AS25132 Katana:Amata Akitsugu Saku Kore (Living National Treasure)(NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token)

Ordering number:AS25132

Katana in Shirasaya (NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token)

Signature: Amata Akitsugu Saku Kore (Living National Treasure)
A fortunate day in January, 1977
Made on request by Mr. Takeshi Muraki
天田昭次作之(人間国宝)
昭和五十二年正月吉日
應村木毅氏需

We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo Saku, Jyojyo Saku, Jyo Saku and Regular Saku.
This work is ranked as Saijyo Saku (the highest grade) among the works by Amata Akitsugu.
Habaki: Gold-plated double Habaki
Blade Length: 72.0 cm (28.35 in)
Curvature: 2.6 cm (1.02 in)
Mekugi Hole: 1
Width at Base (Motohaba): 3.08 cm (1.21 in)
Width at Yokote: 2.29 cm (0.90 in)
Thickness of rim (Kasane): 0.725 cm (0.29 in)
Sword Weight: 805 g
Shape: A healthy blade with solid width and thickness, retaining the ubuha (original edge).
There are bohi (grooves) on both sides.
Jigane: Finely forged ko-itame hada of top quality, becoming a refined and excellent steel.
Hamon: A bright and clear suguha with fine nioi-ashi.
The boshi turns back with a gentle notare and finishes in a komaru.

Features:　Born in Niigata Prefecture in 1927 (Showa 2) as the eldest son of swordsmith Amata Sadayoshi.
His father passed away when he was 10 years old.
Following advice, he moved to Tokyo right after graduating elementary school to study under Kurihara Hikosaburo.
He entered the Nihonto Tanrenjo (Japanese Sword Forging Studio) established by Kurihara and was engaged in making military swords.
After the war ended in Tokyo, he returned to Niigata.
In 1954 (Showa 29), he received official permission to forge swords from the Cultural Properties Sword Forging Committee and began full-scale swordsmithing.
He studied the Soshu tradition, focusing deeply on sword-making, and mastered suguha with exceptional jigane, winning the prestigious Masamune Prize three times.
From 1973 (Showa 48), he forged sacred treasure swords for the Ise Shrine three times.
In 1997 (Heisei 9), he was designated as a Living National Treasure (Ningen Kokuho).
He passed away in 2013 (Heisei 25), deeply mourned by many.

Aoi Art’s Comment:　I am deeply impressed by the effort and skill that went into forging this suguha blade.
The meticulously polished fine steel reflects the spirit of sword lovers.
This is a magnificent work that seems to have been crafted with the utmost care and precision.

Era:1977 (Showa 52)
That year, Sadaharu Oh broke the world home run record and became the first recipient of the People’s Honor Award.
Japan also launched its first geostationary meteorological satellite “Himawari”, while suffering damage from the heavy snow disaster known as the “Go-ni heavy snow”.

NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token
Aoi Art estimation paper
Whole Oshigata