Katana by Gassan Sadatoshi  Mukansa Master Swordsmith  Showa 52 (1977)

Comming soon to Bushidoshop.

 This superb katana was forged in 1977 by Gassan Sadatoshi (月山貞利, real name Tsukiyama Kiyoshi, b. 1946), the 5th generation of the Osaka Gassan lineage and today regarded as the most important living Japanese swordsmith.

Sadatoshi is the son of Living National Treasure Gassan Sadaichi II and was awarded Mukansa status in 1982 at the age of just 36. His work has won the Commissioner for Cultural Affairs Award, the Takamatsunomiya Prize, and the Kanzan Prize. His swords are represented in international collections including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

He is widely recognized as the future Living National Treasure (Ningen Kokuhō) of Japan, meaning his swords are expected to increase further in cultural and financial value.

This katana demonstrates Sadatoshi’s mastery in both forging and carving, with powerful sugata, spiritual horimono, and flawless jigane. It is a perfect example of why he is regarded as the successor of the Gassan tradition and why his works are so highly valued by collectors worldwide.

Blade Specifications.

• Length (Nagasa): 71.5 cm (2 shaku 3 sun 5 bu)

• Curvature (Sori): 2.2 cm

• Width at Hamachi (Moto-haba): 3.76 cm

• Thickness at Moto-kasane: 0.77 cm

• Width at Kissaki (Saki-haba): 3.10 cm

• Thickness at Saki-kasane: 0.65 cm

• Shape (Sugata): Shinogi-zukuri, iori-mune, chu-kissaki, wide and powerful

• Nakago (Tang): Ubu, kesho-yasurime, signed & dated, 1 mekugi-ana

• Habaki: One-piece, gold foil

Forging & Style

• Jigane (Hada): Ko-itame, refined and consistent with ji-nie

• Hamon: Straight suguha with activity (nijuba, sunagashi, uchiyoke)

• Bōshi: Notare, rounded tip

• Horimono (Carving):

  • Omote (front): Bonji & Sankō-ken motif

  • Ura (back): Long bo-hi (groove)

Certificates & Registration

• Registration Card: Nara Prefecture

• NBSK Certificate: Issued by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Shinkokai (NBSK), the Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Art Sword.

  • The NBSK is an officially recognized body in Japan, comparable to the NBTHK, dedicated to the appraisal and preservation of modern and traditional swordsmithing.

  • A certificate from the NBSK confirms the authenticity of the smith and guarantees the cultural and artistic value of the blade.

This means the katana is fully authenticated both by Japanese government registration and by a major preservation society, giving buyers absolute confidence.

Rare opportunity to acquire a katana by Gassan Sadatoshi – Mukansa, future National Treasure, and the most important swordsmith alive today.