{"id":33841,"date":"2026-10-28T11:20:21","date_gmt":"2026-10-28T02:20:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sword-auction.com\/product\/33841\/as23660-%e5%88%80%e9%85%92%e4%ba%95%e4%b8%80%e8%b2%ab%e6%96%8e%e7%b9%81%e6%94%bf%e7%84%a1%e9%91%91%e6%9f%bb%e5%88%80%e5%8c%a0%e4%bf%9d%e5%ad%98%e5%88%80%e5%89%a3\/"},"modified":"2026-10-28T11:20:50","modified_gmt":"2026-10-28T02:20:50","slug":"as23660-%e5%88%80%e9%85%92%e4%ba%95%e4%b8%80%e8%b2%ab%e6%96%8e%e7%b9%81%e6%94%bf%e7%84%a1%e9%91%91%e6%9f%bb%e5%88%80%e5%8c%a0%e4%bf%9d%e5%ad%98%e5%88%80%e5%89%a3","status":"publish","type":"product","link":"https:\/\/sword-auction.com\/en\/product\/33841\/as23660-%e5%88%80%e9%85%92%e4%ba%95%e4%b8%80%e8%b2%ab%e6%96%8e%e7%b9%81%e6%94%bf%e7%84%a1%e9%91%91%e6%9f%bb%e5%88%80%e5%8c%a0%e4%bf%9d%e5%ad%98%e5%88%80%e5%89%a3\/","title":{"rendered":"AS23660 Katana:Sakai Ikkansai Shigemasa (Mukansa Swordsmith) (NBTHK Hozon Token)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ordering Number: AS23660<\/p>\n

Katana in Shirasaya (NBTHK Hozon Token)<\/p>\n

Signature: Sakai Ikkansai Shigemasa (Mukansa Swordsmith)
\nForged and carved using old iron from Himeji Castle.
\nHaja Kensho (Destroy Evil and Reveal Righteousness).
\nMade in the northern part of Tokyo at the age of 64.
\nAn auspicious day in March 1970.
\nMade at the request of Mr. Konagai Masatoshi.
\n\u9152\u4e95\u4e00\u8cab\u658e\u7e41\u653f(\u7121\u9451\u67fb\u5200\u5320)
\n\u4ee5\u59eb\u8def\u57ce\u53e4\u9244\u5f6b\u540c\u4f5c
\n\u7834\u90aa\u9855\u6b63\u65bc\u6771\u90fd\u57ce\u5317\u516d\u5341\u56db\u6b73
\n\u662d\u548c\u56db\u5341\u4e94\u5e74\u4e09\u6708\u5409\u7965\u65e5
\n\u5fdc\u5c0f\u9577\u4e95\u6b63\u654f\u6c0f\u9700<\/p>\n

(We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo Saku, Jyojyo Saku, Jyo Saku and Regular Saku).
\nThis blade is ranked as Jyo Saku among the works of Sakai Ikkansai Shigemasa.
\nHabaki: Double gold-foiled habaki.
\nBlade Length: 73.3 cm (28.86 in).
\nCurvature: 2.2 cm (0.87 in).
\nMekugi Hole: 1.
\nWidth at Base (Motohaba): 3.27 cm (1.29 in).
\nWidth at Yokote: 2.39 cm (0.94 in).
\nThickness of rim (Kasane): 0.70 cm (0.28 in).
\nSword Weight: 680 g.
\nEra: 1970 (Showa 45).
\nShape: A blade with a wide mihaba and standard kasane.
\nBo-hi are carved on both sides of the blade.
\nThe front features a magnificent horimono of Fudo Myo-o surrounded by flames, while the reverse side is carved with a dragon.
\nJigane: Beautifully refined and well-forged ko-itame hada, displaying exceptionally fine steel.
\nHamon: Ko-nie-deki gunome-midare with a relatively deep nioiguchi and well-defined ashi.<\/p>\n

Features: Sakai Ikkansai Shigemasa was a swordsmith born in Shizuoka Prefecture in 1905 (Meiji 38).
\nHis real name was Sakai Hiroshi.
\nIn 1921 (Taisho 10), he became an apprentice to Kasama Shigetsugu.
\nHe received the character “Shige” from his master as part of his swordsmith name.
\nIn 1932 (Showa 7), he became independent and began forging swords at the Nihonto Tanrenjo (Japanese Sword Forging Workshop) of Yasukuni Shrine.
\nHowever, his swordmaking activities were interrupted by the end of World War II.
\nIn 1981 (Showa 56), he was officially recognized as a Mukansa swordsmith by the Society for the Preservation of Japanese Art Swords (NBTHK).
\nHe passed away at the age of 91.
\nShigemasa executed the carvings on this blade at the age of 64.
\nThe blade retains its original ubu-ba (unsharpened portion near the base), indicating that it remains in healthy and well-preserved condition.<\/p>\n

Aoi Art\u2019s Comment: Many works by Shigemasa are illustrated in the Shinshinto Taikan (Comprehensive Reference of Shinshinto Swords), and we recommend examining these examples for comparison.
\nThis particular sword is especially noteworthy because it was forged using old iron recovered from Himeji Castle during restoration and modification work.
\nThe steel displays a beautifully refined and well-forged jigane.
\nThe inscription reads: “Sakai Ikkansai Shigemasa, made and carved using old iron from Himeji Castle, in the northern part of Tokyo, at the age of 64.”
\nThe fact that the swordsmith recorded his age in the inscription suggests that he devoted considerable effort and personal attention to the creation of this blade.
\nThe phrase Haja Kensho (\u7834\u90aa\u9855\u6b63) means “to destroy evil and reveal righteousness.”
\nHaja refers to overcoming evil or false teachings, while Kensho means revealing and upholding what is true and righteous.
\nThe magnificent horimono on both sides of the blade, combined with the brilliant and flamboyant hamon, creates an exceptionally beautiful appearance.
\nFurthermore, the use of historic iron, including old nails and other iron materials recovered from Himeji Castle, makes this sword particularly rare and valuable.
\nIt is also unusual for a swordsmith to engrave his age on a blade, making this an especially interesting and significant example of Shigemasa’s craftsmanship.
\nOverall, this is an outstanding work displaying excellent workmanship, remarkable carvings, and a fascinating historical connection to Himeji Castle.<\/p>\n

NBTHK Hozon Token.
\nAoiArt estimation paper: Whole Oshigata.
\nPlease note: The price does not include the international shipping fees.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>
\n\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ordering Number: AS23660 Katana in Shirasaya (NBTHK Hozon Token) Signature: Sakai Ikkansai Shigemasa (Mukansa Swordsmith) Forged and carved using old iron from Himeji Castle. Haja Kensho (Destroy Evil and Reveal Righteousness). Made in the northern part of Tokyo at the age of 64. An auspicious day in March 1970. Made at the request of Mr. […]\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":[],"product_brand":[],"product_cat":[123,122],"product_tag":[],"class_list":["post-33841","product","type-product","status-publish","product_cat-katana-en","product_cat-sword-en","first","instock","sold-individually","shipping-taxable","product-type-auction"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sword-auction.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product\/33841","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sword-auction.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sword-auction.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/product"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sword-auction.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33841"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"product_brand","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sword-auction.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_brand?post=33841"},{"taxonomy":"product_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sword-auction.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_cat?post=33841"},{"taxonomy":"product_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sword-auction.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_tag?post=33841"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}