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 Gassan Sadakatsu, a prominent swordsmith from the Taisho to early Showa period, known for his mastery of various traditions and the distinctive Ayasugi-hada. This particular blade was made in Showa 6 (1931) as a commemorative piece for Miyoshi Tokumatsu. It features a well-grained Koitamehada with Ayasugihada and a Niedeki Suguha Hamon, accompanied by an NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token paper.
Certificate reading — 銘 月山貞勝謹作(花押) 昭和六年三月吉日 皇子殿下御生誕記念 為三好徳松氏
NihontoWatchmei · Gassan · Showa (1926-1989) · nagasa 25.9cm
Shinshinto · Osaka · around 1926-1989
Fujishiro Jo saku · Tōken Taikan top 60%
10 pieces on the market now
Shinshinto · Settsu
37 pieces on the market now
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Sadakazu貞一 | 1864-1865 | 2 |
| Sadaharu貞晴 | 1865-1868 | 0 |
| Sadayoshi貞吉 | 1926-1989 | 0 |
| Yoshiaki吉明 | 1844-1848 | 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.
¥1,300,000
This is a tanto by Gassan Sadakatsu, a prominent swordsmith from the Taisho to early Showa period, known for his mastery of various traditions and the distinctive Ayasugi-hada. This particular blade was made in Showa 6 (1931) as a commemorative piece for Miyoshi Tokumatsu. It features a well-grained Koitamehada with Ayasugihada and a Niedeki Suguha Hamon, accompanied by an NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token paper.
Certificate reading — 銘 月山貞勝謹作(花押) 昭和六年三月吉日 皇子殿下御生誕記念 為三好徳松氏
NihontoWatchmei · Gassan · Showa (1926-1989) · nagasa 25.9cm
Shinshinto · Osaka · around 1926-1989
Fujishiro Jo saku · Tōken Taikan top 60%
10 pieces on the market now
Shinshinto · Settsu
37 pieces on the market now
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Sadakazu貞一 | 1864-1865 | 2 |
| Sadaharu貞晴 | 1865-1868 | 0 |
| Sadayoshi貞吉 | 1926-1989 | 0 |
| Yoshiaki吉明 | 1844-1848 | 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.
¥1,300,000
![Tanto - Hozon - by Gassan Sadayoshi - Fuyou Asahi, Ansei Hebidoshi 8gatsuhi (Attributed to Gassan Sadayoshi) [NBTHK Hozon]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fitbhfhyptogxcjbjfzwx.supabase.co%2Fstorage%2Fv1%2Fobject%2Fpublic%2Flisting-images%2Ftoyuukai%2FL519985%2F04.jpg&w=2560&q=90)
