Jim Kelso

Many thanks all for your comments. Jim

With his family's permission I have made a gallery of more of Toshimasa-sensei's work here: http://www.jimkelso.com/albums/ToshimasaMemorial/album/

These are from slides I took in 1988. I'll post more in a tribute at my web-journal when I get them scanned. Might take me a week or so.

I am saddened to report the passing of Sakai Masaichi (Toshimasa), on March 10, 2014 at the age of 90. Toshimasa Sensei was long recognized as the leading tsuba-shi in Japan. I had the good fortune to visit him three times for a number of days since 1988 and he was very welcoming and generous, answering any questions I had about chokin. I had an appointment to see him in 2011 but he had to cancel. We received a New Year greeting in January with a photo of him and his wife in Arashiyama and he appeared fit. He taught himself chokin after having made pistols earlier. I will greatly miss his passion, workmanship, artistry and generosity. Here are three photos of his work. I'll try to scan some others soon. Menuki in gold uchidashi

Again I'll say, lovely sensitive work, Ford. Beautiful transition from the polished mimi to the carved texture.

Thanks for the welcome guys. After I made my initial post I actually took the time to read some of the other posts, and it's clear that my rant about appreciation of tosogu was unwarranted. Thanks for allowing me to gently extricate my foot from my mouth. I will check in regularly, but, again, let me emphasize, in terms of practiced application in this realm, Ford is da Man.

Sorry Milt. Just a temporary nerve-up on my part. :?

Thanks Brian. You make some very good points. Perhaps I reacted too emotionally to a near and dear topic. As a newcomer, I will try to step back a bit. Hope no offense was taken.

OK as a "Chu Saku" here, I'm going out on a limb. It seems to me some of you guys are really off topic discussing such-and-such repair work on Ford's remarkable tsuba thread. Do you realize how few people(certainly no other I'm aware of outside of Japan, and precious few there) are doing this high-grade work? I guess it's a reflection of the general lack of understanding of the knowledge, skill, artistry and hard work that goes into something like that. Ford has spent years honing his abilities. Would you ask a Yoshihara to sort out your third rate blade? I've never understood why tosogu(outside of Japan) are not more valued and appreciated. My intent is not to step on any toes here, and I'm speaking for myself without consulting Ford. Respectfully, Jim

:D