Gendaito by Akihisa
Born in Meiji 43rd year (1909). Civilian name Yamagami Juji. Yamagami (Shigetsugu) Akihisa lived in Nishiyama-cho, Niigata province. He worked at the family forge with elder brother Yamagami Munetoshi. During the war years Munetoshi was considered senior but after the war, Akihisa became more known. In 1934 he became a student of the famous Ikkansai Kasame Shigetsugu, one time head instructor at the Yasukuni Shrine. Later he was a student at Kurihara Akihide’s Nihonto Tanrenjo Denshusho, from whom he got his “Aki” mei. He became a Rikugun Jumei Tosho in 1941. Both he and his brother occasionally used a circular stamp with “matsu” in the centre on some of their swords, as a trade mark, although it is believed that Shigetsugu personally managed the sale of Akihisa blades. Before WW2 he won Monbu Daijin Sho – Minister of Education Award, Kaigun Daijin Sho – Minister of Navy Award, Rikugun Daijin Sho – Minister of Army Award in the Shinsakuto exhibitions. In 1941 he was awarded Tokubetsu Meiyo Seki – Special Honour Seat in the Army Gunto Exhibition. After the war, in 1954, when the prohibition of sword making was eased, he was one of the limited number of smiths who were granted a sword-forging permit from the Japanese Government and continued his career as a swordsmith. He won many more awards such as Doryoku Sho, Nyusen in the annual Shinsakuto Meito Exhibition while teaching numerous young swordsmiths, including his son, Norihisa.
Hawley’s reference: AKI44
Toko Taikan rated ¥1Million.
Nagasa 67.2cm
Moto-haba 32mm
Kasane 7.5mm
Saki-haba 21mm
$4,250 (plus shipping and PayPal)
