Gassan Sadatoshi
月山貞利 (Gassan Sadatoshi)
A smith born in Osaka in 1946, son of the living national treasure Gassan Sadakazu; mukansa since 1982 and head of the Gassan family in Nara.
Profile
Gassan Sadatoshi is the third son of the second Gassan Sadakazu. He graduated in architecture in 1969 and learned the craft from his father. He keeps the family's hallmarks: ayasugi-hada and Gassan carvings. In 1982 he was made mukansa, and in 1995 he opened the family memorial hall at Sakurai in Nara and chaired the national swordsmiths' association. In 2003 Nara Prefecture recognised him as holder of an intangible cultural property. He has forged swords for the Ise shrine and twice won the Takamatsu-no-miya prize of the new-sword exhibition.
Monograph
Gassan Sadatoshi (月山貞利)
Mukansa since 1982 and NBTHK grand prize in 2019: his quick profile and the essentials.
Read the monograph
Notable works
- Wakizashi: plate 29 of the Gendaitō Meisaku Zukan (p. 59).
- Katana: plate 30 of the Gendaitō Meisaku Zukan (p. 61).
Rankings
- Mukansa since 1982