Keichodo

Hi Piers Yes...at my place in Kamakura....along with about thirty other swords....some suits of armor....kabuto....one hundred tsuba....four matchlock rifles, etc. Come on over ..... for a samurai shopping spree.... Best, Robert

This interesting and highly collectable shin-shinto Osorakuzukuri shaped tantō is signed Hyōshinshi Hideyo Nyūdō氷心子秀世入道 and dated Kaei sannen sangatsu nichi (a day in March of 1851) 嘉永三年三月日. Hideyo is rated Jō-saku and this tanto is accompanied by a NBTHK Hozon paper. Price: Yen 270,000 (including delicensing out of Japan and shipping to EMS destinations; however, payment to be made by wire transfer only ...sorry about that!) Currently EMS shipments are delayed but there is movement of the backlog..... Details Nagasa: 18.6 cm Sori: 0.0 Moto-haba: 24.8 mm Saki-haba: 21.9 mm Moto-kasane: 3.7 mm Saki-kasane: 3.0 mm The hamon is gunome-midare with a tight nioiguchi, the bōshi hakkikake, the jigane looks soft, and the jihada is ko-itame-nagare. On the omote are the hiragana engraved for osoraku おそらく, while the horimono on the ura represent gomabashi. Hyōshinshi Hideyo’s 氷心子秀世 real name was Tamura Kōhei 田村耕平. He was a student and son-in-law of Suishinshi Masahide 水心子正秀. He also studied under Unju Korekazu 雲寿是一. His dated blades are from Tenpō (天保 1830-1844) to Ansei (安政 1854-1860) eras. It is a mystery why he added a small stroke to the first kanji of the Suishinshi (水 → 氷), which reads Hyōshinshi. He also occasionally signed his mei with the additional nyūdō 入道 signifying Buddhist lay priest. His residence was in Edo’s Azabu-Imazato 麻布今里. Robert Hughes (correspond with me at keichodo@yahoo.com) If it sells, a donation to NMB will be made!

It is with great sadness I am posting this notification on the passing of sword polisher Eiichi Yoshikawa on December 25th. He was 67 years old. The wake will begin at 6:00 p.m. on December 30th and the funeral service will be held on December 31st at 11:00 a.m. Yoshikawa Sensei was active in recent years arranging, attending, and judging shinsa overseas which helped bring up sword scholarship worldwide. Sincerely, Robert Hughes

Greetings sword friends, So far we have 28 guests signed up for the late afternoon/evening Wednesday sword study session (including some spouses who will attend just the dinner) and 32 guests on the list for the Yakatabune party. There is still an opportunity to join us if you have been teetering on a commitment..... For the Wednesday study session, it is very easy to find the venue "Cinq" from inside the Metro System (subway). You go to Ginza Station (on the Ginza line), then go up one level from the platform to the underground concourse and find the B-6 exit. The club is called Cinq and it is half way up the exit stairwell. So, you don't even have to exit onto street level, it is right inside the metro underground network. It is very convenient....no long walk or need for a taxi. Pay on arrival at the venue. The actual street address for Cinq is Ginza 5-4-3 which is the building with the B6 subway entrance, so go down the first flight of stairs and you will find it at the first stair landing. For the Yakatabune boat party, please come to my shop at the DTI on Friday before noon and pay. If I have unpaid reservations, I will try and sell them at 4:00 p.m. to prevent getting stuck for the costs.... Looking forward to seeing you! Best, Robert

Annual Tokyo Events During DTI Period Back due to popular demand! Wed. October 30th Kamakura Sword Study Group will offer a sword study and dinner party again in Ginza at the Italian Restaurant Cinq (same venue as previous years). Location is quite convenient. Cost is yen 5,000 and Includes the dinner party (sponsored by Hisashi Saito of Seikodo). Date will be Wednesday Oct. 30th. Arrival time will be from 5:30 p.m. for the sword viewing. Group discussion of swords at 6:30 and the dinner party will follow the sword study at around 7:00 ... Attendance by advance reservation only. Please notify Robert Hughes (keichodo@yahoo.com) as soon as possible! Friday Nov. 1st Yakatabune Tokyo Bay Cruise.....Arrangements: This event is tentatively scheduled for Friday, November 1st, but final determination to proceed will depend on the number of interested participants. As in the past, participants leave from in front of DTI at 6:30 p.m. Cruise to start from 7:00 p.m. Participation by advance reservation only. Notification to attend is also a commitment to pay if event is held...Cost yen 10,800 per participant. Please notify Robert Hughes (keichodo@yahoo.com) as soon as possible! Minimum number of participants is 20....the magic number! Organizer reserves the right to cancel the event if numbers are limited. And yes....Guido has been known to sing in Japanese.....our own version of the "DTI Has Talent!" Best Robert Hughes

Well gentlemen....the Easter bunny has snatched up these decorative pieces...they are sold!

Fitting Collector’s Easter Special…SOLD Goto Shinjo (Mitsuyoshi) Mitokorimono with Tokubetsu Hozon papers… This mitokoromono is the signed work of Goto Shinjo (Mitsuyoshi). Shinjo was the 15th main line Goto master, the son of Goto Keijo. The subject matter is a collection of books with intricate cover designs in especially fine detail. Mitsuyoshi’s birth is said to have been in the year 1788; however, there are differing accounts of when he died. In certain accounts, he is said to have died in 1834, which would mean he was 46 years old. Other versions state he lived to 52 years of age. Nonetheless, he was still a descendant of the mainline of Goto artisans and was capable of a high level of work. Correspond with me at Keichodo@yahoo.com Best, Robert

Greetings sword friends, Just want to let you know that there is going to be a date shift for the Dai Token Ichi back to the earlier pattern of the first weekend in November. DTI 2019 Nov. 1 Friday Nov. 2 Saturday Nov. 3 Sunday Best, Robert

Hi Gary, Nice to see you in Japan! Major shift in dates back to the earlier schedule: DTI 2019 Nov. 1 Friday Nov. 2 Saturday Nov. 3 Sunday Best, Robert

Good times cruising around Tokyo Bay! All possible because of great participants! Check the photo and name the pirates!

Thank you all attendees for stepping up and sailing out on Tokyo Bay.... No corpses have turned up yet.....Guido! Thank you Fred G. and Michael S. for the positive reviews... It was a good time...I will upload the group photo! Best, Robert

Hi Fred Glad you made it home intact! Thanks for participating...there would be no events without enthusiastic sword people signing on... Best, Robert

Greetings everyone! Just an update to say it is not too late to join the study session and dinner party next Wednesday or the Friday night Yakatabune dinner cruise. Let me know if interested! The more the merrier.... keichodo@yahoo.com Good times for all.... Best, Robert

Greetings sword friends....I am not giving up even though we were lacking participants last year! We will try again this year! Tokyo DTI Additional Events Wed. Nov. 14th Kamakura Sword Study Group will offer a sword study and dinner party again in Ginza at the Italian Restaurant Cinq (same venue as previous years). Location is quite convenient. Sword study is yen 5,000 (for the venue) and the dinner party will be sponsored by Hisashi Saito of Seikodo. Date will be Wednesday Nov. 14th. Arrival time will be from 5:30 p.m. for the sword study. Discussion of swords at 6:30 and the dinner party will follow the sword study at around 7:00 ... Attendance by advance reservation only. Please notify Robert Hughes (keichodo@yahoo.com) as soon as possible! Friday Nov. 16th Yakatabune Tokyo Bay Cruise.....Arrangements: This event is tentatively scheduled for Friday, November 16th, but final determination to proceed will depend on the number of interested participants. As in the past, participants would leave from in front of DTI at 6:30 p.m. Cruise to start from 7:00 p.m. Participation by advance reservation only. Notification to attend is also a commitment to pay if event is held...Cost yen 10,800 per participant. Please notify Robert Hughes (keichodo@yahoo.com) as soon as possible! Minimum number of participants is 20....the magic number! Organizer reserves the right to cancel the event if numbers are limited. If you have an interest in attending either one of these events, please contact Robert Hughes at keichodo@yahoo.com....Hope to see you in Japan!

Dear Mr. Housley, I sent you a P.M. about your Kanenobu with a purchase offer and do hope to hear from you. Payment by bank transfer. Best Regards, Robert Hughes

Greetings Yes, the posted dates are correct. The Dai Token Ichi 2018 will be held on November 16 Friday, 17 Saturday, 18 Sunday. Pretty much the same as this year...even against the advice of many Zen Tosho members who wanted it two weeks earlier... Best, Robert

Dear Sword friends, If you are attending the DTI, I would like to remind you of the Wednesday Sword Study and the Friday night Yakatabune party. Sadly, this year, there does not seem to be much interest in these events. There is still plenty of room to accommodate any interested parties. These events are independent of any major sword associations and sword politics, so come along for a good time and enjoy yourself! Contact me at: keichodo@yahoo.com Best, Robert Hughes

Tokyo DTI Additional Events Wed. Nov. 15th Kamakura Sword Study Group will offer a sword study and dinner party again in Ginza at the Italian Restaurant Cinq (same venue as previous years). Location is quite convenient. Sword study is yen 5,000 (for the venue) and the dinner party will be sponsored by Hisashi Saito of Seikodo. Date will be Wednesday Nov. 15th. Arrival time will be from 5:00 p.m. for the sword study. Dinner party will follow the sword study at around 7:00 ... Attendance by advance reservation only. Please notify Robert Hughes (keichodo@yahoo.com) as soon as possible! Friday Nov. 17th Yakatabune Tokyo Bay Cruise.....Arrangements: This event is tentatively scheduled for Friday, November 1th, but final determination to proceed will depend on the number of interested participants. As in the past, participants would leave from in front of DTI at 6:30 p.m. Cruise to start from 7:00 p.m. Participation by advance reservation only. Notification to attend is also a commitment to pay if event is held...Cost yen 10,500 per participant. Please notify Robert Hughes (keichodo@yahoo.com) as soon as possible! Minimum number of participants is 20....the magic number! If you have an interest in attending either one of these events, please contact Robert Hughes at keichodo@yahoo.com....Hope to see you in Japan!

Hi Tom... if you send me an e-mail address......I will send you photos of some high end suits.... Best, Robert

The lonely warrior will be moving to a new home.....and I lost the arm wrestling.......what a steal.... However, I still have several other suits.....to join me round the table.......

Ah yes Uwe.....now that I'm moved back to Japan after my sabbatical in Canada, I will focus on the hunt for your armor parts.... Thanks Mike....pull out your bucket of spare yen......... Stephen.......EMS postal shipping usually comes to under yen 20,000 including insurance....but I'll pay the shipping....

Thanks Dave....forgot to mention that....

It is time to step up your warrior game by acquiring a genuine antique suit of armor for not much more than the price of a modern knock off suit. This suit has a 16 plate kabuto of lacquered iron...in fact all components en suite in lacquered iron. Overall lacquer is in very good condition, some chips and dings but not flaking off anywhere. I am asking yen 750,000 but will definitely arm wrestle over a discount for a seriously committed buyer.... Best Regards Robert Hughes

The text states it is a sword by Gassan Sadakazu but the title and the photo relate to Gassan Sadakatsu...so you might want to clear up this discrepancy....Nonetheless, it is a fine sword.... Best, Robert

Special Study Session at a convenient location near the DTI The NTHK will host a Tokubetsu kansho-kai on the 20th from 1 until 4, which is also the last day of the DTI. The site is the TKP Shin-Bashi Shiodome Business Center, 4-24-8 Shin-Bashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo. It is a short walk from Shin-Bashi station. Catch Gordon Robson at the DTI for details.....