Pristine gendaito by Torio Hiromasa Sword

A pristine gendaito by Hiromasa

Blade length 26”, about 66cms, signed Yoshu Hojo no ju Hiromasa saku and dated Showa ju-roku nen ju gatsu hi, a day in November 1941. With tight ko-itame hada and slightly undulating suguha in noi and ko-nie with slightly hakikake o-maru boshi. Mounted in rare shingunto koshirae with wooden saya covered in brown lacquered shark skin shagreen which is associated with presentation swords. The seppa are numbered and the tsuba retains virtually all of the original gilding. Seemingly, the sword was presented at the Ise Shrine to a cadet who graduated top of the class from a military academy which seems consistent with the amulet, in a brocade bag, attached to saya. The inner paper Ise Shrine amulet is called a 神札 Shinsatsu. The inscription 天照皇大神宮 reads as Tensho ko tai jingu which is an alternative name for inner shrine of Ise Jingu Shrine. The inscription on the front of the brocade bag is 学業御守 and reads as Gakugyo omamori meaning “For academic success” whilst the inscription on the rear is 神宮 which reads as Jingu which means shrine. The sword is complete with an immaculate blue and brown tassel and storage bag.

Torio Hiromasa was one of the few students of Takahashi Sadatsugu. He later became a student of Takahashi Yoshimune, brother of Sadatsugu. Being a student of Sadatsugu is significant in that Takahashi Sadatsugu was one of the most important smiths of the Showa period. He was the first Living National Treasure (Ningen Kokuho) and himself a student of both Gassan Sadakazu and Gassan Sadakatsu. Awards:

Selected in gold-cup group for the second Association Sword Exhibition

Showa 14 – Prime Minister’s Award, Showa 15 – Recommendation

Showa 16 – Army Minister’s Award, Rated Jo Saku by Kurihara Akihide

1st seat swordsmith at the 6th Shinsaku Nihonto Denrankai (1941)

Hiromasa became Ju-mei Tosho for the Army and below is a partial Translation of article on Hiromasa. See page 126 of Dai Nihon Token Shoko Meikan (The Great Japanese Sword Business Directory, 1942).

Swordsmith Torio Hiromasa Born Torio Kamematsu in Asahi-cho, Hokujocho, Onsen-gun, Ehime Prefecture. Apprenticed to Takahashi Sadatsugu in Showa 10, and later studied under Takahashi Yoshimune the elder brother of Sadatsugu. With his gifted abilities he learned fast, and as early as Showa 11 he was selected to be in the gold-cup group for the second Association Sword Exhibition. His work was exhibited every year since and received the Prime Minister’s Award in Showa 14, a Recommendation in Showa 15 and the Army Minister’s Award. See pages 34 to 35 below of An Oshigata Book of Modern Japanese Swordsmiths 1868-1945 by John Scott Slough.

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