Tachi by Yamato Managa

Yamato Managa was a swordsmith of the late Kamakura period, representing the Shikkake school (one of the Yamato Five Schools: Tegai, Taima, Senjuin, Hōshō, and Shikkake) based in Yamato Province (modern Nara Prefecture). Working under the patronage of the great temples of Nara—Kōfuku-ji and Tōdai-ji—he produced numerous dedication swords for deities and Buddhas as well as presentation blades for warrior houses. Managa, alongside Norinaichi, is counted among the finest masters of the Shikkake school. The jigane of a Managa tachi displays the masame (straight grain) or itame-mixed masame characteristic of the Yamato tradition, with ji-nie lending a clean, refined finish. The hamon is based on a ko-nie deki suguha (straight temper line), interspersed with subtle ko-midare and sunagashi (sandy drift activities), and in the calm, settled style dwells the dignity and strength characteristic of the Yamato tradition. Some pieces retain a clear two-character 'Managa' signature on the tang, earning them high marks from connoisseurs. The spirituality of Yamato swordsmanship—nurtured through deep connections with Kōfuku-ji, Tōdai-ji, and Kasuga Grand Shrine—is deeply reflected in Managa's works, which preserve the dignity of dedication swords used in religious rites and warrior ceremonies. As an embodiment of the aesthetic of Yamato swordsmanship rooted in Nara, Japan's ancient religious capital, Managa is counted among the indispensable masters in the world of sword scholarship.