Tanto made by the famous living national treasure smith Seiho Sumitani. Seiho (real name is Yoichiro), received the title of living national treasure in 1981. He was a student of Sakurai Masayuki, and then separated to do his own work. He greatly admired the Kamakura Bizen swords, thus making this type of sword his main goal of manufacture. He specialized in choji midare, often implementing this hamon on most of his swords. This tanto on our oage is done in the Kamakura Bizen den. Nice saka gunome choji midare with ashi make up most of the hamon. The steel is very well refined, and done in ko-itame. The hamon is very clear and brite showing his skill in tempering, the steel is also well knit without flaw. In a perfect Japanese professional polish. Swords by Seiho are now rare as he passed away several years ago. He is one of the few that have attained Japans highest honor by the Japanese government. Ningen Kokuho. |
