Qualifications
2008 – Began apprenticeship under master togishi Sasaki Takushi.
2009 – Polished several hoko by Amata Akitsugu for dedication to Ise Jingu.
2010 – Gave a polishing demonstration at the Oiso Municipal Museum in Kanagawa as part of the exhibition for Nagayama Koukan.
2010 – Gave a polishing demonstration at the Okura Museum in Tokyo as part of the exhibition for the annual NBSK sword craftsmen competition.
2011 – Gave a lecture at the Sydney Shinsa & Taikai.
2013 – Awarded Kinshō (Gold Prize) in the annual NBSK sword polishing competition.
2008-2014 – Maintained the sword collection of the Kasama Inari shrine in Ibaraki.
2014 – Received my finishing papers from sensei, marking the completion of my apprenticeship.
2014 – Built my first workshop in Melbourne, Australia.
2017 – Polished a katana by Gō Yoshihiro, which has since passed Tokubetsu Juyo Tōken.
2023 – Founded the Touken-Togishi Kantei-Kai, the first of its kind in Australia.
2023 – Built my second workshop in Ballarat, Australia.
2024 – Polished a second katana by Gō Yoshihiro, which has since passed Juyo Tōken.
2025 – Named as the new Secretary for the Gōshū Nihon Bijutsu Tōken Hozon Kai.
2025 – Awarded Doryokushō (Achievement Award) in the annual NBTHK sword polishing competition.
2013 – Kinshō (Gold Prize)
Since the day I started my training, one of my goals was to win a prize in the annual sword polishing competition. The competitions are considered a way of ranking the craftsmen associated with Nihonto, it’s a great honour to win a prize and have your work exhibited in a famous Tokyo museum.
In 2013, sensei gave me permission to enter the competition for the first time and I managed to take a gold prize. It was an incredible feeling to receive this award and be recognised by the top craftsmen in my field.
2014 – Shuryoshō (Finishing Papers)
Receiving these papers from sensei meant that my apprenticeship was complete. I was allowed to go independent and return to Australia, where I could open my own workshop.
The papers are for a period of 5 years – from the day I got my cultural visa to the day sensei declared I was ready to go independent. But actually my training commenced before this period and continued after, in total it lasted well over 6 years.
The calligraphy was done by one of Japan’s top traditional painters and the paper was handmade by a living national treasure of Japan.
Whenever I look at these papers I feel humbled thinking about the great people who helped me along the way, which inspires me to continue improving my work.
My finishing papers.
It reads:
修了證 – shuryosho – Completion certificate.
アンドリューイクリンガル殿 – Andoryu Ikuringaru dono – Mr. Andrew Ickeringill.
右の者は佐々木光譽刀剣研磨道場に – migi no mono ha, Sasaki Kouyo touken kenma doujou ni – The person written to the right of this is a part of the Sasaki Kouyo Japanese art sword polish and judgment dojo.
於て研磨の技法竝に鑑定法を五年間習得し – oite, kenma no gihou narabi ni kanteihou o gonenkan shutoku shi – Regarding the polish technique & judgment technique, five years were spent learning.
之を修了したる事を證す – kore o shuryou shitaru koto o shou su – This certificate proves completion of apprenticeship.
佐々木光
譽美術刀
剣研磨研
修道場印
Sasaki Kouyo bijutsu touken kenma kenshu doujou in – Sasaki Kouyo Japanese art sword polish and judgment dojo stamp.
平成二十五年九月三十日 – heisei 25nen 9gatsu 30nichi – 30/9/2013.
佐々木光譽 (印) (佐々木卓史) – Sasaki Kouyo (Sasaki Takushi seal).
2025 – Doryokushō (Achievement Award)
This was the first time I had entered the NBTHK competition, and the first time I had entered any competition since returning to Australia. I submitted a katana by Go Yoshihiro.
Andrew Ickeringill - Touken Togishi - 刀剣研師 