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I started practicing kyudo in Boston in 2005 every weekend for about 1 years. With my move to Florida, practice was quite irregular. From 2015-2025, I didn't practice at all due to chronic pain from a nerve injury for which no form of therapy including surgery and every procedure and medication known to man provided even a little benefit. I stopped Zen practice. I stopped iaido practice. In my desperation and state of heightened anxiety, I convinced myself that the next procedure would be the magic bullet. However, even partial relief never came. There was no end to severe pain every waking moment. Then I realized that I had no weakness, no muscle atrophy, and no ongoing acute tissue injury. Every imaging and nerve conduction study was normal. The pain was just a loop that had taken up occupancy in my brain--just neurotransmitters running amuck. Pain-->anxiety-->more pain-->more anxiety, etc. I started to remind myself that there was no 5-alarm fire. The anxiety died down. About a year ago, I resumed daily kyudo, iaido, and Zen practice. Next weekend, I'm going to my first kyudo intensive in the past 20 years in nearby Eustis, FL. https://www.facebook.com/events/1392050959279976/?ref_source=NEWS_FEED Here I am in 2008. And here is a video I just shot yesterday. It's been a long journey...

Look like 近江守助直 Omi no Kami Sukenao for the smith For the date... hard to read the first two... XX十一年二月吉日 (a lucky day in February, 11 years of XX period) Could be an attempt for Kanbun (but I could be wrong). If it is the case, it would place it in 1671. For reference : https://www.samuraimuseum.jp/shop/product/antique-Japanese-sword-katana-signed-by-sukenaonbthk-tokubetsu-hozon-certificate/?srsltid=AfmBOoqFBzvIQqRvZLHIVuerSmz8gYmMQlPAFpromZ5KjQ6AnIzs8klC

Paul, nice find. Thought you might like to see what Markus wrote about this 2nd Gen Kanesada. Interesting story and name evolution that fits with the 1684 date. KANESADA (包貞), 2nd gen., Enpō (延宝, 1673-1681), Settsu – “Sesshū Gorō Terukane” (摂州五郎輝包), “Echigo no Kami Kanesada” (越後守包貞), “Sakakura Gonnoshin Terukane – Echigo no Kami Kanesada kore o dōsaku” (坂倉言之進照包・越後守包貞同作, “joint work of Sakakura Gonnoshin Terukane and Echigo no Kami Kanesada”), “Sakakura Minamoto Terukane kore o saku – Echigo no Kami Kanesada” (坂倉源照包作之・ 越後守包貞同作), “Sakakura Gonnoshin Terukane – Echigo no Kami Kanesada inkyo” (坂倉言之進照包・越後守 包貞隠居, “joint work of Sakakura Gonnoshin Terukane with the retired Echigo no Kami Kanesada”), “Sakakura Gonnoshin Terukane” (坂倉言之進照包), “Sakakura Echigo no Kami Terukane” (坂倉越後守照包), “Terukane saku” (照包作), real name Sakakura Gonnoshin (坂倉言之進), he came originally from Mino where he had been a student of Terukado (照門) who was active around Manji (万治, 1658-1661), later he went to Ōsaka to study under the 1st gen. Echigo no Kami Kanesada (= Yamada Heidayū), first he signed his name Terukane with the characters (輝包), he was eventually adopted by the 1st gen. Kanesada and signed from the second month of the sixth year of Kanbun (寛文, 1666) with “Echigo no Kami Kanesada” too, when Iwamatsu (岩松), the natural son of the 1st gen. Kanesada came of age in the first half of the seventh year of Enpō (1679), it was Iwamatsu who took over the name Kanesada (包貞) and “Gonnoshin-Kanesada” had again to sign with “Itakura Gonnoshin Terukane”, this return to the name of Terukane can be dated to the second month of the eighth year of Enpō (1680), but from the second month of Tenna four (天和, 1684) onwards he once again added the honorary title Echigo no Kami in the form “Sakakura Echigo no Kami Terukane” to his signatures, one theory says that he officially received this title in Tenna four and that he had signed it before as a kind of trademark that he had taken over from his master and father-in-law, he made blades in Yamato-style with a wide shinogi-ji and a high shinogi, the jigane is a dense and finely forged ko-itame with masame in the shinogi-ji, the hamon is mostly a gunome-midare, chōji-midare or tōran-midare, sometimes he also applied a suguha or ō-notare, in his early years he tempered mostly a chōji-midare, from the time when he signed again with Terukane he focused on a tōran-midare in the style of Sukehiro (助広) whereas the valleys of the yakiba have a striped appearance because of the hakikake, he was superior in quality than the 1st gen. Kanesada, ō-wazamono, jōjō-saku

If you want some reasonable certainty, then the NBTHK certs are a good way to ensure that you are getting a decent piece. Once you have a few pieces in hand you will learn to spot the more obvious issues to avoid when choosing in the future. There are threads on this board that will show examples of modern tsuba. SpartanCrest posts regularly on things he finds on various sites, so you can look there. This was my first mistake:

Thank you all for the help - I think some lessons are learned the hard way. The condition of it should have been an indicator that it was not an authentic production. I really regret not choosing another tsuba as certainly there were some much older tsuba that were being sold at a similar price, and it should have been a red flag that the seller could offer any information on a lot of the tsuba. This was the first tsuba I handled and I think there was something very satisfying about the weight, that I let sway me. I almost certainly overpaid for it and it stings a bit - but I will use it as a learning experience to shop for another tsuba. If I were to start visiting antique sword shops around Tokyo what is a safe criteria to have when making a purchase - after a little research it seems like a traceable signature and Hozon Tosogu certificate would be a much safer bet. Thank you again -Kent

I hear you. The 18 year old in me is frustrated to find himself in a 63 year old body. However, I am sometimes surprised at how much less pain I feel after intensive training. I did a 4 day zen intensive training recently consisting of 8 hours a day of zazen, chanting, and hojo walking. I was pretty convinced I couldn’t do that much sitting meditation without severe pain. I actually had less pain after the first day. Very encouraging.

You may consider a laser welder. I can weld stainless and mild steel but have never tried iron. The problem will be getting the defect clean enough, or perhaps even filing it out before introducing the fill. You may see if there is a jeweler in your area with a LW, but make sure they also have argon or it will likely fail.

Hi, John. There is a reason I have an archery backstop. I’ve only ever shot through the screen of the covered patio once—evidenced by a small exit hole. My wife doesn’t know about this. Imagine the skill it takes to his a smaller target at 28 meters standard distance for what is called enteki. I’ll be doing that next weekend. Yes, as a general rule in most styles the prescribed distance between the feet is the length of the arrow. If you use an arrow that is too long (it should just be long enough so that the tip is close to the string at full draw), the distance between the feet will be too be too great and the stance too wide to maintain good balance and support. We didn’t used to live so long a century ago. Now we deal with the wear and tear of life with advanced age and morbid obesity grinding down joints and the lower back. A lot of what I do for older patients is address painful orthopedic issues and neuropathy from long-standing diabetes.

Hi folks, As many of you know, Mark Jones & I bought a large chunk of the tsuba and kodogu left in Skip Holbrook's collection when he passed away recently; I have been vigorously listing them to my site ever since. We will have everything that hasn't sold on our tables in Chicago. We also acquired Skip's library and I have listed many of the books on my site. There were, however, many more books than I wanted to list. I will have 3 heavy boxes of Skip's books on our tables at serious bargain prices; please stop by and lighten our load. And, since I drive to the Chicago show, I can bring with me any book from my site you might like to own - no charge for post. Check my book pages and send me an email from the site to place an order. I have recently taken on 2 other libraries beyond Skip's; I have a great inventory of very useful titles. Thanks, Grey

This shows that there are still good things out there to hunt for, not just the mediocre pieces that the board gets bombarded with . Congratulations Paul

I am offering for sale a few more books that have been digitized ALL BOOKS HAVE CUT BOOKBINDINGS (outer cover is intact) 1. Reimeikai Meitō Zuroku (1960) - Tokugawa museum of Art, selection from the collection, 100 blades. The best of the Tokugawa collection, Japanese, B4 format ... 100,- EUR 2. Masamune no Sono ( 1961 ), book published on the occasion of the Masamune no Sono Ichimon exhibition in 1961, 96 blades. Undoubtedly the best Masamune exhibition ever. Japanese/English, B4 format ... 90,- EUR 3. Meito Shubi ( 1948 ), 152 blades. The best of Nihonto. This is exactly one of those books where you can see blades in polish that are lost forever. Japanese, B4 format ...80,- EUR 4. Imperial collection oshigata. Consists of Koto part (242 blades) and Shinto part (88 blades). Japanese, B4 format ... 120,- EUR 5. Kurokawa Institute of Ancient Cultures, 111 blades. Japanese, B4 format ... 90,- EUR 6. Nihonto Taikan VI - Tsuba/ Kodogu part. 675 items. Japanese, B4 format ... 120,- EUR 7. Encyclopedia of National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties 6 - Crafts part. The book contains all items with Juyo Bunkazai and Kokuho status. 909 items for the Nihonto part. This book is really rarely for sale Japanese, A4 format ... 140,- EUR Photos follow the order of the books Shipped from Slovakia + postage ( + PP fee )

For a 3000 yen tsuba - I already overcapitalized on the rust! Besides I only bought it because it was Kawarigata - my latest fad

Exactly. One of those items you search for your whole life, but are likely unable to ever own.

Matsu-Kaze sells one with bone theme. No skull sorry. https://www.ebay.com/itm/406249440837

I was wondering who ‘Nishioeda Yutaka’ was… it turns out it’s this person! Nishiōeda Yutaka（西大條 胖 or 西大条 胖） 西大條 胖 wiki-page (Japanese language only) (You might not need this, but …I’m writing this as a note for anyone may read this.） Hiro

What he said above. I’ve had some really fine work done with laser welding.

Sorry Oli, I don't have books on TOSOGU, but other members will certainly be able to help.

Dear Khalid. I believe that Brian, in describing such a sword as one of his Grails was referencing the Arthurian story of the search for the Holy Grail, something much desired and sought after but virtualy unobtainable. In other words I don't think he has one yet. I stand to be corrected and I am sure that Brian would love to be able to do so. All the best.

Sure I will post some this evening

I looked at this again and the wear is too uniform and indicative of emulation. I do not advise traveling to for further examination.

Thank you for the explanation. Makes sense. The rough part of getting old for me is the mind still thinks its 22 when I could run a sub-4 minute mile. A few steps to the mailbox reminds me I'm now on social security!! John C.

You've done really well here, would you mind sharing some pictures of the full Koshirae?

Delve into the rich tapestry of Japanese culture with this antique kozuka, a refined piece of Japanese antiquity that resonates with the historical elegance of the riding theme. Originating from 1800's Japan, it is a testament to the intricate artisanship that has been cherished through the ages. This kozuka is not just an accessory but a slice of heritage, perfectly embodying the timeless beauty and precision that are synonymous with Japanese craftsmanship. It's an exquisite find for collectors and enthusiasts alike, seeking to enrich their collection with a touch of samurai Japan kozuka with box $150 USD

True Piers, but I find the snakes more freely moving than the dragons.

Really special piece for sure. Bittersweet goodbye on this one. This was most likely commissioned to a high ranking samurai at the time. Also agree on sayagaki. I regret not having one done before it left Japan. Would love to see Tanobe sensei's thoughts on the workmanship. Several high level Sukesada smiths overlap the date this was forged. Nidai Yosozaemon and Genbei, along with a few other jo-saku Sukesada workshop smiths that were known to sign with this particular signature. In fact, the 9m JPY Genbei that was on Aoi Art a week or so ago (now gone) had a Nakago very similar to this one.

Thank you Jean. The photo is making a lot of details look very off, chiefly the kiku which looks much more amateurish than it really is. The link is showing a blade by the first generation Yoshimichi, but I think mine is from the 4th Kyoto generation. I have compared it to many blades by that specific smith, and find the characters to be an exact match, with the kiku being the one detail that varies the most among different examples, namely the way the button is carved in. To illustrate my point, I made a superposition of this oshigata and the mei of the present sword. https://www.aoijapan.net/katana-kikumon-tamba-no-kami-yoshimichi-kyo-fouth-generation/

Ubu Mumei Wakizashi in original koshirae for Sale: Nagasa/Blade Length : 13 7/8th inches from tsuba to tip of kissaki. Sori : 4.4mm approx. Hamon Type : More of a Hoso-suguha Jihada : Very tight, too tight for me (and my novice eyes) to say one or another but in some areas in the right light you can see some nice light waves Flaws : There is hazy rust scattered throughout the blade, none active, light scratched visible in certain lighting, and some green build up under the habaki, though the habaki is easily removable and not stuck. Sword Location : Tallahassee Florida Will ship to : World wide Payment Methods Accepted : Paypal preferred, friends and family or you can cover the fees. But I also use cash app. Price and Currency : $1750 USD OBO. Other Info and Full Description : Selling this as a favor for a neighbor. She was given this as one of her wedding gifts as she left Japan. She doesn't have much information on it but she does have whats looks to be the original registration paper for it. So if anyone has more information please feel free to comment with any and all observations! Blade is in overall great condition, and though a fresh polish would help see more, there is still a lot that can be seen and appreciated in its current condition. Edge is in great condition with no knicks, blade and edge is straight, and is about 5.75mm thick! Looks to be a polished and lacquered buffalo horn kashira (could be wrong lol) and a lacquered soft metal fuchi, menuki looks to be monkey themed, and tsuba is a iron nature/mountain theme and is signed (haven't been able to translate signature yet.) . Saya has been restored as it was in poor shape; cracked, missing lacquer, and buffalo horn. I had Wally Hostetter do the work on this one, keeping as much of the original buffalo horn as he could, saving the core of the saya, and matching the original lacquer very well. Thanks everyone! Sal' from Koala Forge

Man, I LOVE these. Pipe dream, but would love to own a genuine dragon or snake jizai okimono.

Couple more

As other said, it's not so much looking at what fakes look like, it's more knowing what real ones look like, then when you see something like this...nothing looks like the real thing. Spend some time checking out pics of real sword and reading through the forum and you'll soon see the differences. You need to get some real ones in front of you too. Every country has somewhere you can see real ones.

After some serious brow furrowing I dug up the small article on Lt General Nishieoda's sword, it appears in the Token Society of Great Britain Programme vol. 71. https://to-ken.uk/onewebmedia/Programme 71 November-December 1972.pdf

To recognise a fake you first need to know what the real thing looks like, all the component parts, blade, fittings etc.You need to understand quality and artistry. That takes time and determined study. Or you can deliberately study fakes…..there are dedicated topics on this forum for that purpose. Once you have done that you will be able to tell the difference. It takes some effort. Every component of your sword sadly screams fake from the rooftops……but only when you know what you are looking at.

Hiro kindly informed us of a major Maeda Exhbition at the Tokyo National Museum. Here are some details of the swords on display. Not mentioned in the other thread is the Tarosaku Masamune. Wish I could attend. Hopefully some skilled nihonto photographers will be in attendance.

I should be able to catch the final days of the exhibition. I think I am getting way too specialized as I prioritized some rural museums over this one and I am most excited about number 94 the naginata and the 93 Ō-Denta. I am lucky this year to get the later rotation as I have already seen all the blades of Tokyo National Museum 1-4 rotation so it will be nice too see others. I do remember seeing Kotegiri Masamune years ago, will be nice to see it again and see if I think differently about it.

Agreed; this is a spectacular, extremely tight and bright nioiguchi that demands to be front and center, not obscured behind a gunome or suguha interpretation.

My god what a blade in perfect polish. Hadori could never do this blade justice

No, they are often quite faint.

@cookiemonstah47 Khalid, Yoshitada was from Saga (Hizen) in Kyushu. The following paper from NMB Downloads has some info and context:

I just find the arsenal landscape of World War 2 Japan fascinating, and have an interest in military swords of Japan. Yours looks signed with some skill and care. Also, while mune stamps are not unheard of, they are outside the norm. For those reasons I think it’s interesting. All the best, -Sam

@cookiemonstah47, now that we see these military stamps, I’ve relocated the thread to the military swords of Japan section. 名 = na = 名古屋陸軍造兵廠監督課 = Nagoya Army Arsenal Supervisory Section. ホ = HO = 小倉陸軍造兵廠第一製造所 = 1st Factory of Kokura Army Arsenal Interesting sword, -Sam

Yes, what Conway said. According to @mecox, the blade was processed by both the Nagoya Army Arsenal and inspected at the Kokura 1st Factory, if I have that right. Did you get a chance to remove the brass habaki and check for a star stamp? @Scogg - Sam, want to transfer this thread over to the Military forum?

Actually the stamps on the mune are arsenal inspection stamps - Top to bottom (名·-“Na" Nagoya Army Arsenal; ホ - “Ho” for Kokura Factory No. 1).

If you’re lucky, they just might sell it back to you at half price

Salvatore, as you can see on the TOROKUSHO, it is a WAKIZASHI (TANTO have a max. length of 303 mm). The KOSHIRAE looks new, and the photos of the blade are not telling much. Perhaps try with a dark, non-reflecting background in a dark room, using s spotlight. All NAKAGO photos vertically tip-upwards.

Hello Scholars, Collectors, Historians and Enthusiasts! New member here, long time lurker. I’m posting some pictures of this amazing tsuba and looking for historical details and any input you folks can give! Some of you might have seen it for sale a while ago and I paid a good amount for it. I’m utterly fascinated by the Nozarashi theme and have collected as much info as I could about the theme in general, most of which is from this forum. Thank you for this great resource. I’m mostly looking for info about this piece specifically. Thank you again! John F