Well I admit not exactly the warm greeting or answers I was hoping to get. But I suppose it has a grain of truth. I admit I am not an avid collector who plans on dedicating years of study before starting to collect. I am also not someone idiotic enough to take an antique historical sword into the back yard to chop junk. I am in between (closer to the avid collector) I have admired nihonto for years, picked up a couple of books on nihonto, know some of the stories and mythologies hearing them growing up, taken Japanese classes and have an ever growing amount of pride in my Japanese heritage. I feel Nihonto will be an excellent bridge between my love of art and my pride in my Japanese heritage. As a young and perhaps immature person I feel the desire to begin acquiring a piece I am sorry but I won't lie, I think there is nothing like owning something to appreciate it. This sadly is a unfortunate thought process many in my very materialistic generation. I am a college student and currently lack the time or money to match the expert collectors here and I thought Tosogu starting more accessible to a young person such as myself, and yet sharing with the blade the aspects of being beautiful works of art full of a rich history might be a way for me to own a piece of Japanese history. I am sorry if some here find this wrong or offensive. I am sorry if I am not as dedicated as some on here at this point in my life BUT I guarantee they won't ever be mere trinkets in my eyes!
Toru
