* Image is for illustrative purposes only.Living National Treasure Swordsmiths
重要無形文化財保持者（人間国宝）刀匠
The Living National Treasure designation — formally an Important Intangible Cultural Property holder — was created when the 1950 Cultural Properties Protection Law was revised in 1954, with the first designations made on February 15, 1955. Very few swordsmiths have ever received this honor. Miyairi Gyohei (Miyairi Akihira) of Nagano was among the earlier smiths so designated, while Amata Akitsugu was designated in 1997 and took part four times — once as an assistant and three times as lead smith — in forging the sacred sword for the Ise Grand Shrine's periodic Shikinen Sengu rebuilding ceremony.
Description
Establishment of the system
The Important Intangible Cultural Property holder designation, popularly known as "Living National Treasure," traces back to the Cultural Properties Protection Law enacted in 1950. As originally written, the law took a passive approach, merely selecting intangible cultural properties "at risk of decline if left unprotected." A 1954 revision replaced this with a system designating "Important Intangible Cultural Properties" based on their inherent value, regardless of whether they were at risk. The first designations under the revised law were made on February 15, 1955. "Living National Treasure" is not itself a legal term; it originated as a newspaper reporter's phrase — "a living national treasure" — that became the accepted popular name.
Rarity within swordsmithing
Important Intangible Cultural Property designations span many craft fields, but the number of individual swordsmiths recognized in the swordsmithing (sakuto) field has remained very small since the system began.
Miyairi Gyohei's designation
Miyairi Gyohei (born Miyairi Akihira) of Nagano Prefecture was among the earlier swordsmiths designated an Important Intangible Cultural Property holder in the swordsmithing field.
Amata Akitsugu and the Ise Grand Shrine Sengu
Amata Akitsugu (1927–2013) of Niigata Prefecture was designated an Important Intangible Cultural Property holder in 1997. Over his career he took part four times in forging the sacred sword offered at the Ise Grand Shrine's periodic Shikinen Sengu rebuilding — once as an assistant and three times as lead smith. He died in June 2013, just months before the next Sengu ceremony.
Significance
Unlike the Mukansa swordsmith system, which is a private-sector recognition based on exhibition results at the NBTHK, the Living National Treasure designation is a government certification grounded in the Cultural Properties Protection Law. Following the abolition of the Meiji-era Teishitsu Gigein system, these two frameworks have together carried forward the state and social recognition of swordsmithing skill in the modern era.
Characteristics of This Era
- A national designation under the Cultural Properties Protection Law (enacted 1950, revised 1954); first designations made 1955-02-15
- 'Living National Treasure' is not a legal term but a popular nickname coined by a newspaper reporter
- The number of individually designated swordsmiths in the sakuto field has remained very small since the system began
- Miyairi Gyohei (Miyairi Akihira, Nagano) was among the earlier smiths designated
- Amata Akitsugu (Niigata, 1927-2013) was designated in 1997 and forged the Ise Grand Shrine Shikinen Sengu sacred sword four times
- Unlike the exhibition-based Mukansa system run by a private organization, this designation is a government certification under the Cultural Properties Protection Law