w.y.chan Posted January 6, 2020 Report Posted January 6, 2020 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 3 Quote
Brian Posted January 6, 2020 Report Posted January 6, 2020 Is it just me, or is that pretty cheap for a sword of that status, and horimono of that quality?What a beauty Quote
w.y.chan Posted January 6, 2020 Author Report Posted January 6, 2020 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. 1 Quote
Stephen Posted January 6, 2020 Report Posted January 6, 2020 Easily will double its value. Magnificent sword! 1 Quote
w.y.chan Posted January 6, 2020 Author Report Posted January 6, 2020 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. Quote
Ed Posted January 6, 2020 Report Posted January 6, 2020 Wow, nice sword. Kudos to the lucky winner. Quote
w.y.chan Posted January 7, 2020 Author Report Posted January 7, 2020 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 3 Quote
vajo Posted January 7, 2020 Report Posted January 7, 2020 A ordered sword for vicepresident Ichiro Kono. Quote
w.y.chan Posted February 12, 2020 Author Report Posted February 12, 2020 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 Quote
Ed Posted February 12, 2020 Report Posted February 12, 2020 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. Quote
Guido Posted February 13, 2020 Report Posted February 13, 2020 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. 1 Quote
w.y.chan Posted December 29, 2023 Author Report Posted December 29, 2023 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 Quote
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