SADAHITO, ENAMOTO

Sadahito is the second son of Yusuishi Sadayoshi. Sadayoshi studied under Gassan Sadakatsu in Osaka. Later he relocated to Mishima in Shizuoka. He became Mukansa in 1996 and died in 2000.

Enamoto Sadahito was born in 1954 and began his training under his father while in elementary school. He became a licensed sword smith in 1977. He specializes in Soshu den as well as the Gassan tradition.

As this Tanto is inscribed with a woman’s name it seems obvious that it was forged as a Mamori-gatana. My only hesitation in listing it as a mamori-gatana is that they were typically mounted in koshirae. Perhaps the original owner intended to have a koshirae made, but for whatever reason the plan never came to fruition.

Mamori-gatana are like Kaiken in that they were carried for protection by the samurai class. In that context these were and still are used as gifts for various special occasions such as weddings and funerals.

This tanto was made in the US and is inscribed, “Ri Ri no Tame, Seiki-Matsu Aki no Hi”. This translates as “For Lilly, on a day in the fall at the end/turn of the century”.

I enlisted Markus’s help with the reading of this and he said, it was the first “western” name he has seen used on a Nihinto.

While the nakago is not dated the shirasaya is.

It reads:

Beikoku ni oite Heisei jūyonen rokugatsu hi

“In the US, on a day in June of Heisei 14 (2002),

Enomoto Eishichirō Sadahito

This tanto is in excellent condition and would make a nice addition to the collector of tanto, gendaito, Sadahito fans, collectors of mamori-gatana, kaiken etc.

$2400 plus S/H

If you are interested in owning this tanto contact me at: Yakiba.com@gmail.com