JanS

Hi everyone, Been traveling this week. Thanks everyone for the PMs with sword suggestions and the info on books and the good ideas for taking care of the blade. I have ordered a couple of books to get started on my research and will continue reading here and probably come with more questions shortly. This board is a great source of knowledge. Thanks for a very nice welcome. Jan

Hi Ken and others, Got it - I will calm down and I will buy some books first :-) Research and then I will research some more. Just out of curiosity so like Ken say's he likes Bizen blades from Kamakura and Nambokucho periods (why specifically these, if I may ask?) - what do other members like and why specifically - is it the blade form, the look of the hamon or the quality or rarity of the blade, steel or the smith? I was drawn to this by the aesthetics of the blades and what they represent of the Japanese history/culture - but as a rookie it is hard to see the small nuances yet. Thanks again for the wise words.

Hi Ken, Jamie, Stephen, Arnold, Grey and Geraint, Thanks a lot for some great info. Guess living in Singapore with very high humidity will prove challenging for any newly polished blade. What is the best way to make a blade survive that? Will it survive in a shirasaya with a bit of oil and wipe it with a micro fiber cloth from times to time? Anyone has a good link to a good value for money starter blade - Wakizashi or a Katana in good polish with Hozon or Tokubetsu Hozon papers? Jan

Hi, So recently joined after lurking around for a week or two. Used to collect vintage Rolex watches and this seems familiar, but even less transparent and way more complicated. I'm 40 years old and started martial arts (FMA Kali/JKD/Muay Thai) a couple of years ago and been fascinated by Zen and Bushido after living in Asia for some years and after traveling to Japan a couple of times. Long story short - nihonto symbolises the Japanese culture and some kind of perfection that is almost attainable - and still the goal post for a sword keeps moving the more I research. Some rookie questions: How long does a good polish last, if you oil the blade and keep it in a shirasaya? Seems a good start would be a katana with a signature, minimum Hozon with papers and a good polish in a shirasaya, or? Any good advises before I go ahead with my first buy? I dream about one fantastic Katana with a beautiful harmon for show in a shirasaya. Eventually would also like a blade to practice Iaido drawing and/or to practice cutting - does any of you use real Japanese swords for that or a Paul Chen or similar? I can't figure out if I should go for a nice Wakizashi with Hozon papers at 3-4 K or go further and buy a Katana Tokubetsu Hozon or a Juyo candidate at 8-15K? I really like this one, which is right in the middle: http://www.aoijapan.com/katana-kozuke-no-suke-minamoto-yoshimasa Any pros or cons for that blade? How important is the Koshirae, Tsuba etc? Thanks in advance.