説明
「刀姿 sword figure」
鎬造り庵棟、身幅重尋常、鳥居反り大鋒。茎は生で筋違い鑢がかかり、茎尻は栗尻。
「彫物 carving」
彫物は片チリの棒樋が鎺元で丸留と成る。
「地鉄 jigane」
地鉄は板目肌が流れ柾こころと成り、地沸付き映りが入る。
「刃紋 hamon」
刃紋は互の目で足良く入り、尖り刃を交え、刃縁小沸良くつき砂流しかかり。刃中金筋が栄んに入る。帽子は刃紋成りに入り小丸に返る。
「特徴 detailed」
宮入昭平は、本名を宮入堅一といい、大正二年三月十七日に、長野県埴科郡で鍛冶屋の家の長男として生まれます。はじめは家業を手伝い農具や多種にわたり刃物を製作していましたが、刀に憧れ星野銀光に弟子入りの後、日本刀鍛錬伝習所（栗原彦三郎昭秀所長）を尋ねて入門し作刀を学びます。昭平は修行を始めると間もなく頭角を現し始め、新作日本刀展覧会、陸軍軍刀展覧会で多くの受賞を受けます。昭和二十八年より文化財保護委員会より作刀承認を受けての美術刀剣の製作が許されると益々意欲をもって腕前を磨き上げ、（財）日本美術刀剣保存協会の作刀技術発表会で特賞を受賞したのをきっかけに、以後五回にわたって連続受賞するという快挙を成し遂げて、無鑑査刀匠となりました。そしてその三年後の昭和三十八年には重要無形文化財保持者（人間国宝）刀匠最高の名誉に認定されました。この時、昭平は五十歳でした。その後は弟子の育成に励み、宮入清宗刀匠、高橋次平刀匠、大久保和平刀匠、渡邊繁平刀匠、河内国平刀匠、藤安将平刀匠、上林恒平刀匠ら、名だたる弟子を育て上げ宮入一門の名を高いものにしました。その後同工は六十四歳で歿しています。
本作は、重要無形文化財保持者に認定後の昭和41年に作られた作品で、流れ心の有る良く鍛えた板目肌に、尖り刃を交えた互の目を焼き、刃中は金筋が栄んに入った、源清磨を狙った作品です。
宮入昭平刀匠の作品が、市場に出回る事は非常に少なく貴重です。この機会をお見逃しなく。
Akihira Miyairi, whose real name was Kenichi Miyairi, was born on March 17, 1913, in Hanishina District, Nagano Prefecture, as the eldest son of a blacksmith family. Initially, he assisted in the family business, making farming tools and various types of blades, but he was drawn to swordmaking. After becoming an apprentice to Ginmitsu Hoshino, he later joined the Nihontō Tanren Denshūjo (Japanese Sword Forging Training School) under the guidance of director Hikozaburō Akihide Kurihara, where he honed his craft in swordmaking.
Akihira quickly began to show his talent after starting his training, winning numerous awards at the New Japanese Sword Exhibition and the Army Sword Exhibition. In 1953, when he received official approval from the Cultural Properties Protection Committee to make artistic swords, he refined his skills even further. He achieved a remarkable feat when he won the top prize at the sword-making technique exhibition held by the Society for the Preservation of Japanese Art Swords. This led to an unprecedented series of five consecutive wins, earning him the title of Mukansa (exempt from judgment) swordsmith.
Three years later, in 1963, Akihira reached the pinnacle of swordsmithing honors, being designated a Living National Treasure (Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property). At that time, he was 50 years old. Following this, he focused on training apprentices, raising renowned swordsmiths such as Kiyomune Miura, Jihira Takahashi, Wahei Ōkubo, Shigehira Watanabe, Kunihira Kawachi, Shōhei Fuji, and Kōhei Kanbayashi, greatly elevating the reputation of the Miura school. He passed away at the age of 64.
This particular piece was made in 1966, after Akihira was designated a Living National Treasure. The blade features a well-forged itame-hada with a flowing texture, and the hamon (temper line) includes a mixture of sharp togari-ba and gunome. The blade is also adorned with an abundance of kinsuji (bright, lightning-like lines within the blade), reflecting the craftsmanship aimed at recreating the style of Minamoto Kiyomasa.
Akihira’s works rarely appear on the market, making this an exceptionally rare and valuable opportunity. Don’t miss out on this chance.
｢拵 Koshirae｣
ハバキ(habaki) ：素銅地金着二重。
鞘(saya) ：白鞘。
｢刀剣の状態 condition of blade｣
研：良好です。
傷：欠点に成るような傷は有りません。
