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Let them eat cake! [chocolate for desert!]

Here is the other tsuba (and thanks for the correction about pluralization).

Chris: I would guess that it's possible. July/August of 1944, the Japanese were still trying to hold on to Guam, Tinian, and New Guinea, among other fronts, as well as Peleiu in September. In addition, Operation Ichi-go was still going on, with over 400,000 troops fighting in China. John C.

The Sacramento Japanese Sword Club has been given permission to re-present and upload Albert Yamanaka's Nihonto Newsletters online, which they are doing one newsletter at a time as Leon Kapp finds the time to work on the next Newsletter. It is an incredible effort and credit needs to be given where credit is due. I have managed to track down links to all the available Newsletters and will post every new one as they appear online. In the mean time I encourage everyone who downloads these newsletters to follow Sacramento Japanese Sword Club on Facebook and drop them a line thanking them for this excellent work on providing access to this invaluable resource. Albert Yamanaka's Nihonto Newsletters Volume 1 Yamanaka V1 NL01 Yamanaka V1 NL02 Yamanaka V1 NL03 Yamanaka V1 NL04 Yamanaka V1 NL05 Yamanaka V1 NL06 Yamanaka V1 NL07 Yamanaka V1 NL08 Yamanaka V1 NL09 Yamanaka V1 NL10 Yamanaka V1 NL11 Yamanaka V1 NL12 Yamanaka V1 NL12 Extras Volume 2 Yamanaka V2 NL01 Yamanaka V2 NL02 Yamanaka V2 NL03 Yamanaka V2 NL04 Yamanaka V2 NL05 Yamanaka V2 NL06 Yamanaka V2 NL07 Yamanaka V2 NL08 Yamanaka V2 NL09 Yamanaka V2 NL10 Yamanaka V2 NL11 Yamanaka V2 NL12 Volume 3 Yamanaka V3 NL01 Yamanaka V3 NL02 Yamanaka V3 NL03 Yamanaka V3 NL04 Yamanaka V3 NL05 Yamanaka V3 NL06 Yamanaka V3 NL07 Yamanaka V3 NL08 Yamanaka V3 NL09 Yamanaka V3 NL10 Yamanaka V3 NL11 & NL12

This work reflects more than 20 years of dedicated effort and expertise, and it unquestionably deserves recognition and appreciation. The depth of knowledge, skill, and care that went into it is clearly evident. Dmitry Pechaelov is open and friendly in communication, approachable, and a pleasure to interact with. Shipping within Europe is 20 EUR.

The hidden Christian tsuba brigade are really stretching it: https://www.jauce.com/auction/h1218777130 The fact that there is nothing hidden about the religious nature of this design, plus the fact that it is a cast piece [only designed to be seen on one side at that!] totally negates any idea that it is in anyway real or worth even advertising!

I can tell you exactly what this is provided you don’t get offended. You don’t need to send it anywhere. Should I go ahead?

Here’s a long, actually very long shot, pun included. Neck on line. In 韮山 Nirayama there are the remains of Japan’s first reverberatory furnace where they once made cannon. ‘Barrel made at Nira’ could be got from these two kanji 韮張, assuming of course that the reading is not mistaken, which it could well be. (35% confidence rating) Anyway, just to get the ball rolling, but expecting to get shot down (pun included) at any moment. As they say: “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”

Here is a really fascinating thread from Nick Komiya about the Type 32 Gunto production. It includes a document on a change in tassel production which I thought was interesting and attached below. https://www.warrelics.eu/forum/Japanese-militaria/system-kaizen-behind-type-32-gunto-production-1930s-788442/ I have two tassels that I beleive display the before/after of this change. Left tassel looks greasy from antique leather conditioner. Regards, -Sam

I think Norishige had long departed Sagami before the fall of the Kamakura bakafu as centre of power. He signed some of his later work Saeki (his family/Clan name) and its believed this was used after he had moved back to Etchu and established the forge in Gokafu District. The earliest dated Norishige with full naga-mei is this one from 1319, 14 years before the upheaval. https://www.nihonto-museum.com/collection/exhibit/tokubetsu-juyo-norishige-tanto

Hey guys, been a few years since I posted. but its been that long between buying my 2nd sword. This a late war NCO, serial 204,686. Any idea when manufactured, 1944-45, and at whate locaton or aersenal? Did these ever get to the warfront? Thanks in advance for your help.

Scogg, great information, thank you for your knowledge. Chris

The pair of figures are more modern “gift shop” material and I doubt they contain any ivory. More likely plastic and bone. Apologies!

Hi Gerry The first ivory….the woodcutter. What you have here is a late Meiji period sectional elephant ivory okimono. The okimono that emerged during mid Meiji are amongst the finest ivory carvings ever created. They can be astonishing works carved from a solid block. The demand for these grew rapidly and to satisfy that demand the ingenious Japanese started to produce similar looking but lower quality works using assorted offcuts of ivory that were worked and cunningly pegged together with expertly concealed joints. They were produced in large numbers by workshops that employed a variety of skills. Different carvers would produce things like the heads, hands and feet whilst lesser talent would carve the various torso components. This was obviously a much cheaper method than using the hugely expensive solid blocks cut from substantial tusks. It was also much quicker due to many people working in collaboration. Your woodcutter is such piece. Don’t know if you have ever looked closely but the head (in this case too big for the body) is separate, the arms are separate joined at the shoulders, the forearms are separate joined where they insert into the robes. The upper torso is separate to the lower joined just above the sash, the legs will be separate etc etc These “lookalikes” are worth only a small fraction of their higher quality monoblock predecessors and of course with current ivory laws etc they are as you say, difficult to sell. Date wise yours is somewhere in the 1880-1910 range. I have had many of these spread across my restoration bench over the years when the glue gives way and they fall apart! Out of interest here is an example of a similar subject from Bonhams but of a much higher quality and value…. I hope I have not offended or disappointed you. All the best Colin

These figurines Looks for me Like a modern Work. Is this correct?

I might be mistaken, so please feel free to correct me, but this is how I remember it from what I’ve read over time, even if it’s slightly off-topic. During the Northern and Southern Courts period, Kamakura appears to have lost much of its significance as both the political capital and a center of swordsmithing. This had direct consequences for the Sagami School, as the city’s declining status and growing regional instability likely disrupted the creative environment that had previously supported it. As far as I recall, this was the main reason why many smiths connected to Masamune and other leading figures of the school ended up moving back to their native provinces. For example, Norishige returned to Etchū, and Chōgi went back to Bizen. Among the main-line Sōshū masters, only Hiromitsu and Akihiro seem to have stayed in Kamakura. I’ve also read that the very factors that originally made the Sagami School so strong may have later contributed to its decline.

Thanks to everyone involved. Making these newsletters available and accessible is exactly what makes this forum enjoyable and worthwhile.

Dear Naftali. As Lewis has pointed out the ha machi and mune machi, the shoulders where the habaki sits, are not level and this is a characteristic of Chinese fake swords. However in this case I suspect that someone not familiar with Japanese swords has made a new habaki and modified the blade to 'make it fit'. A proper habaki should have a notch in the back that slips over the blade and fits against the mune machi, the step at the back, while the edge side should have a slot that fits closely around the edge of the blade. If you look closely at the shoulder next to the edge can you see if the blade has been recently modified there? If this is the case then an amateur habaki might also account for the extra set of seppa. All the best.

Melting temperature of iron is 1.538°C, cast iron can be melted as low as 1.150°C.

Bear in mind that false signatures have been done for centuries, and a false signature is not only common, but doesn't make the tsuba fake. It's a very nice tsuba showing some different techniques, and would be a decent addition to a collection. Your grandfather had good taste, and tsuba collectors know that without papers, any tsuba has a chance of having a spurious mei, but that each is judged on its own merits. You have a nice genuine tsuba with an unproven signature. Enjoy it.

Red flag? Not familiar enough with WW2 mounts to know if mods were made.

Tori, that is a very nice TSUBA, and even if not authentic by SHOZUI, it still is a valuable item on the market. Authenticated examples are very expensive! It is absolutely not sure that your grandfather knew about it being possibly not genuine! Would you mind showing us both TSUBA? (no plural "s" added!)

Your tsuba is signed Shozui . Shozui 1696 - 1769 is a very famous and much faked maker who founded the Hamano school . Your tsuba looks to be a quality piece but not in Shozui's style. Ian Brooks

Good afternoon and happy Friday NMB! On offer today is a sublime piece of Iga ware modeled after the large, iconic flower vases of the Momoyama period. Shinya Fukushima is the youngest working member of the Fukushima potting family, currently led by his older brother Kazuhiro. They work out of the Mukai kiln, which is in its eight generation and has been operating for over three centuries. He has quickly made a name for himself via solo exhibitions, and the piece here was the representative for this vessel type at a recent one in Tokyo. This small vase measures 9.5cm tall by 7.1cm wide, a perfect size for a shelf or countertop. The weeks-long firing has bestowed all of the desirable kiln effects onto the piece, with each one working in perfect harmony - flowing natural ash glaze of a stunning jewel-like greenish blue, sunset orange clay flavor and dark purple scorching where the heat was the most intense. The form is classic Iga with a different, yet purposeful demeanor from every angle, and is accented by triangular lugs (or "ears") at the sides, which radiate strength and balance. In perfect, unused condition with its original signed box, cloth and paperwork. $150 shipped to the USA, international buyers please contact me for a quote. Payment to be made via PayPal F&F but will accept Venmo if necessary. Please let me know if you have any questions or need additional pics, thanks for looking!

Real one.

Hi Chris, The blade has 関 stamp which is for SEKI = 名古屋陸軍造兵廠関監督班 = Seki Supervisory Unit of Nagoya Army Arsenal. Your sword was likely made around June/July of 1944. No doubt in my mind that it's 100% genuine. Great looking example of the Pattern#5 (or Variation#8) Type 95 Gunto. -Sam (Also, that's a great book )

Wakizashi attributed to the second generation Omi no kami Fujiwara Tsuguhira.

I bought this figure a year ago. The quality is simply incredible.

I like them both — each set has its own character. And yes, according to the origami, it’s a joint work made at the same time. Sokujo and Teijo were cousins. Sokujo lived a very short life and passed away at the age of 31. His son Renjo was four at the time, so although he was the intended successor, uncle Teijo stepped in to take over the mainline, raising and training Renjo until he came of age. Renjo, assumed the position at 25, becoming the 11th-generation head.

Thanks again Piers , I will post in the Translation section and see if anyone can shed light on it . 👍 Alan .

Just to balance the discourse a bit. Interesting how many inaccuracies can be presented even here on this single thread webpage and discussion about the 2004 BM exhibition which Victor curated, about what the BM owns and the condition of the swords etc etc. I shall leave it to someone with more time and energy to debunk these notions. And the person in the video …. Well, the curator is different. Just for information to all those who have been moaning and complaining…. The BM is actually one of the more accommodating state-owned museums where a person can request to study in hand their blades. I have personally done it 3-4 times and know of fellow members who do it regularly. As I have studied their top 15 or so blades several times, the urge is lesser, but they have fairly good Shinto/Shinshinto stuff too. There is a procedure to follow but it works and they are open-minded about it and facilitate personal study. So, with a bit of pre-planning and foresight, all of you could have submitted a request, planned your trip/visit accordingly and studied some of the treasures in hand. Go try that in the Tokyo National or other museums.

The British Museum had a big chunk of their collection polished by Kenji Mishina some years ago and it formed the basis of an exhibition then. If anyone is interested, the book cataloguing the items that formed the exhibition is still available and is entitled "cutting edge: Japanese swords in the British Museum". https://www.amazon.com/Cutting-Edge-Japanese-Swords-British/dp/0804847347

Patina on copper or brass does not give the purple/black of shakudo. The core in mine was/is copper or a brass and all three were covered in shakudo. Metal ie gold has always been expensive and what better way to make it appear as solid shakudo- gold/ copper/ other was a lot of work- well done too- only after years has the edges been exposed where the lead solder has been attacked by the environment. Consider the effort to make 4 piece tsuba- against the solid expensive version- labour was cheap- few stiffens of rice! I have made shakudo quite a few times and had varying success but not what I would consider as good shakudo! Ive tried 3,5 and 7 % gold but its still brown after patina. The pieces I have from the old tsuba colour very well and show the darkness straight away and with obvious age they would be better. I have a couple of brooches I made for an exhibition in the late 80s using shakudo- my shakudo!!!- and they are still brown- oh and I am using Japanese patina! I am certain the ones I have pulled apart are shakudo. More to it than copper and gold. Cheers Mike

I have several examples of tsuba with stacked sekigane in my collection and I always consider this a good thing as these tsuba are of a good enough quality where they have been taken care of and fitted for a blade more than once.

I have one like this. Has seen better days.

An other unusual method of attaching the leather snap strap. It's under fuchi.

I'm considering updating the forum to the latest version, which is a complete revamp of the current software, and has been in development for a number of years. I'm currently trying to raise the $600+ that would be needed to get someone to assist, as it is a huge update with lots of new features and benefits. Frankly, we'll have to do it eventually anyways, as this version 4 won't be supported forever, and it will allow us to improve a lot of things. That aside, I don't have a date yet when we will do it. But there is one thing that I need to warn all members about. Most forums nowadays, across most platforms, are moving away from logging in using your username. This is because usernames are visible to everyone, and it is a security risk when hackers etc use various methods to run common passwords etc. The modern convention is to have everyone log in with their registered email address, and their usual password. This is because emails are not visible and are far more secure. So I am putting this out there now, so that people can start transitioning from logging in using their username, to logging in with their email address. YES...I know how many people can't remember their emails they used, or have changed it by now. Hence why I'm giving everyone plenty of warning to see what your email is here, so you can use to to login. Or update it if you like. Your forum email address is in your profile. You can find it here: https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/settings/ Make sure you know what it is, and probably best to make sure you know what your password is, or reset it if you don't. For now, you can log in with your username OR your email address. But eventually that username won't be a login method. Your username will display as it does currently, no changes there So please start transitioning over, and post here if you have any questions.

Come on Bob, that is just my worthless oppinion but even if a well known idiot like me can tell this is a signed text book example then why would a much smarter person not? On a blade like this there is no room for questions, uncertainity nor interpretation left. So why care for papers? As I said before I am an idiot but not so dumb as I would waste any money or getting confirmed by whoever to what is obvious.

No, I'm sending my collector half instead