Ed

10-4. Milt is right, the top one looks ok. The second is definate paperweight, chinese paperweight. Ed

"Then, how many years a new sword can be called Shinsakuto? I really do not know, 1 year, 2 year, or more...? " Moriyama san, good question. I agree that it doesn't seem that it would be called shinsakuto after 20 years??? Perhaps next time you visit the NBTHK you could ask this question and get clarification. It would be good knowledge to have. "And I also think that even if the sword is young enough say 1 year old, it is not called Shinsakuto when it is secondhand." I would tend to disagree with this statement. If the sword was made last year and purchased by myself, then sold to you this year, I would still think it a shinsakuto. Just my worthless opinion. EdM

They have been working on this web site for quite some time. The kodogu sections has many wonderful pieces. They hold one of the largest collections of Nihonto in the western world, sadly they rarely allow this collection to be seen. Many of the Compton pieces are there. It looks as though they are slowly adding a few nihonto pictures. A good friend visited and viewed this collection twice with Junji Honma. He was a friend of Compton as well, and states the swords were donated for the public to enjoy. It infuriates him that this has never been done, and this great collection sits in a basement all but forgotten. Everyone in the Nihonto community should write and ask that this collection be put on permanent display and perhaps on the web site as well. Ed M.

That is a good question. The definitions are quite similar. GENDAI: nowadays (a-no), modern times, present-day. SHINSAKU: new work, new production. It can also mean prosperity. Broken down even further: GEN: original (prefix) DAI: title, subject, theme, topic TO: sword SHIN: new, genuineness. SAKU: work or made (we know this to translate into "made this"). TO: sword I too, as Rich Stein stated above, had always heard that the term Gendaito was used from the end of Shinshinto (1867) until post war production re-emerged in the early 1950's. A couple of years ago I saw in Nagayama's book where the charts show "Gendaito" from 1867 thru Heisei 1989-. The books definition states, SHINSAKUTO: Contemporary swords made by smith's who are still living. I suppose Shinsakuto are technically Gendaito, but not vise versa. Shinsakuto are apparently designated as Gendaito when the smith dies. Markus was right on track. Ed M.

AUGUST 17 - 20, 2006 THE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA Japanese SWORD CLUB WILL HOST THE THIRTEENTH ANNUAL TOKEN KAI AT THE SAN FRANCISCO AIRPORT MARRIOTT HOTEL. NBTHK SWORD (BIZEN ICHIMONJI) DISPLAY AND LECTURE. NBTHK TSUBA DISPLAY AND LECTURE. NTHK JIDAI KOSHIRAE DISPLAY. THOUSAND'S OF SQUARE FEET OF WALL TO WALL EXHIBITORS. THOUSANDS OF SWORDS, FITTINGS AND RELATED ART. THIS AND SO MUCH MORE, BE THERE!!

Brian, Congratulations on this new endeavor. While these are "Big Shoes", I am sure you will do a great job, as have those who came before you. I am sorry to see Rich T step down, he has been a fantastic resource to the Nihonto Community. His tireless and dedicated service to this board are a tribute to his name. But more than that he is just an all around good guy. Thanks Rich. In closing, I leave one word for all: GANBATTE !!! Ed M.