Who are the Living Treasures of Japan?

[golok]

Sometime ago, I came across a term which was bestowed on some of Japan's finest sword makers. They were labelled as "living treasures".

I reckon there are only four or five of these men around. They are pretty old and their swords/katanas are described as works of art.

Who are these people and what are their names?
How many are still alive today?

 

[WrongFriend]

It's the "National living treasure" I guess. Maybe a few scores of sword masters including makers and polishers (shaper, I'd call them) are still living and continuing their work. As far as I could reserch, there were no official list by Japanese government on the Web.

 

[Robert Marotz]

Living national treasure smiths are Amada Akitsugu and Osumi Toshihira. Sumitani Masamine also is national treasure, but IIRC he died back in 1998.

 

[Kisu]

Isn't Yoshindo Yoshihara also a national living treasure?

 

[Robert Marotz]

Nope, Yoshindo Yoshihara isn't a national treasure...at least not yet. He's one of the 10 or so Mukansa smiths in Japan. The mukansa are the guys who consistently earn top marks for so long that they are no longer judged in the annual competitions.

 

[WrongFriend]

Came upon this site, shows two mames Robert mentioned.
http://www.bunka.go.jp/11/1/detail/show.208.html

But..oh I thought the two names are only random selection... no other living treasures are alive now! So sad, and sorry for misinformation.

 

[John Chong]

Hi golok...

They are called "Ningen Kokuho" in Japanese ("Living National Treasure"). It's a special designation for those craftsmen who have attained great achievement. Not limited to only swordmakers but also for artisans in the field of sword polishing, ceramics, lacquer ware, textiles, wood craft, etc.