Peter Bleed

Ron, I'm glad to see you back here. Peter

I agree with rkg. It seems heavily waxed but with the heavy pitting, it may have been seriously covered with red rust. P

I think it is the rear sight. P

And I agree. I love to learn how people form their collections. Please tell us how you have formed you collection. Peter

Every new issue of Token Bijutsu carefully lists the successful participants in the previous issue’s kantei competition. It seems pretty clear that accepting and solving the monthly challenge is a major part of serious sword appreciation in Japan. What amazes me is that Americans seem not to take part in this activity. Kantei seems not to be a game that Americans play and I have to ask why. (And I recognize that this is an international forum, but I don’t see a lot of Aussies there) There are lots of serious sword appreciators over here, but we just don’t seem to conform to the Japanese practice. There are probably lots of reasons for this failing. Language skill is certainly a factor. And Americans don’t hold the semi-formal regional meetings that many Japanese collectors both enjoy and use to refine their responses to the puzzles. It is also worth noting that folks in Japan care not a fig about many issues that intrigue some American collectors (arsenal stamps, gunto variations etc etc). Our libraries are pretty good, tho, so if we wanted to, I think we could develop skill at assessing the presented problems. Would it be unfair to make sure that every months challenge is presented and discussed here in the NMB so that “we” can take part. Or maybe the NBTHK-AB should organize kantei zoom session to guide us thru the process. Or maybe we can just decide that sword appreciation is different in these parts. Peter

How is dinner at the Pearl Garden? Peter

I wont disagree with the Kanemasa assessment, but I still see a doctored Kaneyuki there. Was there one of them? Peter

This is an interesting and worthwhile thread. My experience in Japan suggests the shira-saya manufacture is a respect craft, but it is also an available service and no big deal. The wide world needs the service so I think WE need more saya-ji. Obviously there are fine shira-saya makers available, but the big names seems way too busy. There are as well, guys who claim to provide the service - on the basis of having seen a Walter Sorrells Youtube. Those guys are a complete waste. Look before you leap! Peter

Matt beat me by a minute! Peter

This has been a challenging - BUT very interesting thread. I think the blade will also prove to be interesting. In 200 years that may be the kind of blade that is shown to open a new historic era. Peter

Tom makes a very good point. The first step in learning to read characters is learning what characters you have to read. Look at lots of tangs and see how they are laid out. Almost all the time, what you need to start with is the last two characters (well, mebbe the last three). And of those two, the place to start is the first one. That is the one to go to work on. In general, it is more useful to begin by counting strokes - every line/dot is one , oh and sometimes what looks like two line is only one. To approach all this go vist other collectors. Looks at swords. Page thru sword books translating as you go. Peter

Lots of good advice here, - and I will be marked as a moss-back old timer, BUT I still believe that there is great utility in scanning the character sections of John Yumoto's book. And once you have a feeling for how to count stroke. Robinson's wonderful character chart if very useful. Peter

Jumyo

I'd like to see more, please! Peter

I agree with the linkage to "Namban" but I think it is purely native in creation and conception. I think it was an item of the great Namban fad of mid-Edo times. It probably looked both flashy and exotic! Peter

Thanks, lots of great items to look at! Peter

Stephen, You did a great job of accessing a museum object and using it open an interesting discussion. Thanks! I do not think that I will even own a Masamune, but this thread has nicely shown how interpretations and opinions change. Peter

Adam, I jumped on this thread to see it it might be an Ainu sword. It is not that, IMHO, but it is very nice. Good find! Peter

It looks like the show was packed and active. Thanks for showing us! Peter

Well, gee. I am sorry to have set off a bit of apparently hard feelings. I suppose that I should also be ashamed to have exhibited ignorance. Thank you, James, for pointing that out. And Fred is completely correct in pointing out that serious sword appreciation has become a very high-priced activity these days. Membership in the NBTHK-AB does not make somebody a serious collector, but it does demonstrate interest and desire. I remember and enjoyed many discussions with Paul Davidson about the role and future of the NBTHK-AB. Paul had thought deeply about the preservation and appreciation of Japan art swords. As a result of those discussions I have come to see that American collecting has moved beyond the “preservation” phase and on to “appreciation.” The NBTHK, in Tokyo operates with high standards. My task as a collector is now to try to understand what in the world those standards are. The NBTHK-AB might be able to assist in that process. Peter

Failing to USE and develop this event is very disappointing. I missed this show for the obvious - and intervening - reasons. But I assure you that as a long time dues paying member of NBTHK-AB, I would love to see this display. Why not show it to us? Peter

Wasn't there a story a while ago about this sword having been stolen from the display? Peter

This may be a false alarm, but next weekend the Midwest Japan Network is hosting a virtual seminar on the appearance and dress of early Edo period seafarers in and around Japan. I assume that swords and sword fittings will NOT be addressed directly, but some in the sword community MIGHT find it of interest. I also humbly suggest that the academics really ought to be aware of the interest and expertise of sword collectors. We are welcome to attend. And it is free. You just have to sign in. file:///C:/Users/peter/AppData/Local/Packages/microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_8wekyb3d8bbwe/LocalState/Files/S0/17754/Attachments/Flyer,%20Virtual%20Meeting,%20September%202021[24788].pdf Peter It looks like you have to paste that link into your browser to make it hot. But it will open

Matt, Thanks for presenting this sword. Unfortunately, it arrives to me as a rather unsavory message about "the soul of the samurai." Basically, this sword seems to have been used to kill a peasant. And the thug who did the murder bragged about it. Sorry, but this ain't art. It reflects the worst of pre-modern Japanese society. Peter

I do, too. An osuriage naginata with a VERY nice tsuka that I bought from Andy Quirt in, - are you sitting down? - 1965. Peter