Unique and Large Gendaito by Higo Tadayasu

Today, when a Gendaito smith is researched, there are limited English references to search for information regarding them. Quite a number of good makers are still unlisted in them and there are even some makers where little is known about them at all. Here is a very rarely seen work of one of these makers.

This large and beautiful Gendaito was forged by Taro Tadayasu of the Higo region. Higo lies on the southern island of Kyushu and is known today as Kumamoto Prefecture. Tadayasu's given last name was Miyake and he is thought to have been working as a smith since the early Showa era. He placed Nyusen (accepted for competition) in the Imperial Army Sword Making Contest held on December 21, 1944. Although he is not listed as an Imperial Army Jumei Tosho, the fact that his sword was accepted for entry to the contest suggests he indeed was.

This sword is robust, very healthy, and in excellent professional polish that illustrates all the work to be enjoyed in it. The bright and wonderfully executed wide nioi-deki choji hamon hints at saka (slanted), and has profusely inserted long ashi and yo throughout its entire length. The hada is very tightly forged and uniform dense ko-itame. The boshi is a lovely gentle midarekomi, with bright ko-nie, kinsuji, and ashi on a very eager looking extended chu-kissaki. There is faint ububa under the habaki. It's length, over 27 inches, also adds to its rarity as most swords made in the wartime years average about 26 1/2 to conform to military standard specifications. This was undoubtedly a custom work made in a time when a smith and a soldier had to gather every ounce of resolve and deal with the hardships they were encountering.

Nagasa: 69.5 cm (27 3/8")
Sori: 1.8 cm
Motohaba: 3.32 cm
Sakihaba: 2.21 cm
Motokasane: Slightly high shinogi; 6.8 mm @ mune, 8.1 mm at shinogi line.
Sakikasane: 5.0 mm

Of all the features that make this such an attractive piece, I would offer more for your consideration. This sword is dated August, 1945. The month itself may be the actual month, or it could be a matter of the tradition that smiths often followed by dating their works either February or August, which are both considered to be auspicious months. However, the practice began to fade into the 19th century and smiths tended to date them more conventionally as to when they were actually made. Regardless, this sword is dated 1945, of which there was no month that favored obtaining steel and forging swords. Everything was either in short supply or completely depleated. This sword is also inscribed as having been made utilizing steel from a Tanegashima (Japanese matchlock gun). This also was not a typical practice, but occurred under circumstances of either necessity or speciality. In this sword's case, it strikes me as being both. Clearly the ability of this maker to integrate and reforge his material into such a uniform and consistant work, shows the high caliber of his skills and knowledge of his materials. There is more history on this smith that will be provided upon sale. The "kao" or monogram of the maker is also inscribed upon the nakago, and are very rarely encountered on anything but the best of wartime era Gendaito.

It is in nice shirasaya with horn accents, and has a plain copper habaki. Also included is a nice brocade bag made from a silk obi, with red fusahimo.

This sword has NBTHK Hozon papers attesting to the validity of work and mei, and the skill of it’s maker. I *highly* recommend this unique and special work of a rarely encountered maker as an excellent compliment to any collection.

On Consignment: $5850.00