Ranking Of Modern Tosho

[Ken-Hawaii]

I just found out that a smith I'm following is now a "Prefectural important intangible cultural property." How does that compare with mukansa, & which other ranks are applicable?

 

Ken

 

[Baka Gaijin]

Hi Ken.,

 

 

I'm reasonably sure that Prefectural level designations can be granted to both the intangible and tangible such as persons or traditions, objects or places.

 

I think they are decided by the administrative department of the cultural affairs office of the individual Prefecture and can be renewed or removed accordingly.

 

On a national scale, it's part of the Japanese Ministry of Education (MEXT), these links may help:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_Property_(Japan)

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Important_Cultural_Property_(Japan)

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tangible_Cultural_Property_(Japan)

[Ken-Hawaii]

Thanks, Malcolm. I had found those links, but still can't figure out whether Mukansa is different, or a subset of Prefectural important intangible cultural property.

 

Ken

 

[Markus]

Hi Ken,

 

Mukansa is a title that is solely granted by the NBTHK and connected to their annual sword forging contest. I.e. if you win several top prices in a row (I think it is eight, or six plus two special prices) then

they take you quasi out of competing with the other smiths and no longer judge your work.

 

As Malcolm said, the prefectural designations are decided by the administrative department of the cultural affairs office of the individual Prefecture and as far as I know, these departments and the

national board heavily rely on the NBTHK Mukansa rank to decide which smith should become intangible cultural property.

[Ken-Hawaii]

Ah, thank you, Markus! That's the one piece of data I didn't have. So a tosho can be be both Mukansa and a Prefectural important intangible cultural property. Which one will bring him in the most new customers?

Ken

 

[SAS]

I would think Mukansa, Ken. Aloha from down unda.