Guido

Uhm, it usually translates (loosely) as "reading books only burns candles, but looking at swords is like a always filled cup of Sake", meaning that it's much better to look at a real sword than reading books about swords. Kambun can be tricky to read ...

In my opinion it's suitable. However, the chemicals that are added to denatured alcohol - to make it undrinkable - might result in some color streaks (that go away after oiling).

I wrote an article about polishing and cleaning Nihontô for the JSS/US Newsletter a few months ago, which also can be found on Bob Benson's website: http://bushidojapaneseswords.com/articles.htm (No. 5).

Sending the swords via mail means a trip to the intl. post office on the outskirts of Tokyo, which is more of a hassle than going to Shinjuku for licensing. I recommend bringing them into Japan personally.

There are Zaimei Sadamune to compare the signature with?

There are quite a few types of "non-standard" Mekugi-ana, called Hikae-mekugi-ana (控目釘穴). The one pictured is the Hyôtan-ana 瓢箪穴 (bottle gourd hole), and is indeed found often on Kamakura period blades like the Rai school (most fell victim to Suriage, but you sometimes can see them on Tantô). There's also a type with a squarish extention of the round Ana, called - you guessed it already - Kaku-ana. And then there are Keshô-ana, purely decorative, like the heart shaped I-no-me-ana, and the chrysanthemum shaped Kiku-ana.

Henry, I'll be there as well, took a day off - see you tomorrow!

Milt, if you're going to buy a digital SLR, I highly recommend this software: http://www.dxo.com/us/photo. I use it for two or so years now, and the results are amazing. This, and Photoshop Elements, will guarantee the best possible pictures of your next butterfly Tsuba .

With my lame attempts at humor, I'm only masking my dark, evil side; which brings me to .Well, you would be surprised to find out what else exists in *my* head ...

It's "daimyou54eb", and his name is Hanamoto Takashishi: http://www.daimyou.com/

Master Card is widely used here in Japan. BTW, I read about you in the Taiheiki, Kusonoki-dono, and am surprised to see you posting on the internet. Things changed quite abit since your birth in 1294, didn't they?

From "The Japan Times": Princess Kiko, the wife of Prince Akishino, the Emperor's second son, gave birth to a boy Wednesday morning, a long-awaited male heir to the Chrysanthemum Throne. ... According to the Imperial Household Agency, the Emperor's chamberlain delivered a sword for the baby to Prince Akishino that was presented at the baby's hospital crib Wednesday afternoon during a ceremony to ensure the baby's health. The messenger placed a box made of paulownia wood containing the 26-cm blade next to the baby's pillow, the agency said. The sword was forged by Akitsugu Amada, a living national treasure in Niigata Prefecture. ...

Using a private carrier to send swords to Japan is definately *not* a good idea; see article # 4 at Bob Benson's website http://www.bushidojapaneseswords.com/articles.htm which I wrote some time ago.

Do you mean this one? http://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/B0006A9JAG/sr=1-5/qid=1155868180/ref=sr_1_5/250-3794510-0504266?ie=UTF8&s=dvd Two boxed sets, a total run time of 36 hours, a price sticker of Yen 53,298.

And another collage. If you're going to the SF show, you can look at it personally at Robert Hughes' table .

Keith, here we go:

I guess this time it was me who forgot the smileys ; but anyhow, I thought you were going at how the sword period definitions are used incorrectly. Something like the non-Japanese here talk about "the Edogawa river" - since Kawa already means "river", they say in effect "Edo river river". The same would be true for "Shintô Katana", which is a "new sword sword".

Keith, it's Gendai-tô, Shinshin-tô, Shin-tô, Ko-tô - "Tô" in each case meaning "sword". In Japan you may hear "this is a Nambokuchô-jidai Tachi", or a "Muromachi-jidai Tantô", and if possible even more precisely "Shôhei" or "Ôei" if it can be nailed down to a certain Nengô. You also hear "this is a Shintô", but never "this is a Shintô-tô". Seems like yet another case where the Japanese terms are used differently amon non-Japanese colletors.

I don't want to be controversial, but since there is no legal definition (also not by the NBTHK), it's a matter of the Japanese language, and how the different terms are perceived by native speakers or others with a good command of the Japanese language and way of thinking. FWIW, I'm 100% with "Nobody" in his use of the definition Shinsakutô. But to each his own, and certainly one would hear different opinions among Japanese collectors as well. I know people who think we're still in the Shinshintô period, since all swords made are modeled after older swords. In art, and especially Japanese art, some things can't be properly labeled and put in the appropriate drawer. One's Gendaitô is the other's Shinsakutô or Shinshintô. But art is art, no matter if it was made one thousand or only one year ago. And I guess that's why we are here, certain definitions are just an academic exercise. Some twenty or so years ago there was a discussion in the Token Bijutsu about Mekugi placement, heatily faught among non-Japanese collectors. The NBTHK, asked to be the referee, finally wrote that "we don't put much emphasis on this topic in evaluating swords as works of art" - this pretty much sums it up. Again, I'm not being snobbish, or saying that the Japanese are always right, but we shouldn't be side-tracked by discussions that ultimately don't help us to understand why one sword is just a weapon, and another a Jûyô Tôken. End of today's sermon.

n/t

This is another phoenix Tsuba; it's on the Koshirae of the Nakajima Rai blade I posted for Kantei some time ago.

I have a phoenix Tsuba for sale - actually I'll pick it up at the NBTHK tomorrow, it papered to Namban (surprise, surprise ). In the picture it looks much more "rusty" than it actually is. It has a very nice rim, and the Hitsu are made of brass. As usually it'll take some time until I get the Hozon papers. If someon's interested, contact me off-line.