisans: across all of nihontō, and within tradition, era, and period. The tiers (Foremost · Leading · Major · Notable) weigh official designations from the NBTHK and Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs, together with historical honors of lasting repute such as the Sansaku and Meibutsu-chō.
Select a lens to see how it's measured.
Shinshinto · Settsu
28 pieces on the market now
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Sadaharu貞晴 | 1865-1868 | 0 |
| Sadayoshi貞吉 | 1926-1989 | 0 |
| Yoshiaki吉明 | 1844-1848 | 0 |
| Naonobu直信 | 1854-1860 | 0 |
| Sadayoshi貞吉 | 1830-1863 | 0 |
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 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.
¥2,000,000