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 modern katana made by Akamatsu Taro Kanehiro in Reiwa 6 (2024). The blade features a shinogi-zukuri form with an iori-mune, itame hada, and choji-midare hamon. It comes with a shirasaya that won the Gold Prize at the 15th New Japanese Sword Polishing and Koshirae Exhibition (2025).
NihontoWatchmei · 現代（令和6年・2024年） · nagasa 73.2cm · sori 2.2cm
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 modern katana made by Akamatsu Taro Kanehiro in Reiwa 6 (2024). The blade features a shinogi-zukuri form with an iori-mune, itame hada, and choji-midare hamon. It comes with a shirasaya that won the Gold Prize at the 15th New Japanese Sword Polishing and Koshirae Exhibition (2025).
NihontoWatchmei · 現代（令和6年・2024年） · nagasa 73.2cm · sori 2.2cm
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.
