Shugyosha

Hi Patrick, There isn't a school attribution for it. The theme is the Chinese poet Li Po - after that the paper just gives the signature and a description of the manufacture. Here's a bit about Li Po: https://www.geni.com/people/Li-Po-%E6%9D%8E%E7%99%BD-98-65G/6000000007512818128 Bill - looks like you've made a pretty good start. Best, John

Hi Marius, Many thanks for the kind words. Hamish has offered me some better pictures (probably yours) so I'll post them when I get them if you don't mind. Kind regards, John

Shinshinto utsushi of a Kamakura jidai tanto Offered for sale, a cute tanto in a shirasaya with a sword bag. This is a later copy of a Kamakura jidai tanto with the fanciful gimei signature “Rai Kuniyoshi”. Approximate measurements: Nagasa: 22.8cm Motohaba: 1.9cm Motokasane: 6mm Jihada: Itame with some itame nagare Hamon: Suguba in nioi deki Nakago: Furisode nakago,Ubu (maybe slightly machi okuri), 3 mekugi ana, false signature. Horimono: Bo hi ni soebi on one side and something that is like gombashi on the other and for which I can’t find a name in Japanese: two lines but each comprised of two finer lines. A nice, well-made tanto with no significant flaws beyond some scuff marks under the habaki and a minor scratch (pictured). Comes with a well made habaki covered with silver foil. Priced as a good quality, mumei shinshinto tanto, asking £SOLD plus Paypal but will include worldwide shipping. Comes with the usual guarantee: if this signature proves to be genuine then I will be more than happy to take back the item and refund the sale price.

Mumei wakizashi in shirasaya with NPO NTHK papers attributing it to Muzashi Kami Morimichi plus Kotoken Kajihara papers and sword bag Blade length: 45.4 cm Curvature: 0.8 cm Thickness: 6mm approx. at the mune machi Jihada: blend of mokume and itame Hamon: Midare – some suguba with large tadpole shape gunome at irregular intervals, some mune yaki and tobiyaki Kissaki: chu kissaki, chu maru boshi with a hint of hakikakke (I think) Nakago: Ubu, unsigned, one mekugi ana with osujikai yasurimei This is a good quality blade with a high-quality polish done by Kotoken Kajihara. It has a two-part silver habaki and a good quality shirasaya with horn inserts at the koi guchi and mekugi ana and (I think) an ebony mekugi. When I received the blade it bore the signature “Inoue Izumi kami Kunisada”. It had belonged to a Mr Ellis who I believe acted as agent for Kotoken Kajihara who carried out the polish. He issued his own papers dating to 1981 suggesting that, whilst the blade was well made, the signature required further research. It was part of the collection of a prominent UK collector, Deryk Ingham, who left a number of swords to the Royal Armouries at Leeds when he died. I believe that it was bought from his estate by the person who sold it to me. The blade was submitted to shinsa in Japan and it was failed by both the NBTHK and NPO NTHK. At this point I had the signature removed, the tang re-patinated and resubmitted, where it received its present attribution. The papers suggest that it was made around Kanbun (1661 to 1673) so it is probably the second- generation smith with this name and title. This is the entry from Markus Sesko’s eSwordsmiths of Japan: MORIMICHI (盛道), 2nd gen., Kanbun (寛文, 1661-1673), Mino/Settsu – “Musashi no Kami Fujiwara Morimichi” (武蔵守藤原盛道), he moved later to Settsu, Fujishiro writes that Settsu was his home province, there exists a joint work with Shinano no Kami Daidō (信濃守大道), gunome-midare with togariba in ko-nie-deki, chū-saku Some small blemishes in places the worst of which are the one at the edge of the hamon at the monouchi and some minor pitting, (see pictures) otherwise guaranteed free from fatal flaws. Asking £SOLD plus Paypal but will include shipping worldwide and offer a 3 day inspection period.

Kaga Masakuni Katana Offered for sale, shinshinto katana from Kaga in shirasaya signed Kashu ju Fujiwara Masakuni kitau kore and dated Keio yonnen ni gatsu hi – a day in February 1868. Approximate measurements: Nagasa: 69.7 cm Motohaba: 2.8cm (at munemachi) Sakihaba: 21mm (at yokote) Motokasane: 6mm Sakikasane: 5mm Nakago: Ubu, one mekugi ana, Kesho yasurimei, typical kaga nakago jiri Hamon: mainly suguba with three areas of notare on each side in a pattern of 7-5-3 undulations from kissaki downwards. Hada: very fine ko itame verging on mujihada. This was bought from Andrew Quirt’s site Nihont.US and the polish and shirasaya were done in Japan (shirasaya tsuka is a touch tight). Kaga Masakuni was valued at 1,200,000 Yen in Toko Taikan. This sword is unpapered but I will guarantee that it will pass NBTHK Hozon or NPO NTHK shinsa if submitted within one year of the date of sale. I’ve attached a copy of the entry in Toko Taikan and a papered example for a comparison of the signature. Comes with original kaga-style habaki in copper which has the design of four crossed cut marks on one side and five on the other. These represent the kuji – in “nine symbolic cuts” which are a series of mantras of nine syllables in Japanese esoteric Buddhism. Also comes with its original saya which is cracked and missing its kojiri and koiguchi and a wooden tsunagi. I was advised that the saya was not capable of being repaired and so did not pursue its restoration. Unfortunately, I had the tsunagi made before I found out about the saya but will include it in the sale. A nice hefty shinshinto sword which is in recent Japanese polish near perfect condition (one tiny scratch). Asking SOLD plus Paypal and shipping. A donation will be made to NMB if sold to a board member.

I just thought that I'd give Ian Chapman's website a bit of a plug. Some good quality items listed for sale and UK buyers can save on exchange rates and import duty: http://nihonto.uk/radburn%20collection.html Best, John

For me not great quality, but price seems to be about right based on similar ones on the Aoi website: https://www.aoijapan.com/fittings/fuchikashira/

According to Markus Sesko's eSwordsmiths of Japan there are two smiths with this name and the "Mutsu kami" title, there's some detail about the earlier one: YOSHIYUKI (吉行), Kanbun (寛文, 1661-1673), Tosa – “Mutsu no Kami Yoshiyuki” (陸奥守吉行), “Yoshiyuki” (吉行), real name Morishita Heisuke (森下平助), he was the second son of Harima no Kami Yoshinari (播磨守吉成), that means he was the younger brother of Kōzuke no Kami Yoshikuni (上野守吉国), later he was adopted into the Yamaoka family (山岡) and took their family name, like his father and older brother he studied in Ōsaka under the Tanba no Kami Yoshimichi lineage (丹波守吉道), he came originally from Nakamura (中村) in Ōshū but settled later in Tosa´s Kōchi (高知), he worked in the style of his master, gunome with chōji-ashi, wazamono, chū-saku YOSHIYUKI (吉行), Bunkyū (文久, 1861-1864), Tosa – “Mutsu no Kami Yoshiyuki” (陸奥守吉行)

亦 is pronounced "mata" meaning again, or also. 泥 pronunciation is "doro" meaning mud, slush, mire, dirt. Yes, I believe the last two kanji are read "kuni" and "on". Sorry about the shading...don't know where it came from.

So what's in it for us exactly? It doesn't appear that you have a lot to share and the build relationships thing isn't working out too well either.

Hi Neil, I suspect that this is a slogan rather than a smith's name - anyhow the last kanji isn't "tada", it is read "on" and means benefit, favour or obligation. I can't find a match for the first kanji so you are going to have to have some better help than I can provide, but here are the others: [ ]泥亦國恩 Best, John

Hi Henry, Sorry for not getting back to you sooner; I've been away for a few days and didn't have access to the sword. I've just dug out the paperwork that goes with the blade and I've had a bit of a brain fart: it actually has NPO NTHK papers rather than NBTHK, so it has been authenticated by a body that doesn't use the Hozon, Tokubetsu Hozon etc system. Apologies for that - let me know if you are still interested and I will post pictures and full details here, otherwise I will offer it for sale generally. Kind regards, John

Hi Metamon, I've got a mumei wakizashi with Hozon papers that I was thinking of moving on. I'd be happy to offer it to you before I post it in the for sale section. Drop me a PM if you think you might be interested and I'll send you the details, alternatively I can post them here and you can ask for the views of the other Board members...but you would be better off spending some money on books and learning about what you should be looking for first of all. Kind regards, John

Mishina [ta?] jima kami Kanemitsu. I'm not sure about the match on the third kanji but it may be. This guy from Markus Sesko's eJapanese Swordsmiths: KANEMITSU (兼光), 1st gen., Kyōhō (享保, 1716-1736), Settsu – “Kanemitsu” (兼光), “Sesshū Amagasaki-jū Mishina Tajima no Kami Fujiwara Kanemitsu” (摂州尼ケ崎住三品但馬守藤原兼光), “Tajima no Kami Kanemitsu” (但馬守兼光), adopted son of Tanba no Kami Kanemichi (丹波守兼道), real name Mishina Mondayū (三品紋太夫), itame, ō-midare, chūjō-saku Best, John

Hi Snorman, Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but that is a Chinese fake. I hope you can get your money back from the seller. There's an article on fake swords here: http://jssus.org/nkp/fake_japanese_swords.html Best, John

Hi Greg, The before shots can be found here on Andrew Quirt's website: http://www.nihonto.us/KAGA%20MASAKUNI%20KATANA%20A.htm This are the ones after polish:

You're absolutely right Robert, sorry Edwin, please disregard my previous comments regarding the missing character. Best, John

First one is [Yama] shiro Daijo Fujiwara Yoshiyuki. There is only one guy signing Yoshiyuki this way who was awarded the honorary title "Daijo" of a province, so by process of elimination it's this one if it's genuine. It seems like a pretty big typo to miss off the first character for the province though - all of the province names are composed using two characters, that said he's not an obvious candidate for a false signature. This guy from Markus Sesko's eJapanese Swordsmiths: YOSHIYUKI (義行), 1st gen., Kanbun (寛文, 1661-1673), Bungo – “Yamashiro no Daijō Yoshiyuki” (山城大掾義行), “Bungo-jū Yamashiro no Daijō Fujiwara Yoshiyuki” (豊後住山城大掾藤原義行), “Bungo Takada-jū Fujiwara Yoshiyuki” (豊後高田住藤原義行), he changed his name later to Toyohira (豊平) and Kunihira (国平), see also “KUNIHIRA (国平), Kanbun (寛文, 1661-1673), Bungo”

Hi Josh, I've PM'd you. Just to let you know, I've offered this tsuba back to Stephen, but if you should decide that you'd rather have a tsuba I can offer something equivalent. Best, John

Hi Josh, I can give you a couple of options that might draw you further down the rabbit hole. I don't know what you were looking at for the tsuka, but see what you think of this: For £250 I can sell you a mounted koto (warring states period) tanto. The good bits are that it is in polish, signed and dated in an Edo period scabbard and has a tsuba and a kogatana and kodzuka. It has fuchi and kashira in copper and shakudo nanako and menuki with a bow and quiver motif. The bad bit is that the hamon runs off the edge of the blade near the point so it has no real value other than as a nice way to hold together the other bits of the fittings. If you buy it, I'll make a donation to NMB. Alternatively (or in addition), I'd be more than happy to sell you an Edo period tsuba for a donation to NMB of whatever the USD equivalent of £80 is on a given day. I'm treating it as a "catch and release" tsuba as I won it on the last NMB raffle so I'm happy to pass it on if NMB gets something out of it. It is katana sized, iron with pine tree sukashi motif, has a nice patina but someone (not the person who donated it or indeed myself) has pimped the hitsu ana plugs by colouring them in with a gold sharpie. I'll throw in a box for it too. If you go for either of the above, I'll chuck in a couple of general books on Japanese swords and I'll cover UK delivery costs. If you're interested, PM me and I'll try to get you some pictures and further details, but I'm travelling at the moment so it's down to what I have in my head and on my laptop. Kind regards, John

Sergei, Have I been dumb and linked to your own web page?? Sorry, John

Hi Sergei, I think you've answered your own question. I'm guessing maybe a later revivalist piece or utsushi mono: it looks like the hitsu ana were put in at the time of manufacture as the carving seems to stop before the edge of the ana rather than the hitsu ana cutting through the carving. Some interesting information here: http://varshavskycollection.com/kamakura-bori-tsuba/ Best, John

For those fans of Satsuma swordsmiths, here may be a chance to pick up a cheap one. Am I being dumb when I take the origami to read that the smith was six years old when he made it? https://www.aoijapan.com/katana-oite-ryuzan-okuhira-motoyasu-nen-6-sai-saku2nd/

I understand that the problem is linked to gang culture and the magic of social media. In these days of instant gratification, it’s possible to post your diss rap on line and be at daggers (occasionally pistols) drawn with the dissees all on the same evening. It’s not like the good old days: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iRTB-FTMdk

Well, right now I'm considering exporting myself to the EU and taking my swords with me but this is not a well reasoned or well researched argument.