This fine katana was made by Tsukamoto Okimasa, he was one of the most talented smiths from the Showa period. He studied under the famous Kasama Shigetsugu, and married his daughter. He was slotted to become one of the 1st Living National Treasures after the war, but became very ill and died at an early age at around 45 years of age. This particular blade is a genuine work of Okimasa, and is a fantastic copy of a Kiyomaro styled piece. The Kasama School was very proficient in the manufacture of swords from the Bizen tradition as well as those from the Kiyomaro kei. The gunome midare with nice hataraki of kinsuji running through the hamon is a nice way to emulate the swords by the Kiyomaro School. The jigane is a well knit itame with fine ji nie. In very good polish, this sword shows all of the class of a sword smith that would have been a living national treasure with out the living national treasure price attached. Also bear in mind that post war pieces are rare as like this sword, this blade was made a few years before his death .He passed away apparently of TB. In shirasaya, with a 2 piece gold foiled habaki. |
