Tachi by Sumitani Masamine
隅谷正峯の太刀
Also known as: Ise Grand Shrine Shikinen Sengu ceremonial sword; mamorigatana for the Shaken-no-Gi; Living National Treasure
Description
Living National Treasure Designation
Sumitani Masamine (1921-1998), a swordsmith born in Matto City, Ishikawa Prefecture (present-day Hakusan City), was designated a Living National Treasure (Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property) for his sword-making technique on 3 April 1981. Taking Kamakura-period Bizen blades as his model, he is known for perfecting an original, brilliant choji temper pattern known as "Sumitani choji."
The Ise Grand Shrine Shikinen Sengu Ceremonial Sword
One of Masamine's most notable commissions was the ceremonial sword (goshimpo-tachi) he produced for the Shikinen Sengu of Ise Grand Shrine in 1989 (Heisei 1). The Shikinen Sengu is a Shinto rite held once every twenty years in which the shrine's full set of ceremonial garments and sacred treasures are entirely renewed, and being entrusted with forging the sword for this occasion is regarded as one of the highest honors a contemporary swordsmith can receive.
Service at Imperial Shaken-no-Gi Ceremonies
Masamine is also said to have supplied blades for the Imperial Household's Shaken-no-Gi, the ceremony of bestowing a protective sword to mark a birth: the mamorigatana presented to Princess Mako in 1991, to Crown Princess Masako in 1993, and to Princess Kako in 1994 are said to have been his work. Being entrusted with these swords stands as testimony to the technical skill and trust placed in him as a smith.
Awards and Present Standing
In the 1960s Masamine received the Masamune Prize, the highest award for newly forged swords, on three occasions. Aside from the treasures dedicated to the Grand Shrine, his works are held today in private and museum collections across Japan, and his achievement in reviving the Bizen tradition to a high standard as a modern swordsmith is highly regarded in the history of the Japanese sword.
Legends & Stories
Being chosen to forge the sacred sword for the once-in-twenty-years Shikinen Sengu of Ise Grand Shrine is among the highest honors a modern swordsmith can receive. Having fulfilled this responsibility, Masamine is said to have gone on to lend his skill to Imperial celebrations as well, an indication that the mastery with which he revived the beauty of Kamakura-period Bizen blades was valued at the highest ceremonial occasions.