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Franco and everyone, Thank you for your kind help. Stephen T.

Franco, Haha, no I'm not suggesting the smiths or togishi don't know about distinctive Masamune features. I have seen only certain things written about and discussed, like the elements in the illustration. (fans, crescents and such) I have not seen these "flower" shapes drawn or discussed anywhere. This makes me wonder if people see these "flower" shapes like I see them or if they see them as "just another Masamune feature." Does anyone know of any recent books in Japan that identify special features/elements in Masamune's steel? Thank you, Stephen. T

Hello Ray, Thank you, I have heard of Kuki Masamune also. I heard of Kiku Masamune several years ago from a forum of some sort in Japan. I later contacted Mr. Adrian Schlemmer and he said he had a picture of the tanto in a book. I didn't find out which book. These flower shaped chikei in the steel on this particular sword are probably not intentional I'll agree, but still interesting and I think they are another fine quality that sets Masamune apart. It seems many elements of Masamune swords identifies with Japan and its people making an enjoyable study. For instance, referring to the drawings in Kokon Meizukushi Taizen as shown above, the ogi-ba(fan shape), the tomo shape (top picture) right side, crescent moon shape (sometimes C shapes), tama (hardened spots), etc. Thanks so much, Stephen T.

Let me make myself clear. There is a Masamune blade called "Kiku Masamune". Is this the reason it is called Kiku Masamune, because it has kiku flower shapes in the steel? BTW, has anyone ever seen these flower shapes in Masamune's steel or is it a new discovery? Stephen T. PS. Mr. Moderator, can we have irrelevant posts removed?

Friends, Earlier on here I mentioned kiku or flower shapes being in Masamune steel. I dont really know if he was trying to do this, but I've seen it in several Masamune blades. Is this the reason for the name of a Masamune sword and a sake drink called Kiku Masamune? I didn't wish to leave you hanging so here are two in the Ishida Masamune. I got this photo from the link I gave of Ishida Masamune. The first kiku I show is large and the second will be on the left and smaller which seems to have different petals. If anything, its interesting.... All the best, Stephen. T

Franco, No problem. I find the ogi-ba very interesting also along with the other elements that can be found. Even though most of us can't hold the Masamune swords found in museums, we do have some pretty clear reference materials that show fine detail of these works. Fukunaka's Encyclopedia has clear shots, found here: http://www.tsuruginoya.net/stories/ We musn't forget to give a huge thanks to Marcus Sesko for his Masamune book which give us these "example illustrations" found in Masamune blades. As for the Ogi-ba that you may want to see in the lost Masamune, please see the attachment. Look on the right side, I have photoshopped a black arrow. This is a copy of the original oshigata called "Osaka Gyobutsu Meibutsu Token Oshigata" , original drawn in 1595. Thank you, Stephen T.

Ray, Sounds good, I think I understand. So this sideways fan shaped element, because of location would not be considered true ogi-ba. I found it interesting though that the steel of Masamune, have many fan shaped elements. So, if an upright fan shape is found in an oshigata of Masamune, perhaps it can be considered a real ogi-ba. Franco and Ray, thank you both very much! Stephen T. Franco, you mentioned, "It is interesting in that it stands alone above the suguha portion of the hamon." This is the way its done in the oshigata of the lost Masamune so I think its correct. I could show it if given permission by the moderator, but I don't want to cause a stir. Just trying to find some Masamune answers quietly. : )

Franco, Yes, what you found does appear to be an ogi-ba. Thank You! I had not seen that one. The leaning ogi-ba that I have a question about is found in the picture below. I have drawn directly onto the fan shape in the first picture to show location and in the next picture you can examine the original photo. The fan shape will be outlined by a tiny black concentrated line. There are other fan shapes. The photo is from Fukunaka's Encyclopedia and the sword is "Jo Izumi no Kami Shoji Masamune" Thank You, Stephen T.

Franco, Thank you for your reply! I found today that Ishida Masamune has upright Ogi-ba. There are other Masamune like "Jo Izumi no Kami Shoji Masamune" that have fan shapes laying on their sides. I was wondering if that style ( on the side) is counted as ogi-ba hamon? I am attaching an illustration from Kokon Meizukushi Taizen. It shows two blade shapes drawn with examples of what elements you might find Masamune steel. To the far right are fan shapes on both upper and lower drawings. I would still be interested to see other Masamune that have ogi-ba and other such features. In studying some photos of Masamune , I have found in a few swords what appear to be Chrysanthemum in the steel itself. These kiku are not made by the tempering process but made in the steel. Has anybody ever heard of this? They are in Ishida Masamune and "Jo Izumi no Kami Shoji Masamune" and a couple others. These show the circular center and what looks like petals wrapping around the outside. Whether a regular Masamune element or meant to be there, it is very beautiful! Thanks again, Stephen T.

​Fellow enthusiasts, ​I hope everyone is doing well. Marcus Sesko's informative book on Masamune shows a drawing is found on page 77 which is from Kokon Meizukushi Taizen which shows the various elements found in Masamune blades including ogi-ba, (fan shaped hamon) . There is even a guideline on page 76 that tells where the ogi-ba should be. ​Are there any Masamune sword photos out there showing ogi-ba? I had a question on ogi-ba and if it was supposed to be standing upright like Mr. Sesko's illustration or can it be leaning to one side? ​Thank You very much, Stephen T.

Hahaha, the Monjo Hasamune!!! I like that Brian. Yep, the sword was at shinsa. It did get Kaga Kiyomitsu. All I can say is that one was my fault. Chris advised me to have a window put in it by a trained polisher, no amateurs. I didn’t have the time to take off from work to take the trip. If a judge can’t see what needs to be seen because a sword is rough condition, that would be the owners fault for not having a polish done. I’ll take the blame for that one. Hopefully in the future, I will get her polished or a window and take it back. Chris and the Shinsa team were very organized and are to be congratulated for all their hard work! It was a pleasure to meet you Barry Hennick!! And Guido…. I still believe……. All the best!! Stephen. T

Klaus, Thank you very much for posting this information. History makes things much more interesting. Thanks Again! Stephen T.

Piers, That was quick. Thank you so much! Stephen T.

Hello folks, I am looking for a translation on a sword. Can someone tell me what the signature says? This is a different one. It is a little over 29 1/4" but is signed katana mei. I would be very grateful for someones help. Thanks, Stephen T. http://i629.photobucket.com/albums/u...160374%202.jpg http://i629.photobucket.com/albums/u...160389%202.jpg http://i629.photobucket.com/albums/u...9/L1160378.jpg

I’m not much on mythology but ancient Japanese stories tell how Kusanagi no Tsurugi ("Sword of the Gathering Clouds of Heaven", ) was made from the tail of the dragon called "Yamato no Orochi" ("eight-forked serpent" The terrible dragon had eight heads and eight tails, that filled the whole valley, and is said to have eyes as red as good wine. As Susanoo cuts the dragon into pieces, he finds an excellent sword from a tail of the dragon that his sword had been unable to cut. The sword is later presented to Amaterasu. Could this ancient tale be giving us a hint that the Grass Cutter was made from a meteorite? In times past people have referred to meteors as dragons. I thought it interesting, Mr. Schillers link to the meteoric sword gives that sword almost the same name of the ancient grass cutter. That sword is called (tentetsutou) “Sword of Heaven” The grass cutter is called Kusanagi no Tsurugi “Sword of the Gathering Clouds of Heaven” Just something to ponder….. Stephen T.

Morita san, Thank you for the information concerning the Shimazu Masamune. Stephen T.

Friends, Perhaps this is a little late but I feel this may be an appropriate time to share this. I talked to Jim about a week before he left for vacation to Minnesota which will be explained below. I was asking for information on a lost important sword. Later, his sister Jeanne wrote me thanking me for putting up a “Thanks” to Jim on a website for his help in my research. This is Jeanne's letter below which helps us to understand what he went through. This letter was to be shared with his friends. --- Jeanne wrote: March 23 2004 Jeanne wrote: Jim had been very sick. He never complained, although I could tell something wasn't right talking to him on the phone. He did go on vacation. He came here to see us in Minnesota, driving himself and his family all the way. By the time he got here he was so sick he couldn't even really visit with us, but he insisted that it was because Minnesota was so damp. He got back in his van and drove all the way home again. He was then admitted into the hospital in Santa Barbara where it was determined that he was functioning at only 10% heart capacity~! How he functioned is beyond me, but he did. He wanted to be transferred to the VA hospital where he would undergo heart transplant, but the VA kept playing games with him and said he had been turned down for the transplant. He was livid and wrote a letter to Congresswoman Lois Capps, even though he was so sick. That was like Jim....not asking for the help of others around him. I found out about everything and I started contacting Lois Capp's office and everyone else I could think of until he was finally transferred to the VA, about two weeks later! It was awful! He was terribly sick and the VA was not being responsive in his greatest need. Not only that, but the doctors in Santa Barbara said that he was a candidate for transplant and they wanted to begin the procedure of getting the transplant immediately, but Jim held out because he felt the VA was responsible and should be doing the procedure. When he got to LA, finally, the VA continued to resist and sent him home. A week or so later they discovered that they had been wrong and would do the procedure, but by then Jim said no. It was too late. Jim spent the final time home doing things that were completely inhuman. He was functioning at 10% heart capacity but would get into his car and drive to the store to make sure the kids had the halloween things they would need. He insisted on going alone and it frightened all of us to death. How he did it, we just don't know. He was so exhausted. Then he went shopping and bought all of their Christmas presents and new dishes for his wife, etc, etc, etc. He was trying to do everything, and some of what he was doing was just silly. He wanted me to buy the church across the street from our grandmother's home in Minneapolis because it was going to be knocked down. He thought we should have it sent to him in Santa Barbara so he could erect it there! He thought it would be a great place for his kids! LOL! He wanted them to have a castle and be protected from all harm. I know he understood that he was not going to be able to do much more for them, but his final days were spent trying to do everything. He bought himself a rocking chair but was too tired to rock it, yet he still made his way to the store to buy things as he thought of them for his family. Jim pushed himself way above what most people would ever imagine, and most of the time no one else ever knew how much he really suffered. So, when I see someone who recognizes his work and appreciates it, I am thrilled. The rest of the family is as well. Feel free to share this with others who knew Jim. It would honor him for his work to continue to be used in the way he imagined it would be. I think he got his strength from his love of the Samurai tradition. It was very important to him. Sincerely, Jeanne Thank You, Stephen T

Chris, I am sorry for this, I really should have said nothing. I am grateful you asked the question you did though. The answer that Guido gave helped clear things up. Best Wishes, Stephen T.

Friends, It was not my desire to be a pain. I truly wish I could spend time answering questions but I feel somehow my work would just become the fixins of some new rabbit casserole that nobody seems to know anything about. I posted on the forum for one reason only. This reason was not to argue with short white jolly german bunnies driving Mercedes Benz's, but only to share since somebody said I was elusive. One cannot start naming of people's names and sharing private conversations else people would start to lose trust in me. When the Documentary on Honjo Masamune was put up, I decided to take the nice gentlemans advice on the show and compare the old drawings from 1500's with my little sword. It is said that the hamon is like a fingerprint and cannot be copied. I took the challenge and compared both the drawing and the the sword, one above the other. Not just one shape matched but another, then another, then another etc., and they were exactly where they were shown on the drawing. Even the opposite side matches. Years ago, I use to be interested in proving things to people. After my recent findings, I dont need to prove anything anymore. Take care and enjoy the wabbit. All the best, Stephen T.

Brian and all, Elusive? It is interesting however for the people that have been looking for such a sword for many years can easily see the match in my videos. The Japanese sword dealers included. I have offered the sword to dealers in Japan but there is one obstacle. It seems the sword is still considered property of the Tokugawa family. I suppose they see it as stolen by the Occupation forces. The GHQ records indicate Iemasa was found to have been hoarding weapons so my opinion is that the confiscation was probably legit and the sword legally mine. Turns out the family has asked that I donate the sword to them. They said this is no longer a time of war but is a time of peace. Yes, I believe in peace but I also believe strongly in being fair. No I don't wish to sell, all I want is a fair reward. I am American and the only way I understand, is to give a sweet reward when an impossible deed has been accomplished. I have been asked by some dealers to take the sword to Tanobe san. I do not question Tanobe san, I think he is probably a fair person since he is highly regarded. Interested parties that wish for the swords return must understand I only do things the American way since well, I am American. Its the only way I understand. If somebody wants something, they make the arrangements and come to me. If I want to buy something, I am the one that does the footwork. That's just the rule of business. Any other way and one thinks somebody is trying to take advantage. As far as Coldy Bimore, the list from Japan shows it differently in Japanese. My opinion is whoever translated from the Japanese to the name Coldy was pulling someone's leg. I am not the expert in Japanese but whoever "Coldy" was, I think his real name was Colonel. In the Japanese text, after the "Col", there is a dash. Then "Dai Bei Mo Sergent". If I had to hedge a guess maybe he was African American Sgt. named Colonel Davey Morrissey from South Carolina. Will we ever know for sure? probably not. Anyway, take care fellas! Stephen T.

Denis, That's Ok, I dont think I need to see it anyway. It's probably mostly junk I have already heard. You are exactly correct about Mr. Sinclaire and Mr. Bottomley. Both are well respected. Man I love Ian's accent!! So cool!! Stephen T.

Even though its misguided, it might be fun to see. I can't seem to get it though. My email even bounces back. Oh well,.. Stephen T.

Hello all, Sounds like an interesting topic anyway. They probably won’t ever find that sword. Everyone is looking for a Masamune. According to Jim Kurrasch’s expert, the hamon and sori were different, and it is not a Masamune. -In addition, when it was kept by Tozenji Umanosuke, it is said that it was unclear who was assumed to be the craftsman of the sword. -Albert Yamanaka, said when he saw it, it was not that exiting or impressive. -The Ministry of Education list of lost treasures lists it as “Den Masamune” -The line drawing in “Kotoku Oshigata” shows it with a Ha-agari kuri juri. -Ueno museum says the kissaki is nobiru. -A book on the genealogy of Tokugawa family gives it a Hi. -Dean Hartley said it’s an unusual tanto of Wakizashi length. Sounds more like the nidai Yukimitsu listed in Hawley’s as a 20 pointer so it’s probably really junk like the experts claim. :lol: Stephen T.

Morita san, How are you? Have you finished this book yet? What did you think? I bought the book off Amazon and read it a few weeks ago. Stephen T

Hello again, I was looking back at the documents I brought back from National Archives and found some more that may be of intrest that are not found in the pdf I originally gave to nihonto message board. I will put them up as I find the time. Here are two documents that were one paper originally. I suppose this was the paper issued to the Japanese peoples by the Education Ministry to certify their blade was art object quality. Stephen T.