Matsuba Kunimasa Katana
日州國正 刀
Item No: TK007

  • Period: Modern (2019)

  • Mei (Signature): Nisshū Kunimasa saku 日州國正作
    Made on Reiwa 2 (2020 Spring) 令和二年春

  • Nakago - Ubu

  • Nagasa - 85.4cm

  • Sori: - 3cm

  • Motohaba - 3.5cm

  • Sakihaba - 2.5cm

  • Kissaki - 5.5cm

  • Nakago - 24cm

Price: ¥ 950,000

Matsuba Kunimasa (Ichiro Matsuba) - Mukansa Swordsmith

一郎 松葉 (Ichiro Matsuba)

  • Birth Year: 1959

  • Certification: Became certified in 1989

  • Mukansa: certified 2014

Ichiro Matsuba, born in 1959, was certified as a swordsmith in 1989. His exceptional craftsmanship has earned him numerous awards, leading to his recognition as Mukansa in 2014—a prestigious status indicating his work is of such high quality that it is no longer subject to competitive judgment in exhibitions.

Matsuba is particularly known for his Sōden Bizen Chōgi utsushi.
As a high-level, longtime practitioner of martial arts, he ensures his blades are not only beautiful but also well-balanced and highly functional, even when crafted for appreciation.

Nanbokucho Period style - Powerful and Imposing

This katana, crafted by Matsuba Kunimasa, is a striking example of the Nanbokuchō tachi-style shape, reflecting the grandeur and power of swords from that era. Made in the Sōden Bizen Chōgi style, it represents a modern interpretation of full-sized tachi as they existed before being shortened during the Nanbokuchō period. The sword features a traditional shinogi-zukuri construction with an iori mune and a graceful torii-zori curvature, where the deepest curve lies near the middle of the blade, resembling the shape of a torii gate.

The blade showcases bold, imposing lines with a wide mihaba and sakihaba, and minimal taper from motohaba to sakihaba, giving it a commanding presence. A beautiful Ō-kissaki enhances the visual impact, while the blade’s curvature (sori) measures 3 cm, contributing to its dynamic profile. The jihada is a dense itame-hada, featuring a fine wood-grain pattern, while the hamon is a vibrant gunome, adding a rhythmic, wavy temper line to the blade’s surface. The craftsmanship highlights both aesthetic elegance and functional balance, staying true to Matsuba's reputation for creating swords that are as practical as they are visually impressive.

This is an exceptional example of a Shinsakutō piece—a newly made sword crafted with traditional methods. Despite its wide, long, and powerful form, the katana feels remarkably well-balanced in hand, reflecting the swordsmith's attention to functional precision.

Comes with a very nice two piece double foil gold Habaki.