It’s here, it’s here—a famous tarto with a connection to the renowned O-Sa has appeared. The smith Sa, whose real name was Saemon Saburo Yasuyoshi, signed his mei simply as "Sa." Because of this, he has been called "Samonji" since ancient times. This genius master smith suddenly appeared in Chikuzen (Fukuoka Prefecture) and is famously known as one of the highest-ranking disciples among the Masamune Jittetsu (Ten Great Disciples of Masamune). Along with Awataguchi Yoshimitsu, Shintogo Kunimitsu, Norishige, and Osafune Kagemitsu, he left behind masterpieces as a grandmaster of the tanto.

During the Nanboku-cho period, in the 2nd year of Engen (1336) (688 years ago), Ashikaga Takauji—who had been ordered to be pursued by Kusunoki Masashige and Kitabatake Akiie after defecting from Emperor Go-Daigo's Kenmu Restoration—was defeated in and around Kyoto. He fled by sea to Kyushu. There, over two hundred swordsmiths of the Sa school joined Kikuchi Taketoshi, leader of the Higo Loyalists who sided with Emperor Go-Daigo, to intercept Ashikaga Takauji’s army at Tatarahama (near the Tatara River in Higashi-ku, Fukuoka). However, the Kikuchi army suffered a crushing defeat, and the Samonji school fought bravely alongside them, many dying in battle. The surviving swordsmiths left Hakata and migrated to Hirado in Hizen, Oishi in Chikugo, and Nagato, where they flourished as Hirado Sa, Oishi Sa, and Choshu Sa. In that same year of Engen 2 (1336), the loyal vassal Kusunoki Masashige also died at the Battle of Minatogawa, leading to the establishment of the Muromachi Shogunate by Ashikaga Takauji.

This tanto is an ubu mumei piece appraised as Hirado Sa. Because it follows the lineage of O-Sa, its sugata reflects the style of O-Sa; the mune is shin-no-mune, the motohaba is somewhat narrow with sori, presenting the excellent tanto form characteristic of Sa. The jigane is a match for O-Sa, featuring itame-hada mixed with mokume-hada. The hamon is a notare-midare mixed with gunome with konie, showing the characteristic Sa "double-edge" (nijuba) near the boshi, with kinsuji appearing within the blade; it is bright and very clear. The bonji engravings on both the omote and ura of the jitetsu are also very pleasing. The representative smith of Hirado Sa, who inherited the lineage of the tanto master O-Sa, was Sa Yasuyoshi; this tanto could well be appraised as Sa Yasuyoshi.

On this occasion, an elderly connoisseur who has thoroughly enjoyed this Sa tanto has entrusted it to us, asking that this famous Hirado Sa tanto be passed on affordably to a younger generation of Sa enthusiasts. Therefore, we are offering it at a special bargain price. Please enjoy it.

It’s here, it’s here—a famous tarto with a connection to the renowned O-Sa has appeared. The smith Sa, whose real name was Saemon Saburo Yasuyoshi, signed his mei simply as "Sa." Because of this, he has been called "Samonji" since ancient times. This genius master smith suddenly appeared in Chikuzen (Fukuoka Prefecture) and is famously known as one of the highest-ranking disciples among the Masamune Jittetsu (Ten Great Disciples of Masamune). Along with Awataguchi Yoshimitsu, Shintogo Kunimitsu, Norishige, and Osafune Kagemitsu, he left behind masterpieces as a grandmaster of the tanto.

During the Nanboku-cho period, in the 2nd year of Engen (1336) (688 years ago), Ashikaga Takauji—who had been ordered to be pursued by Kusunoki Masashige and Kitabatake Akiie after defecting from Emperor Go-Daigo's Kenmu Restoration—was defeated in and around Kyoto. He fled by sea to Kyushu. There, over two hundred swordsmiths of the Sa school joined Kikuchi Taketoshi, leader of the Higo Loyalists who sided with Emperor Go-Daigo, to intercept Ashikaga Takauji’s army at Tatarahama (near the Tatara River in Higashi-ku, Fukuoka). However, the Kikuchi army suffered a crushing defeat, and the Samonji school fought bravely alongside them, many dying in battle. The surviving swordsmiths left Hakata and migrated to Hirado in Hizen, Oishi in Chikugo, and Nagato, where they flourished as Hirado Sa, Oishi Sa, and Choshu Sa. In that same year of Engen 2 (1336), the loyal vassal Kusunoki Masashige also died at the Battle of Minatogawa, leading to the establishment of the Muromachi Shogunate by Ashikaga Takauji.

This tanto is an ubu mumei piece appraised as Hirado Sa. Because it follows the lineage of O-Sa, its sugata reflects the style of O-Sa; the mune is shin-no-mune, the motohaba is somewhat narrow with sori, presenting the excellent tanto form characteristic of Sa. The jigane is a match for O-Sa, featuring itame-hada mixed with mokume-hada. The hamon is a notare-midare mixed with gunome with konie, showing the characteristic Sa "double-edge" (nijuba) near the boshi, with kinsuji appearing within the blade; it is bright and very clear. The bonji engravings on both the omote and ura of the jitetsu are also very pleasing. The representative smith of Hirado Sa, who inherited the lineage of the tanto master O-Sa, was Sa Yasuyoshi; this tanto could well be appraised as Sa Yasuyoshi.

On this occasion, an elderly connoisseur who has thoroughly enjoyed this Sa tanto has entrusted it to us, asking that this famous Hirado Sa tanto be passed on affordably to a younger generation of Sa enthusiasts. Therefore, we are offering it at a special bargain price. Please enjoy it.