A very good katana made by Tsukamoto Okimasa (塚本起正), whose real name was Shinpachi Tsukamoto, was born in 1912 in Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture. Okimasa was one of the most talented smiths from the Showa period. He studied under the famous Kasama Shigetsugu, and married his daughter. He was slotted to become one of the 1st Living National Treasures after the war, but became very ill and died at an early age at around 45 years of age. and his style was similar to that of Kiyomaro Minamoto(源清麿). This particular blade is a genuine work of Okimasa.The hamon is gunome midare. The jigane is a well knit itame with fine ji nie. In very good polish, this sword shows all of the class of a sword smith that would have been a living national treasure without the living national treasure price attached. This blade was made a few years before his death .He passed away apparently of TB. In shirasaya, with a 2 piece silver habaki. The blade is accompanied with a NBTHK Hozon paper.
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