KASAMA SHIGETSUGU (1885-1965) A Fine Shin-shintō katana Showa era (1912-1926), dated 1919 Honzukuri, iorimune, chū-gissaki configuration with toriizori curvature forged in ko-itame hada with a ko-chōji gunome tempered edge ending in a ko-maru bōshi with hakikake, the omote side chiseled with gomabashi and the ura side with a Buddhist ken and lotus flower, the ubu tang with kiri file marks, one hole, signed Shigetsugu saku, dated Taisho hachinen sangatsu kichi jitsu (An auspicious day in August of 1919), and inscribed Dai Nihon Teikoku Rikugun Daijin Tanaka Giichi zō (Presented to Tanaka Giichi, Minister of the Army), with a one-piece silver habaki, in a wood shirasaya storage scabbard Nagasa (length from tip of blade to beginning of the tang) 74.5cm (29 3/8in) long. Footnotes: Shigemitsu was considered one of the preeminent gendaitō smiths. He served as Swordsmith to the Ministry of the Imperial Household. Tanaka Giichi (1864-1929) was a General in the Imperial Army who held the office of Minister of the Imperial Land Armies. He later served as Prime Minister from 1927-1929. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing