Leaderboard

I agree with "候". 出来宜敷候 * Deki yoroshiku soro.

Dear fellow sword enthusiasts, We would like to let you know that the Dutch Token Society will be present at the Japan Art Fair in Utrecht this weekend. If you are visiting the fair, please feel free to stop by our stand, have a chat, and share our passion for Japanese swords. We look forward to meeting you there! Kind regards, On behalf of the Dutch Token Society, Leen van Ochten Chairman

The Japanese won't issue (legally) a torokusho for a sword that isn't genuine and traditionally made. By the fact that it has one, that already gives you the indemnity you need for customs.

Thank you Piers and Dale. A second league guy in the Ishiguro tradition I guess.

For the first tsuba, this part is not asked. But the reading is incorrect. 竪木瓜形 * Tate-mokkō-gata

The translation is totally wrong. 令和6年11月13日交付 – Issued on Reiwa 6th year (2024) 11th month 13th day. It is the date when the registration paper was issued.

A Nanako-Shi from the Masatsune line is shown here, c. Ansei, Tōnan, 9 from right.

1st one is 面白元作之珍重　　 Interesting and original (design) 2nd one is 出来宜敷囗 deki yoroshiku I'm actually a bit stumped by the final character of the second line. I have a few Kanzan hakogaki with this same construction, and I have kind of lazily skipped over it, thinking it was part of 宜敷, or maybe it was 宜敷く, or some variation of く (perhaps hentaigana). But looking at this fresh I don't like any of those options, and am wondering what it is exactly. Edit: Looking again, I guess the last character is 候 (in kuzushiji)

This is the official school. From Ishiguro no sekai.

I visited the exhibition second time this morning, as I will head out to other parts of Japan. Some additional thoughts. Unfortunately that is wrong Norishige Lewis. That is displayed as it has been donated by Nara Iwao to the museum recently. It is Jūyō Bijutsuhin and nice sword. However in my personal opinion the one passing Tokubetsu Jūyō is far better tantō, just a personal judgement. Nara Iwao donated spectacular items to NBTHK. In my personal opinion the hira-zukuri wakizashi by Yosōzaemon Sukesada he donated was every bit as good as TJ swords on display. Also I really liked the Fujiwara Nagasada katana that was dated 1868 that he donated. In my eyes it was very good sword, now it would never be "high ranked" but I dont care about that at all. *edit* forgot to add that the Tsunahiro wakizashi he donated was amazing. The Yasumitsu is one of my favorite items on the display. Even though it is slim and slender in form while I usually prefer the big monster swords. I am not sure if there will be photos of it as photography isnt allowed for TJ items. It is very recent Jūyō, passing in 71, so when they release the book there will be bit more info on the sword. I really don't like the extreme closeups as to me they are not something I personally see when looking at item, and I am not one seeking extremely fine details. Of course I understand that some people love these extreme details. I saw few Japanese with big cameras shooting closeup shots of the few reference items that were allowed to photography. When I am at home next month I should be able to match the majority of the swords to Jūyō level sessions. For the few mumei items I might need to wait until TJ book is released so I can match the item side by side. *edit* While I understand the multiple tier process I am not a fan of it. All of the items that passed the TJ shinsa are incredible items and display characteristic traits and experts would most likely identify them easily. If you would see any of these items with Hozon papers for example you wouldn't think about the paper level but how incredible the actual item is. I think it can be sometimes bit misleading as we talk a lot about these tier levels while I think the actual item would be more important focus point.

Eg……this blemish would not exist on a genuine Nanako front plate.

That eagle is very much a traditional Japanese depiction. Don't read too much into it.

I have heard that there would be 'recognized themes' produced over and over, very close to each other. I found out asking about a few 'close but different' fuchi with a weasel or badger with a bird in it's mouth. There was one at auction and another with different feathers on the bird on a website front page. Not the same, but so very close.

https://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/u1224612069 Comparing the two: very, very close but not identical as far as I can tell. The reverse side is markedly different with the striation marks all over the place on Bruno's

HGK2 尾張透 ＊ Owari sukashi 四方花形文 鐔 ＊ shihō hanagata-mon tsuba 撫角形 鉄地 四方透 ＊ nadekaku-gata tetsu-ji shihō sukashi 無銘 尾張透 ＊ mumei Owari sukashi 時代 室町時代 ＊ jidai Muromachi jidai 出来宜矣板★ ＊ dekī yoroshi ?? 昭和庚戌年晩秋 ＊ Shōwa kanoe-inu-nen banshū [1970, late autumn] 寒山誌 ＊ Kanzan shirusu (kaō) Here, I am a bit perplexed by the repetition of the word jidai in the third column. I would also appreciate any confirmation of my transcription of the fourth column, as the last kanji still eludes me.

I think I have seen these before? I have an image of one with the rim removed. A common theme but each seems unique?

Hi Adrian, welcome in NMB. I suppose you already know that document is a tōrokusho and is not intended to be exported from Japan with the blade (at least if the Japanese law is respected). Anyway the paper relates to a katana, nagasa (lenght) 63.4 cm, and the document was issued in Reiwa 6 (2024), november 13.

Agreed. The arrows in particular are awfully depicted as is the bow of the ship. I find it hard to believe a Japanese artisan would come up with imagery like this.

Quick Look…..something seems very wrong with this one. Artistically it’s horrible. Looks flashy but….

some more

The Musashi Masamune has strong points and weak areas. It is not all exceptional. Having said that, I liked it more when I saw it in April versus a few years ago when I was rather unimpressed with it.

It is a wakizashi. It took me a while to understand the significance of length in value. Jimmy plans on evaluating it at the San Fransisco sword show. As with any sword I look to see if it is "good enough" to warrant an exceptional polish. I've also come to find that mumei swords are usually of lesser pedigree than zaimei ones. Then there's mumei, suriage or o-suriage ones. And, ultimately taste is a factor as well.

That sounds hilarious! It's always fun to see unexpected similarities in art and modern design. Thanks for sharing the laugh about the tsuba's "game-losing" expression!

Hi again! I'm sorry if my first reply seemed impolite. I only compared your sword to other more easily accessible online sources, like Osaka Shinto Zufu, then came to my initial response. I should have explained my guess with more concrete evidence. Here are some examples from my copy of Shinkai Daikan. I'm not sure if this is against NMB's policy on intellectual property, and I would remove these if so : ( Notice that none of these signatures has this kind of chisel strokes sticking out on the top of the 井 character, a Tekuse (手癖, an act of habit, in this case, when chiseling signatures), no doubt, by the counterfeiter. It's always just two lines from top to bottom in the 井 character with genuine Shinkai's work. So yes, I would agree this is not a Gimei (fake signature) of maximum effort, unfortunately. (The wavy shinogi line and off-looking patina are also telltale signs, as said above.) Edits: Anyway, let's not get hung up on this Mei (signature). This still could be a nice sword in many other aspects. To tell the quality of the work, however, requires much better photos of the sword. I think there are many guidelines on how to take pictures of a Japanese sword on this forum, it's just I can't find any now orz

It was me. Your original topic was an interesting one…..perceived shortage of kashira….possible reasons…..different types of kashira (or Kabuto gane) and their place in history etc but you lost me when you started talking about and imaging non Japanese scabbards, wood vs metal scabbards etc…..which were irrelevant to the topic (imo) , but that’s just me, no offence intended. Also worth remembering that there are very few pre Edo koshirae or even components thereof kicking around on the market compared to the more intricate Edo developments. You are going back over 400 years with massive changes in fashion in the meantime so no surprise that a lot has been lost to time in Japan for a variety of reasons.

Buying a blade is completely a personal thing. I like the idea that the blade chooses the owner rather than the other way round. As such one blade that tickles the fancy of one person may not tickle the fancy of others. I for example am a Soshu fan (probably the most popular category of sword collector) and others think Soshu is nice but prefer the more obscure smiths like @Jussi Ekholm. Some love blades according to their rating preferring the higher grade blades, whilst other prefer the provenance or the story behind the blade and still others (probably most again) just fall in love with the look of the blade or the smith. I can completely understand that when you start looking your list can contain blades that stretch from 1-35 million Yen. This is where the study and research into each smith starts and as such it is the start of a wonderful journey. If you do have big money available to spend then it is certainly worth being patient - there are a lot of good blades out there and the best are listed for only a short time or through friends of friends. Don't let that money burn a hole in your pocket. Find out what/who you like. Keep your ear to the ground (ask those more connected to do the same.) Follow the great apps like NihontoWatch by @Hoshi. Please do continue to share and ask questions. DM those in the community members who show the most knowledge around what you are looking at... Getting an opinion like @Andrew Ickeringill is also really worth it if you are keen on a blade. His keen eye after years of polishing great blades will give you an honest review. I can promise you most in this community are willing to share their knowledge and will help point you in the right direction. There is a blade waiting for you and I can promise you when you see it you will know. Your journey will lead you there. Excited for you bud.

Designs were often copied from artist to artist, from school to school. I've seen this job, and the quality of the work is really excellent. I even want to believe the seller about the documents…

Just finished watching the four part series called The Samurai by Tom Holland & Dominic Sandbrook part of their podcast The Rest is History. For those who don't know Tom Holland, he is a brilliant British historian who eloquently breaks down world history. This series appears to have been influenced by the current Samurai Exhibition at the British Museum. It gives a wonderful account of the early history and rise of the Samurai in Japan. A must watch for anyone interested in Japanese Swords, Early Japanese Military History & Japanese Legends. I will leave a link to the episodes here: The Samurai - Episode 1 Samurai Japan was Brutal - Episode 2 Samurai Battles Were Worse Than You Think - Episode 3 The Samurai Civil War: Japan's Greatest Epic - Episode 4 Enjoy!

Last month I was in Kyoto. went into a tourist trap antique shop. It was at the end of a long street that is aimed at the tourist trade, but had genuine antiques for sale. There was a large section of sword fittings, most of them in poor shape. Some were sets connected by small bits of plastic, others individuals. In the individual menuki box, I found this treasure and bought it on the spot. A giant frog holding an umbrella, while a man in court dress bows down and prostrates himself to the frog. (I, For One, Welcome Our New Amphibian Overlords!) Whatever it was paired with has been lost to time. I am therefore posting it here, to ask if anyone else has seen it's like? (Besides the fire breathing toad of Tenjiku Tokubei...)

Extra pictures of the koshirae:

Sorry, couldn't resist... the resemblance is amazing though. Or maybe this tsubako was a fan of American football? (Not that it existed yet...)

Reminds me of a local baskeball club -

Arrows? I thought the other boat was throwing Gunbai at the archers!