Kantei
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Swordsmith of Sakurai (Nara) · Gassan family

Gassan Sadanobu (月山貞伸)

A swordsmith from Nara, eldest son and pupil of Gassan Sadatoshi, of the Gassan family, and winner of the NBTHK Kanzan prize in 2026: his life, his forge, his work, his prizes and his videos

Gassan Sadanobu was born in 1979 and is the eldest son of Gassan Sadatoshi (月山貞利), with whom he forges at the family dōjō in Sakurai (Nara). Since 2020 he has won prizes every few years in the NBTHK competition, and in 2026 he received the 寒山賞 (Kanzanshō) with a tachi.

Photo: dealer in Japan

1979
Born in Sakurai (Nara)
2006
Approval to forge
5
NBTHK prizes from 2020 to 2026
2026
Year of his NBTHK 寒山賞 (Kanzanshō)
On this page
  1. Quick profile
  2. In short

Quick profile

Name
Gassan Sadanobu HD
Kanji and reading
月山貞伸 (Gassan Sadanobu) HD
Birth
1979 (Shōwa 54), in Sakurai (Nara) AT
Where he forges
月山日本刀鍛錬道場 (Gassan Nihontō Tanren Dōjō), in Sakurai (Nara) AT
Master
His father, 月山貞利 (Gassan Sadatoshi), since 1998 AT
School or tradition
Gassan (月山); sixth generation of the Osaka branch (大阪月山, Ōsaka Gassan) AT
Swordsmith’s licence
2006 (Heisei 18) AT
His highest prize
NBTHK 寒山賞 (Kanzanshō) in 2026 HD

In short

What we know. The NBTHK lists and catalogues give him under his civil name, of Nara, with works signed 月山貞伸 (Gassan Sadanobu): the NBTHK president’s prize in 2020 and in 2024, prizes of excellence in 2023 and 2025 and the Kanzanshō in 2026. He is the eldest son of Gassan Sadatoshi and grandson of Gassan Sadakazu II, and has been forging since 2006.

What we do not know. The 2019 prize, which the layout of the official list does not allow to be assigned, and the prizes from 2007 to 2017, which only he reports.

Sections

  1. The Gassan family Life and forging His family, his apprenticeship with his father, the 2006 licence and what he does outside the forge.
  2. Ayasugi-hada and Sōshū Work and style The legacy of the school, his signatures and his works, with a gallery.
  3. From the NBTHK and other competitions Prizes From the NBTHK president’s prize of 2020 to the Kanzanshō of 2026, and the earlier prizes he reports himself.
  4. The Gassan dōjō Videos Three videos about the family forge: the Nara archive on his father and two tours of the dōjō.
  5. Bibliography and credits Sources The sources consulted on 4 October 2026 and the credit of each image.