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於駒橋元近作之 – At Komahashi, Motochika made this. 佐世保市浪瀬免三一番地代五班本郷盛馬 – Sasebo-shi Namise-men 31, the 5th group Hongo Morima

Papers should be a start of your research journey, not the end. They are a very educated opinion, but there is so much more to learn depending on what they say or don’t say.

Just picked this up. A 1934 paper weight commemorating the birthday of Crown Prince Akihito. John C.

The apparent quality of the workmanship for the piece is very much at odds with the shoddy workmanship of the nakago-ana - it is not centred, and it has chips off in places. In addition to that, the way that the nakago-ana cuts through the raised items in the centre indicates a later alteration.

Here's the one I got, quite happy with it. I would have loved number 27 or 58, but the bidding went up too quickly. Here's mine, from the Tenhô school.

The same sword together with a translation from the Token Bijutsu 705. 705_NBTHK_October_2015.pdf

Michael, funny—now that I’ve seen your title image in connection with Ko-Bizen, it immediately rang a bell. I remembered where I must have come across that information before. not a photographic memory, more that I had a few things tucked away that just happened to resurface. This forum is full of hidden gems, and there’s a great deal to learn here ;).

Well, it is the other way around. Soshu was inspired by Ko-Bizen and Ko-Hoki…. So Soshu occasionally looks like KoBizen and KoHoki. When I phrased my pseudo haiku I had exactly that TB quote in mind… Well done to Rohan for following the clues! In fact, for those in Japan currently or passing through, if you visit the NBTHK JuBi exhibition, there is a Norishige which looks like a Ko-Bizen blade (except that the jamón shape in the upper third stabilises similarly to an Osafune hamon). Even the label in the glass window talks about how Norishige was inspired by KoBizen when making that blade.

This smith's name is also read as Teruyoshi. From Sesko below: "he was then employed by the Matsudaira family (松平), the daimyō of Musashi´s Kawagoe fief (川越藩), he moved to the fief and was granted with the family name Fujieda, in the first year of Bunkyū (文久, 1861) he also got the permission to engrave the three-part tomoe crest of the Matsudaira clan"

Hello again, Just back from a very talented book binder: The two volume edition of Shinshinto Taikan, $375: https://japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/book/sword-books/b666-shinshinto-taikan-by-iimura-2/ The two volumes of Shinto Taikan, $375: https://japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/book/sword-books/b666-shinshinto-taikan-by-iimura-2/ And Yumei Koto Taikan, $325: https://japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/book/sword-books/b564-yumei-koto-taikan-by-iimura-2/ If interested please contact me by email through my site. Thank you, Grey

Grev, a) and b) are meaning the same. As far as I know, in written Japanese, there is no separation of terms, so you might write TACHIKANAGUSHI (style) or TACHI KANAGU SHI (style).

Greetings. This may well have been raised before but I will put it up anyway. Maybe a question for Bruce @Bruce Pennington Bruce, I have been through your VERY good reference tool 'Stamps of the Japanese Sword' but I admit, have not done any lengthy research through NMB generally. I have a rust resistant blade in standard Kai Gunto mounts (although everything, and I mean everything, is numbered 89). It's mumei with no 'arsenal' stamps. However, it does have stamps on each side of the nakago and I have no real idea what they are. 1. Picture 1.... A WA stamp that would indicate 1941 ? (page 27 of your publication above). This is followed by number '119'. 2. Picture 2.....On reverse side of nakago a small hollow 'figure 8' stamp (Picture 2) 3. And while I'm at it, picture 3 also shows a small stamp on the tsuba As I mentioned, every single piece of this package is numbered 89. Any views would be appreciated. Thanks Rob

Is this the kitae-ware referred to? https://photos.app.goo.gl/NKjtcUQCkmgsW5AZA

Dear all, I would appreciate your thoughts on a wakizashi that I plan to submit to shinsa soon. At first glance, I am inclined to date it to the late Muromachi period, possibly from the Sōshū school (Tsunahiro). However, the relatively long kaeri gives me some pause. I do not have a full-length photograph available at the moment, and I am currently in the train, but I will share some once I am back home. Thank you in advance for your insights.

I discovered that this text is available in the National Diet Library Digital Archive. 鍛錬會の刀匠宮口靖廣氏鍛錬の図 雄山閣編輯局 編『日本刀剣の研究』第1輯,雄山閣,昭和9. 国立国会図書館デジタルコレクション https://dl.ndl.go.jp/pid/1213283 (参照 2026-03-26) I therefore believe this was taken whilst master swordsmith Yasuhiro Miyaguchi was forging. My previous translation was of a different caption. My apologies.

I like the history inherent in this piece, the hitsu was cut after it was made, then that hole was filled possibly with a smaller hole or as a solid and then re-cut even later. Only to be filled once again. The difference in metal colours certainly suggest there was a big time difference between each alteration. The fukurin? At what time was it added? Intriguing to me. PS. I am not sure the kanji in the thread title are correct - still can't trust google trans!

A glorious piece of workmanship - but the material itself is just not up to the task. The fukurin is the only element keeping this piece together. https://www.jauce.com/auction/1224137596 I have to wonder if it was altered to be used as a tsuba? The seppa-dai area does not look as you would expect.

Thanks again, Steve. Found a few online now that I know what I'm looking for. John C.

It's a paper weight - 文鎮 - the kind used when doing calligraphy.

I would have liked to buy the Onin tsuba but too much for me I won this one. Nice to recent papers #218

Shachihoko with perforated mimi - NICE!

Agreed, and the material looks traditionally Chinese.

皇太子殿下御誕生 奉祝會記念 昭和九年　五月三十日 　　　　　　　三十一日 財団法人 宮内省互助会 This is believed to be a commemorative gift distributed to officials of the Imperial Household Agency following the birth of Crown Prince Akihito (now the Emperor Emeritus).

Justin, buy books first, and read them. Read a lot here on NMB and look at pictures of good swords. Learn the terminology (It is WAKIZASHI, not Wakazashi, and it is FUCHI-GASHIRA, not Fuchi-Koshira). Take your time and enjoy the journey! Coming back to your question: When you have more knowledge, you could decide whether to repair your KOSHIRAE or have one made. Quite expensive! But you won't probably find a fitting KOSHIRAE on the market. On the other hand, you could learn to repair the SAYA, and even TSUKA-MAKI can be learned (if you are motivated and have enough patience).

This is excellent book as was said above. It offers some "hidden" insight on things that really cannot be found anywhere. There is so much interesting information in the book and it creates an image of how things were in past, I admit I have been scratching my head a lot when trying to understand some of the information provided by the book.

Note to newbies, feel the need. Beware of folks that don't step beyond books from the 1960s (boxed in) Its part protecting the value of the books and also a genuine misunderstanding of how new information has come to light regarding various smiths. Call it ignorance Sadly. the recluses of Nihonto. Seen way to many instances of "this is how it is" then it gets blown out of the water Too many BS rules broken. Folks calling gimei when in in fact legit (you know who you are, please shut up) Its nowhere near as exact science as people assume it may be, In fact, mostly the reason i have struggled with the hobby and come to this conclusion Absolute Bollox, but love the swords, Its like two. three, seven hundred or more years ago but muppets here think they have it covered. Its embarrassing reading their "accurate" BS Just learn about what you buy and learn to enjoy what you buy, try avoid the misfortune of Shinsa here, its nonsense. People moan about images then troll like comment, oh dear. F*** everyone else, especially online "experts" that know "f all " GNGB There are no experts, none. A fact i have accepted.

The "8" mark maybe from Hiroshima Arsenal