kunitaro

Thank you for posting example Jacques san, at first, the drawing (black) parts are Nioi-kuchi, And what do you think about all of Mune-yaki you posted ? Do you think, Which one is mistake ? and which one is done on purpose ? I think that all of them are done on purpose. if there is a or a few, or could be 5, Tobiyaki on Mune, they are mistake. (could be fixed, and most of them has been fixed) and could you point Mune-yaki ? and Tobi-yaki ? or other hataraki from your Oshigatas ? Also, Could you point difference of School from your oshigata as well ? Please don't feel offending. It is very good study material. Not only for you, but, for other people. Best

This is an early Shinto Shichibei no jo Sukesada. Sugata is Sue-Koto. This sword has mune-yaki all way on mune, This was my own, so i can see clearly. but no oshigata, and It is an old (Bakumatsu-early meiji) polish, not Kesho (Ha-dori) polish, so, it is very difficult to see on photos, also, when you see whole sugata, you can see the brightness of mune is sparseness. because of Mune-yaki. hope you can see them, BTW, This sword is in Super Koshirae,

Hi, I just came back home. and looked up only Sukesada in only one book. Koto Taikan Sukesata P301 Hirazukuri Tanto P307 Shinogizukuri Katana P308 Shinogizukuri Katana P315 Hirazukuri Tanto If you look other books and other smiths (Sue-koto), you will find many. I will post photo later. If someone has Photos or Book(s) and time, pls, post them. They are not too rare. You can find Mino-den, Yamato-den, or Shimada school, Sue-Soshu school, etc,. I think there is Muramasa sword with complete mune-yaki as well. And the reason why I think it is a copy of sue-BIZEN. Mino-den has Togari-ba (pointed gunome)-sanbonsugi, Yamato-den has more Masame-hada (style) and Suguha-hamon with Yubashiri or hakikake activities (bcs masame-hada) Soshu-den has bigger Gunome midare with strong Nie and kinsugi etc,. Yamashiro-den nie-deki Suguha based with ashi and yo activities (bcs of Hada) And when you see the oshigata of The blade (Shinshinto Munetsugu) The Hamon is Nioi-deki Gunome-midare. typical Bizen style. from those reason, i said, it is made as a copy of Sue-Bizen. Sue-Bizen Utsushi

mmm if there is many spots all way on mune, then you can say Mune-yaki which i have never seen. but, if there is one or a few spots on mune, then it is called Tobi-yaki on Mune which is mistake. however, you can recognize easy if it is done on purpous or not. if you could post some example, we will examine them.

江府住辰直　kofu (no) ju Tatsu-nao 江府住辰壽 Kofu (no) ju Tatsu-toshi Tatsunao is a son of Tatsutoshi. Edo (Tokyo) Bakumatsu. Both signatures are good.

True. Normally, The smith should find out at Kaji-oshi (smith polish), if he missed, the polisher will find out, then he call on smith, " I found Togiyaki on mune, do you want me to take off ??" Smith " Oh sxxt!! Yes, Please " The polisher use heated copper to take hamon off, before final polish. It is part of Polisher's job. self trained or instant trained polisher can not do it. That is one of differences between proper trained and self trained. There is hundreds of those small knowledge which you can not find from only Books.

Yes, the photo of mei which I posted is Showa-to. your photo and my photo, both signature are cut by same person.

I think that 義治"Yoshi"-haru is correct.

Mune-yaki is tempered (hamon) all way till mune-machi, Long turn back is only Kissaki, maximum till monouchi area. Tobi-yaki (spot hamon) on Mune is just mistake. It can be fixed. you can put heated copper on the spot, and cool it down slowly, then hamon is gone.

And

Dear mr.Flynn, Soul is not 神"Kami". Soul is 魂 (Tamashii) The sword is the soul of Samurai. meaning is that the sword is the most important object for Samurai. without Katana, he is not Samurai. same as a person without soul, he is not a person anymore. And Karma is meaning of just logic. Cause and result. the sword must find you, is meaning that, If you are doing 足軽目利 Ashigaru-mekiki. you will get Gatana　束刀 If you are doing 町人目利 Chonin-mekiki (Honnami kantei), you will own the art sword、meihin, 美術刀剣 名品 If you are doing 武家目利 Buke-mekiki, you will own the mei-to, Ri-to　名刀、利刀 If you are doing 商人目利 Shonin-mekiki, you will get mei-to　迷刀 If you are studying high level, you will get high level sword, If you are studying low level, you will get low level sword. and The sword will not become like you, but, you become like the sword..... so, when you see the sword, you will be able to understand the owner's personality. This is a part of Kantei as well. The sword represent the owner. This is called Karma, but, it is just simple logic. It is common sense, nothing mysterious or religious for us (Japanese). If you want to find a good woman, you must be a good man. It is make sense, isn't it ?

Dear HJ san, Thank you for your hornest opinion. I understand. you don't eccept (or expect ) higher, art or spiritual value on the sword, it is just a weapon. This kind of perspective on the sword is called 足軽目利 Ashigaru-mekiki. we say in Japan that you can not find a sword, the sword must find you. Matt san, Thank you for your interest. when we form our workshop, we will explain about antique and modern sword and make "Buke-mekiki 武家目利 (Samurai style Kantei) session. Mr.Isao Machii is a professional proper trained sword polisher. so, we will be able to hold a sword polishing workshop as well. Jean sama, I also have a big Katana dansu. we say in Japan that when you buy a Katana dansu, your collection will increase. and it was truth !!!

mr.Bray, Yes, It is ideal if we can have good fresh bamboo from HK, but, normal postage like 4 feet long and 20-30Kg by airmail will be very expensive. also, short bamboo is difficult to cut for beginner, 2-3m is better, btw, I liked your comment on the topic of certification paper... mr.Hennik and mr.Ken, Thank you for watching the Video, as you see, when you learn basic, and go step by step, anybody will reach certain degree. And we will understand more about sword from this experience. mr.HJ, the subject is about the sword. Do you disagree with Nitobe about "rectitude and justice" and "about the sword" ? The sword, The soul of Samurai, the badge of his status. mr.Hans, i don't know, i have no experience of using such a special blade. BTW, I would like to make a plan organizing Tameshigiri Seminar/Workshop in Europe with mr.Isao Machii maybe next year. It could be US and Hawaii, if its possible. What do you think ?

Dear HJ So, What do you want to say ? Do you think Nitobe's book is not good ??? Do you think is not True (for you) ? BTW. Don't you want to practice Tameshigiri ? This is how to practice.

不動心(Fudo-shin) Completely undisturved Falling in love with this kind of Lady.

BUSHIDO by Inazo Nitobe CHAPTER III RECTITUDE OR JUSTICE HERE we discern the most cogent precept in the code of the samurai. Nothing is more loathsome to him than underhand dealings and crooked undertakings, CHAPTER XIII THE SWORD, THE SOUL OF THE SAMURAI BUSHIDO made the sword its emblem of power and prowess. When Mahomet proclaimed that "the sword is the key of Heaven and of Hell," he only echoed a Japanese sentiment. Very early the samurai boy learned to wield it. It was a momentous occasion for him when at the age of five he was apparelled in the paraphernalia of samurai costume, placed upon a go-board and initiated into the rights of the military profession, by having thrust into his girdle a real sword instead of the toy dirk with which he had been playing. After this first ceremony of adoptio per arma, he was no more to be seen outside his father's gates without this BADGE OF HIS STATUS, BTW. Complete Japanese Sword Cutting Technique. by Zen Nippon Batto-do Renmei

Yes, exactry correct ! meaning of Mass production. They are called "Gatana" in Japan. Shorten from "Taba-Gatana". To recognized Kazuuchimono and Meito is the main point of studying the level of quality which is more important than Gokaden Kantei. It is called "Buke-Mekiki" (Samurai style Kantei).

The sword is a copy of Sue-Bizen. The sword with Muneyaki is often seen at late Muromachi period with shorter and fatter blade. They are basically Uchigatana which is used for more close conbat and lough use. Often they received attack with Mune in conbat. (such as Homare-kizu is on Mune) They wanted to be stronger in different way from used of Kiba-sen (on horse battle) It is made with different concept. There are many differet styles blades that tried out at Sengoku-jidai. Later generation (Shinto) of Sukesada made also copy of Sue-bizen with muneyaki. BTW, Bizen blade which is Older than Nanbokucho period shouldn't have any muneyaki. if there is,,, it is re-tempered....

when you see, The sugata, Sakizori with funbari, Width different of Saki and Moto-haba, High Shinogi, a biｔ longish Kissaki... It is typical Koto Mino-den-uchigatana, Ji and Ha, Itame hada on Ji, Shinogi-ji is Masame hada, Tighter Nioi-kuchi, kind of lough (ara) Nie and Sunagashi. (It is different from Soshu-den's) It is also Koto-Mino-den. And The Mei, Naga xxx... Only possibility is Naga-Katsu (Mino, Bunmei 1469-1486) I don't have example of this mei, and i can not judge by the photo. you have to see the patina of nakago and bottom of the mei, (under dust) and you have to see the quality of the Nakago, genaral nakago shape, Shinogi-line, Niku-oki, mune, and ha side, What do you think about Nakago ? and Patina ? Also, check darker Patina, make sure there is no burned rust to avoid re-tempered. (because, there is many re-tempered blade in koto, because it was for weapon) by this, you can guess the mei is good or not without example. from only the photos, we can think of the blade could be Mid-Muromachi Mino-den, or Late Muromachi Kuwana-uchi with Gimei(Taba-ganata). or some parts of Hamon looks like Muramasa(Sengo) !?!? When you see in your hand, or if you can compare with another sword(s). It is easy to recognize. After this study, sending to Shinsa for confirmation of the study, not for investment or gambling. However, This is not very wise way to study sword. This is not really studying a sword...just guessing and discussion until get a result (answer) which is maybe Hozon paper,,,, The real study begin from there... It will cost more money and time to reach one level than buying or seeing Already authorized blade. After you can recognized good blade, then you can go for un-authorized blade hunting... This is my opinion. If the subject is about the cost and value,,, then it's different stories...

I think that we need to confirm Mei first. if the signature is good, which is meaning Nakago is original, and if Kissaki and Boshi are original, then the blade is an original, only Shinogi and mune is re-shaped.

Back here... I think that if the Hori has done before Yakiire, then The Hori is original. also, needs to confirm the blade itself is an original. These blades are not Original. most of them are made by Abe Akitada. Shinshinto Taikan P359 Chikuzen no kami Nobuhide, keio Gan nen 8 gatsu hi P365 Kurihara Taira Asson Nobuhide, Oite Hokuetsu P366 Taira Asson Nobuhide, Oite Hokuetsu P368 Chikuzen no kami Nobuhide, Meiji 9 nen 12 gatsu hi P369 Kurihara Taira Asson Nobuhide Hori Dosaku, Meiji 10 nen 9 gatsu hi mmmmm

it is very sad that we are busy with Papers. when all of us can recognize the quality of the object, we don't need the papers however, when we trading through internet, we are judging with digital photos....without examing objects in our hands. I can not blame the market value depending on papers, especially in internet. and for beginners, it(an expert's opinion) is good guidline for studying. also it is good for investers maybe....

I agree with Brian's comment. It is clear that it was Bo-hi and Soe-hi. and half of Bo-hi is off at Nakago, and only Soe-hi is left on the blade which is meaning that most of Shinogi parts is off of this blade. And What do you think about the signature ?

I heard some news about Forbes magazine from my friend in US, This past week news came out via the Wallstreet Journal that Forbes magazine has not been paying its own rent for the past few months. This while rumors have been circulating that the publishing has been having money problems. Ironic as they are well known for covering the rich. Alas he news has been updated the due rent was not that of their headoffice, but another nearby property. Still this raises questions as to why they would be failing to cover their most basic obligated costs of business in this case the cost of its rental properties. http://www.businessinsider.com/forbes-h ... nt-2012-11

I think that combination of all fact, Material(steel),partinization and Age included hand of poeple.