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 newly forged katana by the modern smith Akamatsu Taro Kanehiro (Kimura Kaoru), residing in Yatsushiro City, Kumamoto Prefecture. Born in 1961, he began forging in 1981 under his father, Kanehige, a master swordsmith. This particular blade, created in 2024 for iaido practice, features a well-balanced body, good sound, and new fittings. It is highly recommended.
NihontoWatchmei · 現代（令和６年・2024年） · nagasa 72.9cm · sori 1.6cm
Higo (Yatsushiro) · Heisei-Reiwa
9 pieces on the market now
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.
We could not find an authenticity certificate on the seller’s listing. Japanese swords and fittings are normally papered by the NBTHK (or the NTHK). Without one, the attribution is the seller’s own assessment and has not been independently verified — treat it with caution and ask the dealer about certification before buying.
This is a newly forged katana by the modern smith Akamatsu Taro Kanehiro (Kimura Kaoru), residing in Yatsushiro City, Kumamoto Prefecture. Born in 1961, he began forging in 1981 under his father, Kanehige, a master swordsmith. This particular blade, created in 2024 for iaido practice, features a well-balanced body, good sound, and new fittings. It is highly recommended.
NihontoWatchmei · 現代（令和６年・2024年） · nagasa 72.9cm · sori 1.6cm
Higo (Yatsushiro) · Heisei-Reiwa
9 pieces on the market now
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.
We could not find an authenticity certificate on the seller’s listing. Japanese swords and fittings are normally papered by the NBTHK (or the NTHK). Without one, the attribution is the seller’s own assessment and has not been independently verified — treat it with caution and ask the dealer about certification before buying.
