MATSUBA KUNIMASA: AN ODACHI IN SHIRASAYA By Matsuba... Lot 38

MATSUBA KUNIMASA: AN ODACHI IN SHIRASAYA By Matsuba Kunimasa (b. 1959), signed Nishu Kumimasa saku Japan, 2016 The extremely long blade with shinogi-zukuri and iori mune. The hamon is choji in nioi-deki with ashi and tobiyaki, the hada is masame. The nakago is ubu, the tip is kurijiri, and the yasurime is sujikai. The mei (signature) reads NISHU KUMIMASA saku (made by Kunimasa of Nishu province), the other side of the nakago with an inscription Heisei nijuhachi-nen haru (spring of Heisei 28, corresponding to 2016). With a wood shirasaya. NAGASA 156 cm, LENGTH 210 cm (the saya) Condition: Excellent condition. Provenance: Czech private collection. Ichiro Matsuba Kunimasa (b. 1959) is a contemporary Japanese swordsmith working in Hyuga, Miyazaki prefecture. In 1983, he crossed paths with the famous swordsmith Kobayashi and inherited his passion for carrying on the ancient spirit of Japanese swordsmithing. He received his first award from the NBTHK in 1990, after smithing his first sword in 1988. This would be the first award among many, including the Grand Prize in 2008 and 2011. In 2014, he was awarded the Mukansa ('without judgement') rank, the second-highest rank of swordsmith. Mukansa smiths may still enter their swords into competitions but they are no longer judged as they are assumed to be of a level beyond judgement. The present blade, crafted two years after Kunimasa was awarded the Mukansa rank, is impressive and exceedingly rare in its great size.