[ Feature ]
Form : Hira-zukuri. Iori-mune. Mihaba is ordinal. Kasane is relatively thick. Saki-haba is getting narrower. No sori attached, small size form.
Nakago : Ubu. Yasurimes are suji-kais. Saki is ha-agari, ken-gata. One hole.
Jigane : Ko-itame-hada well grained. Rich and fine ji-nie attached. Fine chikei appeared.
Hamon : In nioi-deki. Shallow notare attached. Ko-gunome's head have even height. Ashis appeared.
Boushi : It runs in sugu with ko-maru shape. It turns in very shallow.

Gold kin-nashi-ji aikuchi koshirae "金梨地塗合口拵"

SAKURAI Masatsugu was born as second son of TANAKA Seiryû-sai Masahisa at current Araki-chô town, Shinjyuku ward, Tokyo on 8th April Meiji 1(1868). In Meiji 17 (1884), he became son-in-law of SAKURAI Yasugorô. He learned swords creation from Tairyû-sai Hirotsugu from his 13 years old to 22 years old.
In Meiji 28 (1895), he became a trustee of establishment of hammering department in Tokyo Art school by recommendation of OKAKURA Tenshin. In April Meiji 31 (1898), when OKAKURA was dismissed the principal, he followed as well. In May of same year, tombstone of YAMAURA Kiyomaro was completed in Sûfukuji temple at Suga-chô two, Shinjyuku ward. The signature Manji Masatsugu "卍正次" was given by WATANABE Nan-in of Ryû-un-ji temple, at Hakusan, Bunkyo ward, where, Masatsugu studied Zen.

It was Meiji 35(1902), the workshop was moved from Nagata-chô, Chiyoda ward to precincts of Zui-sen-ji temple at Nikaido, Kamakura city. Prince Arisugawa-no-miya Takehito , who received the act of obtaining medical treatment at Kamakura, ordered to create a pair of dai-shô. In Meiji 42(1909), he was called by the prince Takehito, then moved his workshop to Maiko, Kobe city. The prince named this workshop Nyo-shin-den "如神殿", and his residence Ga-ryû-an "臥龍庵". Later, he created the swords at Hiroshima, Shizuoka and other places as well. In Showa 10, when he created swords at precincts of Munakata-jinjya shrine in Fukuoka prefecture, his son Masayuki was a person in charge. In Shôwa 15, he was invited to Ritsumeikan-Nichinan institute of technology. Then he established his workshop at foot of mount Kinu-gasa-yama at Kita-ku ward, Kyoto city. Its presidency was held by Masayuki. As one of pupils, SUMITANI Masamine, who became living national treasure later.

This small size sword with thick kasane in sturdy form, which was created Masatsugu's 30 years old, when he was occupied to establish hammering department in Tokyo school of fine arts. Proper hamon, which ko-gunomes are made evenly, and ashis appeared. Bright tempered area looks attractive on refined jigane. Retracing his masters, seeking the Japanese sword ought to be, young Masatsugu's state and personality comes to mind. At the same time, as a historical if, special training course was established at Tokyo school of fine arts, such historical impossible dream can be experienced by this sword.

[ Conditions ] There is few small rusts. It maintains excellent conditions in general.