benkyoka

Hello everyone. Recently my nihonto benefactor (my wife's uncle) sent me a wakizashi. It came with koshirae, from which I posted pictures in the tosogu forum, for those that are insterested. This is my first wakizashi and I find it quite interesting. Being new to kantei and nihonto I was hoping for some easily identifiable characteristics but this wakizashi I find strange. (Not enough experience I suppose). In a letter from the giver of this blade he wrote that the mei is Tangonokami Kanemichi. John Yumoto's book lists a Kanemichi from Yamashiro around 1661. Could this be the same smith? He also gave me a tip, writing that the hamon is sudareba. The hamon is nearly identical on both sides of the blade and the boshi as well. Both sides of the boshi feature a circle in the center. Blade is 60cm, nakago is 14.8cm. 2 mekugi ana, with one filled in. Sori is 1.5cm and looks koshi. Blade width at machi is 2.9cm and at yokote is 2.0cm. Nakagojiri is kiri, and the yasurime look kattesagari but are rather steep (sujikai?). I can never get boshi correct, but it looks jizo. Enough with my guesses, onto the pictures!

The tsuba and something else very interesting (to me at least).

Hello fellow enthusiasts! Recently I had given to me a wakizashi along with this set of koshirae. I thought I would include pictures for everyone to prompt discussion/opinions to help with my study. First the koshirae and close-ups of the fuchi and kashira, it seems to have a dragon theme.

It was previously stated that it was shipped via DHL. Do you still have the waybill that would have arrived on the packaging? There should be a box where the value of the item is written for insurance purposes. If there is nothing in that box, it usually is insured a small amount $100 - $200, for example. If you have the insurable amount information, you could phone DHL yourself and talk to a representative about making a claim. If you can get an estimate concerning the repair of this sword you can mention this to the DHL representative as well. The best case scenario would be that DHL agrees to pay you an amount (number put down as value of item on waybill, or the price to repair the item, or some other such agreed upon number) and you get to keep the blade. If the sender makes the claim, then he gets the credit, and you will have to decide between yourselves who keeps the blade, money, etc. I used to have to deal with couriers and damages all the time during my tenure as a warehouse manager. Policies and procedures may have changed in the years since I was in that position. Good luck and let us know how things turn out!

This is a good topic question and one I had thought of asking. I came into the 'hobby' of Nihonto when I received one from a relative. Now I have started to find out just how expensive this hobby can be. My related question is, "On a limited budget, is collecting Nihonto possible for a person living in Japan?" It seems that most of the 'deals' people find are on the swords found outside of Japan in second hand shops, etc. But for those of us in Japan, where almost all swords are registered, how do you go about growing your collection?

While reading a book titled 'Sorties into Hell' about the incidents that took place on the tiny, fortified Japanese island of Chichijima during the end of World War II. I came upon this photo and caption. The book is written by Chester Hearn and published in 2003.

I received an email from Lulu this afternoon saying mine is on the way. I wait excitedly.

This site is also very good, though more so for english to Japanese. http://honyaku.yahoo.co.jp/transtext

Thanks for the link! That looks amazing!

That last pic seems to show a nick in the edge. Being almost completely ignorant concerning polishing, is this nick something a polisher would be able to 'polish out' or would it take away too much steel to do so?

Thanks, Tom. I do count myself lucky, and a big 'Thank you' to you and everyone who has provided information. Based on the new photos, I should consider this a gendaito?

Here's the pics. I will let the more experienced members judge the degree to which the hamon runs into the nakago.

The hamon does run into the nakago, but I will try to get a good picture for you folks. I will post a picture of the torokusho as well. Give me a day.

hi Jean! Thanks for your comments. At a quick look comparing the nakago in the link you gave and the one in my possession, I only really notice how the ridgeline on mine seems to run through the center. A quick google search mentions that moroha zukuri has this feature. Is this correct, or am I missing something? What does this mean for my blade? Cut down from something else, or a fake? A double edged blade would have no kissaki, yet mine does.... always learning. I remain... (confused)

I am throwing my dice: Koto, Shinto, Shinshinto? Koto What province? Yamato What school? Yikes! This is where I show how inexperienced I am. The Takanoha yasurime is very common in the Tegai school, according to the Connoisseur's. Also, looking at the boshi again one side looks like it might be yakitsume, which is also found in the Tegai school. The Hosho school also produced yakitsume boshi, yet their yasurime is listed as higaki. Hamon is listed as chu-suguha mixed with ko-midare (which Franco was kind enough to comment on.) Nakago is suriage? Unfortunately I have so little experience that I cannot really tell what I am looking at. Thank goodness for sites like this, ne? I am going to find some books that have many colour pictures of blades so I can learn what differentiates the ji-hada, etc. How far off am I? Can anyone clarify for me what kind of boshi this is? The more I look at it the more confused I become. Thanks for everyone's comments.

My attempts at trying to photograph the blade. Let me know if these are too many pictures and I will delete them. I think I am addicted...

Doesn't seem to be too straight...

pics of the boshi kissaki is 4.0cm long. on a blade of 71cm is a 4cm kissaki a chu-kissaki?

This is the second blade I was given by my uncle-in-law. Apparently, he sold off his collection of Nihonto but gave me two of them. I am humbled to say the least. I think it may be Yamato as well. some specifications; overall length is 93.3cm blade length is 71.0com kissaki is 4.0cm nakago is 22.3cm with 2 mekugi ana width at machi is 2.7cm and at yokote is 1.9cm sori is 1.8cm and Torii mune is Iori nakago looks to be ubu, shape is futsu, but Nakago-jiri might be Ha-agari kurijiri (I am too much an amateur to come to a correct conclusion). yasurime looks to be takanoha no mei the hamon gives me the most questions. Is it suguha, or notare? Maybe gunome? the boshi is another big question mark. It looks like jizo, or notare komi I am using the Connoisseur's book for all my referencing. Am I close? If anyone can offer advice for taking better pics I would much appreciate that as well.

some more

I have tried my best to get good pictures of the blade, particularly the monounchi. How'd I do?

I will most definitely take these to shinsa, but June might be a little to near. Can anyone post any links/info regarding shinsa schedules and how to participate in one? Looks like I got very lucky indeed.

Your wish is my command. I will try my best to get some decent pics of the hamon/blade, as well.

Kashira , tsuka, and tsuba...

I was asked by sencho to post some pictures of the fuchi and fittings for a sword I was recently given. Here they are. I am very naive when it comes to all things nihonto but am learning. I hope the boardmembers enjoy them and look forward to your insights.