A Masamine Kogatana (正峯作)

Ryôsanshi Masamine – also read Seihô – was born Sumitani Yoichirô on 24 January 1921. After graduating in mechanical engineering from Ritsumeikan University, he apprenticed under Sakurai Masayuki, a swordsmith in the lineage of the late-Edo master Koyama Munetsugu (固山宗次). He established the forge Sanryûtei in 1956, achieved mukansa status in 1966, and was awarded the title of ningen-kokuhô (Living National Treasure) in 1981 – becoming one of the most influential modern swordsmiths. He is particularly celebrated for his elegant and flamboyant chôji-midare hamon pattern inspired by the Bizen Ichimonji school of the Kamakura period, and for crafting sacred swords for the Ise Grand Shrine and ceremonial blades for the Imperial Household.

Around 1975, Masamine began research into tôsu – small knives modelled after those found in the Shosoin Repository. In 1986, he held a dedicated exhibition of such small works, and this delightfully rare kogatana is believed to have been created as part of that research. Dated to February 1984 in the Year of the Rat, it must not be mistaken for a simple kozuka blade: it is noticeably wider, carries its own habaki, and possesses considerable artistic merit. At 7.5cm, this miniature masterpiece is forged in a flowing, beautifully even masame-hada with chikei, topped by a bright gunome-midare hamon with midare-komi boshi, and polished by a mukansa-level polisher. The NTHK-NPO judges personally loved the blade and considered it Yûshûsaku (MasterWork) level.

The kogatana is housed in a beautifully lacquered kuro-ronuri kin maki-e koshirae decorated with gold autumn botanicals – strawberries, clematis, and leaves – which has also been certified by NTHK-NPO. The ensemble is completed by an exquisite gold habakiand comes presented in a lacquered maki-e storage box decorated with weeping willow and sakura, neatly fitted to hold both blade and koshirae. A remarkable and rare piece from one of Japan’s greatest modern swordsmiths.