Shugyosha

Maybe a clue here? http://mentalfloss.com/article/66345/amazing-images-classic-Japanese-fart-battles

Just a quick message to say thank youto all who were involved in organising the event, and to say how much of a pleasure it was to be able to meet some of the usual suspects from NMB. I’m rather late to the party and there is little that I can add to what has already been said about the viewing and educational opportunities on offer, but what I think is worth stressing is how the event offered serious value for money. I’m not as well travelled as some on the board who pursue sword events, but the only thing I can compare it to in sheer quantity of quality in one place, was the Cutting Edge exhibition at the British Museum a few years ago and, aside from the Token Society of Great Britain’s event there, there was no opportunity to handle the exhibits. Think how far we Europeans would have to go normally to see the equivalent and the associated cost of that – in terms of bang for your bucks, this event would take some beating. And there’s more to it than that, the venue was very well chosen because Utrecht offers plenty of other stuff to do in terms of shopping, eating and drinking and non-sword related culture, so there’s something for the non-sword lovers in the family and we were able to make a decent city break around the expo. I hold out hope that there will be more of these so, if you are this side of the Pond and you can’t afford DTI, forgo a cheap tsuba and put the money aside for the next one. Best, John

It might be the photo or my eyes, but something about the patina on the tang, nakago Jiri (not typical bizen shape) and badly done signature makes me think Chinese copy. I hope I'm wrong but I'm sure you'll get some other views soon. Best, John

Hi Robert, If it helps, I've been very happy with Paul's service regarding a sword I submitted to shinsa. I plan to send him some fittings when I get around to it and have no reason to suspect that his service in this regard will be different. Best, John

Sorry, I’ve been out of action due to the long weekend in the UK. I’ve had a look at EUIPO as Michael suggested but have immediately run up against the issue of how we fund opposing an application for a trademark or applying for the revocation of one. The fees are: An application for opposition = €320 An application for revocation or declaration of invalidity = €630 I'm happy to make a contribution to this, say €200, is anyone else willing to contribute? ​Best, John

Following Michael's suggestion, I've had a quick Google. I qualified to practice as a solicitor in the UK many moons ago but it's been a long, long time since I quit the profession, but I can categorically state the following: I know nothing of trademark law and, as with nihonto, it's dangerous to draw firm conclusions from a limited knowledge base. However, here's some stuff that may be relevant: DIRECTIVE (EU) 2015/2436 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 16 December 2015 to approximate the laws of the Member States relating to trade marks https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32015L2436 Chapter 2, Section 2, Article 4 deals with grounds for refusal or the invalidity of a trademark or a declaration that it is invalid and this is pretty much mirrored in Article 14 which limits the effects of a trademark. The grounds relevant to this situation appear to be that the use of the word "nihonto" and "katana" are indications used within the Japanese antiques market to designate "the kind, quality, intended purpose...geographical origin...or other characteristics of the goods or services"; and/ or "have become customary in the current language or in the bona fide and established practices of the trade". I would suggest that you really need a proper lawyer to confirm this as I've no idea of how this legislation is interpreted practically, but it looks at first blush like this isn't an entirely hopeless situation and Mr Einarsson's ability to enforce his "trademarks" isn't beyond question. Best, John

Hi Dave, I'm sorry but the advice you've had is correct. There's an article here on identifying fake swords and it's relatively easy to spot the similarities between your example and those given to illustrate the fakes. Also compare with the examples of the genuine article: http://jssus.org/nkp/fake_japanese_swords.html Unfortunately, just because an item from a collection sold for big money does not mean that it was genuine or that the other items in the collection are genuine. This leaves aside the issue of whether or not the story your friend told you is true. If you bought it from him, return it and get your money back - fakes don't come any fakier than this. I hope you get a satisfactory resolution to this. Best, John

Hi William, It’s perhaps a bit tenuous, but I think I can see the Japanese surname “Saito” in Katakana in amongst the numbers: サイト That might be the name of the owner or I guess it might be that of the guy in the factory assembling the parts. Or maybe just me making something of nothing… Best, John

Hi Mark, You are absolutely right it is indeed 15 and not 50 - sorry for the brain f@rt. Lordy but sometimes I'm dumb - I spent far more time than I should have trying to work out where "50" came in to the equation. I'm not sure that you should think of foreign steel as being regarded as inferior by the Japanese in the Edo period: it had a curiosity value as there was an interest in foreign items, probably wasn't cheaper than tamahagane as it had to be imported by ship, it was used by high ranking smiths, so they must have thought that it was capable of holding its own against the domestic product. Certainly in a custom order, I doubt that it would be used without the approval of the purchaser... If I remember rightly there's an article by Markus Sesko somewhere on the use of foreign steel on Japan and probably others - have a look for namban tetsu and oranda tetsu...sorry I'm out of time at the moment but will have another look for some information when I can do so. Best, John

Hi Mark, I’ve taken a stab at translating the inscription on the tang of your sword. If I’m not a million miles out, it sounds like an interesting blade. Whilst I think I’ve identified the kanji correctly, what I have I have in terms of translation isn’t entirely complete so I’m hoping one of the better linguists on the forum can help me out with corrections or to fill in any gaps. Here goes: Omote (the side of the blade that points outwards when the sword is worn and normally contains the signature) 津軽弘前住紀正賀 The signature reads: Tsugaru Hirosaki ju Ki Masayoshi: Tsugaru, in Hirosaki is a city in Aomori prefecture where the smith was living when he made the sword. His name is Ki Masayoshi. Ura (the other side with date and other details) 文化五十戊寅年二月[次宰]蠻鐡作之 Bunka gojyuu tsuchinoe-tora toshi ni gatsu [tsugisai], ban tetsu saku kore. Bunka is the nengo period which ended in 1818. Gojuu is the number 50 and tsuchinoe-tora toshi refers to a year in the Chinese Sexagenary cycle (Earth-Tiger) and the relevant one in Bunka was 1818 and so I’m guessing the sword was made in February that year (ni gatsu – second month). I’m not sure how the “50” part ties into this however, so that might not be 100% correct. After this we have the two kanji in brackets that I can’t make sense of. Following these we have “ban tetsu” which is barbarian steel and saku kore is “made this”. So the smith used foreign steel to make this blade. Also on the ura is a chuumon (special order) mei: 櫻井 廣恭 需 Sakurai Hirokyoo Chuu. This means that the order for the sword was placed by a Mr Sakurai Hirokyoo. So we know that this wasn’t just a sword that the smith knocked together in the hope of making a sale, but one that was ordered specifically and these swords usually receive the smith’s best work. So if my translation is good and the sword checks out as genuine, you have a very nice piece. Here’s another example by this smith: http://www.samuraisword.com/nihontodisplay/no_papers/Masayoshi/index.htm Best, John

Hi Andy, Here’s my best shot at translating the descriptions of the hamon from the worksheets. It’s not all there unfortunately, but hopefully it will give you a flavour of what is written and maybe someone else can help fill the gaps. Best, John 1. 太目の中直刃匂い口 沈む Futome no chu suguba nioi guchi shizumu: thick, middle-sized suguba, the nioi guchi is indistinct. 2. 大湾れ O notare. Large notare. 3. 角ばった互の目乱れ[ ] に 足[ ]く入る Kakubatta gonome midare [ ]ni ashi [ ] ku iru. Squarish gonome midare with ashi included. There’s a little more to this but I can’t make out a couple of bits. 4. 足長 互の目乱れ Ashi naga gonome midare – gonome midare with long ashi. 5. 凸凹 のある互の目乱れ足入 Totsu oo no aru gonome midare ashi iri. Convex and concave gonome midare with ashi included. I’m not sure I have 100% of this but it gives the gist, I believe. 6. This is the one that got me. There’s choji midare (丁子乱れ) but I’m not 100% sure about the rest of it.

Hi Martin and BaZZa, Here's a bit of half-educated speculation: The phrase "setsudan" often appears in tameshimei. It is usually written using these two characters - 截断. The two together read "cutting, severance, section, amputation, disconnection" - so pretty much what BaZZa has said. An alternative way of writing this is using these two characters: 切断 and the implication (for the sake of what follows) is that the first characters of each pair are interchangeable for the same meaning. The phrase 切手 is also a combination of characters often seen in tameshimei meaning "cutter" and which is normally followed by the name of the person carrying out the cutting test. Example here: http://tetsugendo.com/swords/Kat_102_nobutomo.html So, applying my half-educated logic and combining the two, 截手 "setsute" would indicate the person carrying out the test. Sorry Martin, can't help with anything by way of a reference blade. Best, John

Hi John, Here's something to get you going. There are a couple of bits that I can't pin down so if anyone else wants to fill in the gaps or make corrections, please feel free. From right to left: 1. Serial number for the paper. 2. Mei bun: ([ ]き良) 月山 - Gassan. I can’t identify the first character of the part in brackets so I can’t make sense of the first three kanji. 3. Forging pattern (kitae): Ayasugi 4. Hamon: Suguba mixed with ko midare 5. Boshi: Sugu, Saki hakikake [ ] Kaeri 6. Horimono: blank – so none. 7. Nakago: mekugi ana – futatsu (two), Yasurime – Kiri. 8. Comments: Dewa Kuni, around ōei – 1394 to 1428. Best, John

Hi Alex, What a b@lls up. Sorry you're going through this and hope you get a happy and speedy resolution. Best, John

Just got my tickets. Yay!!

Hi Robert, I haven't included the kanji as I'm pushed for time at the moment. There's one bit that I'm not sure of which refers to the rim. Mumei, Echizen Plum tree sukashi tsuba Maru gata, tetsu ji, niku hori, ji sukashi, kaku mimi, ? niku Ryo hitsu ana Best, John

Hi Jack, You have a blade with NBTHK papers which is pretty much the highest level of authentication you can get and which outranks our opinions by some distance. The paper authenticates the signature to “Bizen no Kuni-jū Osafune Yosōzaemon no Jō Sukesada saku” (備前国住長船与三左衛門尉祐定作) and the date on the side of the tang in the second photograph says "a lucky day in February in the third year of Tenbun". Tenbun (天文) began in 1532, so the third year would be 1534 (the first year of the period is counted as year one). That the smith signed with a long signature like this usually suggests that it is his best work as opposed to a mass-produced item, so you probably have a very nice katana there! If you want to post some other pictures, we always like to look at swords. I'm sorry to be overly formal but we do like to use proper names on the forum, so if you wouldn't mind adding a real name to your posts we can address you politely. Kind regards, John

Jean, Maybe if I introduce my wife to your wife and sister, they could go off and explore and leave the boys to play with their toys? Best, John

Sorry Daniel, but I'm not sure what you're asking here.

Hi Daniel, Ray got in first, but I'm in the "made in China" camp too. Best, John

Hi Krystian, The theme looks a lot like that of this papered Akasaka tsuba offered for sale on the forum. http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/24912-mumei-sukashi-tsuba-attributed-to-akasaka/ Best, John

Hi Brian, The bits I can make out are: 剣術 - the first two characters of the left-hand column - "Ken Jutsu" 陸軍省 - The first three characters of the second column - "Rikugun Jyoo" - Army ministry The date is Showa (on the basis that it looks more like Showa than, Meiji or Taisho but it's not too clear) 9th year, 6th day of March. No doubt you'll get someone who can fill in the blanks shortly - but it looks more like an army training manual than civilian kendo instruction book. Best, John

Wouldn't want to saddle myself with that.

Hi Tatyana, It's this guy I believe (from Markus Sesko's Swordsmiths of Japan), the larger part in the bold font is the signature on your naginata: TERUKADO (照門), Manji (万治, 1658-1661), Mino – “Kanekado” (兼門), “Zenjō Fujiwara Kanekado” (善定藤原兼門), “Tanba no Daijō Fujiwara Terukado” (丹波大掾藤原照門), “Tanba no Kami Fujiwara Terukado” (丹波守藤原照門), “Tanba no Kami Terukado” (丹波守照門), “Nōshū Seki no jū Tanba no Kami Fujiwara Terukado saku” (濃州関之住濃州丹波守藤原照門作), “Nōshū Tanba no Kami Fujiwara Terukado” (濃州丹波守藤原照門), real name Mitsui Sō´emon (三井惣右衛門), he is also listed with the first name Sōkurō (宗九郎), Zenjō school, he signed first with Kanekado (兼門), after receiving the honorary title Tanba no Kami (丹波守) in the second year of Manji (1659) he changed his name to Terukado (照門), when the Ujifusa lineage (氏房) moved to Nagoya (名古屋) in Owari province, the local honorary title Seki-kaji-tōryō (関鍛冶頭領, lit. “master of all Seki smiths”) was transferred to the lineage of Kanekado, his successors did not continue the name Terukado but returned to Kanekado, dense ko-itame with fine ji-nie mixed with masame and masame along the shinogi-ji, suguha-hotsure or ō-gunome-midare mixed with angular hako-midare in nie-deki with a wide nioiguchi, interpretations in midare begin with a sugu-yakidashi, during his early years – i.e. around Manji – he applied thick and prominent sujikai-yasurime, they become finer over the years and appear as katte-sagari in his later years, first he applied a distinctive iriyamagata-jiri which becomes later a ha-agari kurijiri, he also worked in Ise´s Kuwana (桑名) and in Edo and also worked with nanban-tetsu, chūjō-saku. Best, John

Hi Lukas, I'm with John - I doubt that this is a 600 year old sword and would have said later than 1600 based on the condition of the tang and the depth of the ha machi. The signature isn't necessarily a forgery, as there are a number of smiths using this name over a long period of time, however, if a later sword I would have expected more than a two character signature as that was more the vogue in shinto times so I would treat it as questionable. Also, I find it a bit odd that the seller should attribute it to the first generation and oldest rather than any of the others if not as bait to trap the unwary . Ultimately, if there are doubts, keep your money - there are lots of swords out there where it's not necessary to second guess the signature. Best, Another John Sorry, the other guys got in ahead of me!