NihontoWatchThis is a tachi made by So Tsutomu, dated August 1983. So Tsutomu was a modern master smith, recognized as Mukansa, known for his skill in replicating Kotetsu and Kiyomaro. This particular blade, however, features a calm suguha hamon, with a finely forged jitetsu and intricate carvings of a dragon and a Bonji character.
Certificate reading — 銘 筑州住宗勉作 昭和五十八年八月吉日
NihontoWatchOffered by Toushin
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 siteReturns accepted within 3 days of delivery for defective items or significant discrepancies; customer bears return shipping and bank fees.
¥2,200,000