Ordering number:AS24140

Katana in Shirasaya (NBTHK Hozon Token)

Signature: Musashi Kuni Yaguwa Yasutake Saku (Mukansa Swordsmith).
Showa Kanoto-Tori Sai 10 Gatsu Kichijitsu
Motte Masamune Sho Yotetsu Seitan

Explanation: Dated: Showa Kanoe-Tori Year, October, Lucky Day, Forged with Excess Steel Refined for the Masamune Prize.
武蔵國八鍬靖武作(無監査刀匠)
昭和辛酉歳十月吉日以正宗賞余鉄精鍛

Our classification places this sword as Jyojyo Saku, which represents the second highest rank of craftsmanship for Yakua Yasutake.
Condition: Polished.
Habaki: Gold-plated double-layered.
Blade Length: 75.8 cm (29.84 in)
Curvature: 1.9 cm (0.75 in)
Mekugi Hole: 1
Width at Base (Motohaba): 3.04 cm (1.20 in)
Width at Tip (Sakihaba): 2.2 cm (0.87 in)
Thickness (Kasane): 0.67 cm (0.26 in)
Sword Weight: 870 g (1.92 lb)
Era: Modern.
Shape:　A wide blade with thick construction and a slightly extended kissaki, presenting an excellent overall shape.
Jigane:　Well-forged ko-itame hada with a refined and high-quality steel texture.
Hamon:　Nie-based gunome-midare with slight ko-gunome tendencies.
Active hataraki, including kinsuji and ashi, is prominently visible.
The boshi resembles a Sansaku-style return.

Features:　This sword was created using the same steel refined for a Showa Kanoe-Tori Year Masamune Prize work.
Its elegant shape, combined with impressive kinsuji and sunagashi extending into the kissaki, make it a remarkable example of Yakua Yasutake's craft.

Aoi Art’s Comment:　Yakua Yasutake was born in 1909 in Yamagata Prefecture.
He became an apprentice under Ikeda Ikko and joined the Nihonto Tanrenkai in Tokyo in 1935, where he contributed to crafting Yasukuni swords.
In 1944, Field Marshal Sugiyama granted him the swordsmith title "Yasutake," under which he continued his craft.
Although sword-making was prohibited after the war, he resumed in 1954 and showcased his work in numerous exhibitions.
He was designated as an unsupervised swordsmith in 1981 and received the Masamune Prize in the same year.
Yakua Yasutake passed away in 1983.
This masterpiece, forged from steel reserved for the Masamune Prize, is bound to astonish future generations.

NBTHK Hozon Token
Aoi Art Estimation Paper.
Whole Oshigata.

Auction Starting Price:700,000JPY

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