kunitaro

Thank you for posting photos, Daniel san, Good sword with cheap camera is better than a cheap sword with good camera ! Chris san, Yes, It is Standard polish, The most of swords are good enough with our standard polish, I offer master polish only the master think that it is worth to take time by himself with his old Jizuya,Hazuya stones, some old sword needs to be re-shape properly,,, some old high quality sword with a bit weak hamon,or needs sensible work,

When the sword arrive in Japan. JP custom will hold the sword and inform to local Kyoikuiinkai (Dept of Education) and the receiver for examine and issuing register card (Torokusho). When Dept of Education receive info of new sword at Custom, they will arrange sending register officer and exterminator to the custom. Date for register is once every two month at Fukuoka airport, once every three month at Narita airport and maybe same as kansai airport. If the receiver's address are Fukuoka, Osaka or Chiba, they can go to the custom on the register day, and pick up the sword after issue Torokusho, If the receiver is other prefecture, JP custom and local dept issue "Toroku kano shomeisho" ( a temporary paper) and deliver to the receiver, When the receiver receive the sword with temporary paper, they will have to bring their local register examine, and issue Torokusho, The sword must be registered for craftsman to handle them in Japan. so, the custom could hold imported sword up to 3 month max. I am not sure if Nagoya airport has International post office with JP custom. Mr.ZHANG Ruoyu should ask your receiver (Nagoya?) for their schedule for sword register date. * for example, Next sword register date in Fukuoka will be 15th of September, If anyone want to send the sword to Japan, if you send it before around the end of this month, I will be able to register (issue Torokusho) on 15th of September, for Import tax, More than 200000JPY item must declare the custom, If you write (inform) the item is for restoration, It will return to the sender, (If the receiver could proof it), JP custom will not charge import tax. As Daniel san said, we have problem sending the sword to Europe from Japan now. Post office said that some air carrier company refuse handling sword as a Weapon. It is happening because, After JP post privatised, they have contract with private air carrier company, and they have terrorism security regulation, not to handle weapon. They don't want to handle sword even it has official export license... for now, I could send the sword to England and France, but, not other European countries. But, JP post said that they will change sometime, because, they will change contract with carrier companies every half year or something.. so, it is un-steady at this moment, I asked other dealers about it, some dealer said that they are sending as "Imitation sword for decoration", It is possible, but, it is not 100% honest way and you can not put Insurance as real sword. It is possible to send it by FedEx from Japan (expensive) and we have special contract with one private company to handle if it is a bundle of 5 or 10.

There is popular Japanese design and Kamon designed Hemp called "Asa-mon" http://minagi.p-kit.com/page134783.html And an example tsuba signed Efu no ju Tatsunao.

Cannabis/Hemp is deeply related with Japanese culture and history since Jomon period (10000 years ago) It has been one of most important agricultural products through history. Culture of Shinto and Japanese Emperor is based on hemp as well. There is a family who still growing Special hemp for emperor today. Most of Han(province) were growing their own hemp products in Edo period. so, it is not surprised finding design of hemp in Edo period.

All of those terms are basics. you will see those words and characters often when you studying Japanese sword. so. It is good to know them in Japanese, not only in English. Kuro roiro nuri saya Uchigatana koshirae, Fuchi-kabuto(gane): Do-jji, Shakudo Nanako-ji, Kin-iroe, Mumei, Meunuki : Kirimon(no)zu, Yo-bori, Shakudo-ji, kin-iroe, Tsuba : Kiri(no)zu, Mokko-gata, Tetsu-ji, Suki-bori, Kin Gin Nunome-zogan, Ryo-hitsuana, The last line 西陣住 埋忠 と銘がある　Nishijin (no) ju Umetada to Mei ga aru. is a bit tricky. the translation is There is signature on as Nishin ju Umetada.

黒蝋色塗鞘打刀拵 縁・兜　銅地赤銅魚子高彫　金色絵　無銘 目貫　桐紋図　容彫　赤銅地　金色絵 鍔　桐図木瓜型　鉄地　鋤彫　金銀布目象嵌　両櫃孔 西陣住埋忠と銘あり

It is Address and name. 長崎県佐世保市福石町一九七　Nagashi-ken Sasebo-shi Fukuishi-cho 197 XXX　（？？？） 和田久義　Wada Hisayoshi

congratulations　

Daniel san's sword is rgistered and now it is in our workshop. It is very healthy good sword, This is the second time for our master polisher to examine the star stamp blade. He start to discover that there is many good swords in star stamp swords. It will be very beautiful after proper polish. 銃砲刀剣類登録証 (Juho Toke rui Torokusho) 登録記号番号　福岡県　第１０４XXX号 (register number) 刀 長さ：６６．４ｃｍ 反り：１．５ｃｍ 目くぎ穴　２個 銘文 （表）（星刻印）越後住清勝作 （裏）昭和十八年三月日 福岡県教育委員会 (Fukuoka kyouiku iinkai) 平成弐拾六年五月拾五日交付 (Issuied 13th May 2014)

I think, 備中　成揚?城主　三村紀伊守親重　六代孫 Bicchu Seiyo?Joshu Mimura Kii no kami Chikashige roku-dai mago 因幡藩士三村頼之作 興長子X本国之 Inaba-hanshi Mimura Yoriyuki kore wo tsukuru (Choshii-x?Hongoku(Motokunni) wo okoshi, kore wo tsukuru) I couldn't figure out the meaning of last 7 kanji, because, I couldn't figure out one kanji... and I can not read other side. need better photo.

欧州舞踊公演 フランス　ベルギー　イギリス　スイス イタリー　ドイツ　デンマーク　スエーデン アイスランド　オーストリア　スペイン 帰途　ハワイに寄りて 1955年6月4日 竹内正夫 贈　山根菊野　殿 Buyo(Japanese dance) Tour in Europe France Belgium England Switzerland Italy Germany Denmark Sweden Iceland Austria Spain At Hawaii on the way back to Japan. 1955 June 4th Takeuchi Masao Gift to Mr(s). Yamane Kikuno

It is written 表、腰樋　中心内に掻き流し　 裏、護摩箸　中心内に掻き流し Omote, Koshi-hi Nakago-nai ni kakinagashi Ura, Bomabashi Nakago-nai ni Kakinagashi Kosh-hi on omote and Gomabashi on ura side Koshi-hi, Gomabashi are same as Bo-hi, Futasuji-ji, but shorter.

Yes ! ボムパルド　 Bompard(o) ???

Dear Gilles san, It is written, 贈　パオロ　ホムパルド殿 Gift to Mr.Paulo Hompardo or Lombardo ? 満鉄製作　日本刀　 Mantetsu seisaku(made) Nihonto 松岡洋右 Matsuoka Yosuke It is very interesting !

Narataro Fujiwara Kanenaga Kawamura Eijiro http://ohmura-study.net/212.html

Boshi Section (of second paper) is written 駆け出す (Kakedasu) It is meaning that Hamon of Boshi is off at Kissaki.

月下干網千鳥図目貫 Gekka (orTsuki no shita) no Hoshiami (to) Chidori no Zu Menuki (Dring fishing net under the moon and Chidori design Menuki) 銘　奈良作　 Mei Nara saku 鉄・金・銀　芋継地 Tetsu, Kin, Gin, Imo-tsugi-ji (Iron, Gold, Silver Imo-tsugi base) * Imo-tsugi is one of technique of welding, the way how the gold (top of fishing net) and silver (moon) welded on iron. 容彫　金色絵 Yo(Katachi)-Bori, Kin-iroe (Figured curving ?. Gold plated)

昭和　庚戌年　弥生日 Showa Kanoe-Inu Toshi(doshi) Yayoi bi (or Yayoi no hi) 弥生 (Yayoi) = March 應　法光院 六十八才　需　 Ou Houkouin 68 sai Ju (or Houkouin 68 sai no motome ni Ouzu 法光院 = Name of the person 68才（歳） = Age 應 (ou) = Accept 需 (ju) = Order (demend)

Good eye

雲龍図 Un-ryu (no) zu 小柄 Kozuka

Welcom Mishina sensei

Yamato-den : Nie-deki Yamashiro-den : (ko)Nie-deki Bizen-den : Nioi-deki Soshu-den : Nie-deki Mino-den : Nioi-deki

Dear Hoanh san, Thank you for your quick answer. I just wanted to confirm the "deki" "Nie-deki" or "Nioi-deki" is one of most important basic for Kantei. To give good descriptions, you see the sword more,, and many people will enjoy kantei. No "sorry" please

I think that the lower mekugi ana is the original one. so, the sword is about 2 inches suriage. 75-76cm nagasa and 2.0-2.5cm sori. and the mune side of nakago is greatly shaped for setting less Sori when the nakago is in tsuka. To see/imagine the original sugata (sori), is to follow Mune line from top to middle, and follow Mume amd Shinogi line from middle to bottom and into nakago. Because, ha-line and shinogi line of top half are changed by polishing. It is for Period. Is it "Nioi-dei" or :Nie-deki" ? It is for school (Gokaden).

Dear Hoanh san, Does NBTHK paper attribute a name of the smith ? or only school ? PS : I don't think that un-signed Saiba get Hozon.