Nihonto Club

Gassan Sadakazu was born in 1836 as the son of Tsukamoto Shichirobei. When he was still a young boy, he was adopted by the founder of the modern Osaka Gassan School - Gassan Sadayoshi. At the age of 14 he began to forge his own swords and was soon recognized as a master swordsmith and horimono carver. When Gassan Sadayoshi died in the early 1860s he became the head of the Osaka Gassan School. At this point of time he already mastered the Bizen and Yamato style in addition to the schools main Ayasugi style. In 1890 he was awarded the title of Teishitsu Gigeiin (Imperial Arts and Crafts Expert) by Emperor Meiji. He died in 1918 and was succeeded by his son Gassan Sadakatsu.