Tsukamoto Okimasa

[w.y.chan]

Here is an Okimasa just completed its bidding.

Special order for Ichiro Kono who was minister of state for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.

It was after the Tokyo Olympics in 1964 that Japan economic fortune recovered from wartime deprevation and the sword boom soon followed. Sadly Okimasa's passing in 1960 meant he missed out on the boom by a few years. Had he lived 1-2 years longer he might have been made Ningen Kokuho. Okimasa was a complete artist and his mastery of horimono rivals that of his teacher Shigetsugu. He is considered the "Kiyomaro of Showa". This sword has NBTHK Hozon but seller gurantee to achieve Tokubetsu Hozon.

 

https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/s709480439

[Brian]

Is it just me, or is that pretty cheap for a sword of that status, and horimono of that quality?
What a beauty

[w.y.chan]

It was pretty cheap. Its a masterpiece and at that point in 1958 when it was made there were few better sword made by a contemporary smith in my opinion.

[Stephen]

Easily will double its value.

Magnificent sword!

[w.y.chan]

Postwar poverty meant very few swords were ordered. It is estimated Okimasa made only a few dozen legit shinsakuto long swords that was sold commercially.

[BIG]

Congrats Wah !

 

Best

[w.y.chan]

Its not mine

[Ed]

Wow, nice sword. Kudos to the lucky winner.

[w.y.chan]

Horimono is a feature for top Ikkansai school smiths but its rare in WW2. I read somewhere Okimasa's sister was married to a well known carver of Bhuddist statues and when Shigetsugu learnt of this he admitted him as his student. Coincidentally this is the second time I come across similar horimono on a Okimasa war era blade. This one came about 15yrs ago and went for more money

 

 

[vajo]

A ordered sword for vicepresident Ichiro Kono.

[w.y.chan]

Looks like the Okimasa never reached the reserve the dealer is willing to sell. It has now been listed for sale

 

http://www.nipponto.co.jp/swords6/NT330024.htm

[Ed]

That makes more sense.  I wondered what was "wrong" for it to have ended so cheaply.

 

Turns out it ended, but the high bidder wasn't so lucky after all.

[Guido]

According to the Yahoo listing there was no bid, and it therefore remained unsold. However, I suspect all bids were canceled by the seller for not reaching the reserve, as Wah already mentioned.

[w.y.chan]

Surprise nobody posted this postwar Okimasa that was sold earlier in the year. It is estimated he made about a hundred blade and only a couple of dozen or so long swords after the war because he died about 5-10 years before the sword boom.

 

https://www.seiyudo.com/ka-030723.htm