SteveM

I think this is true for all of us. The quality of the images in the foundational texts leaves much to be desired

呰部 I think this is pronounced Azae. It's an unusual reading.

The black writing says 権之丞寫 (Gonnosuke utsushi), meaning "copy of Gonnosuke". Gonnosuke is a name, but I'm unsure if it is an historical figure or fictitious character. There is a Gonnosuke who fought Miyamoto Musashi, but the clothing of the figures in this picture look as if they predate Musashi's time. I haven't cracked the red artist's seal yet.

I don't quite understand your post. What I'm saying is that shōwatō (aka guntō), especially ones that have signatures by known smiths, have been successfully licensed and some have been papered. It would have been unthinkable before the 2000s, but Japan seems to be more open to seeing the historical value of these swords, if not their artistic value. We see these swords being licensed with increasing frequency. I'm using the word "guntō", but its virtually interchangeable with the word "shōwatō". Items that were mass-produced for the war effort. Some items were produced with a bit more effort, skill, and artistry, but all of these were deemed weapons, and were not eligible for licenses; hence, illegal to own.

Couldn't crack this one. The first three are 大和守 (Yamato-no-kami) as you might already know. The last one I assume is 作, although it looks unusual. Which leaves the 4th and 5th kanji, which are obviously the swordsmith's name, but here they both look so strange as to be illegible. Well, if we know the smith is allowed to use "Yamato-no-kami" we can go to the list of smiths who were granted that title, compiled by Markus, and search through the list for possible/plausible matches. Unfortunately the kanji on the sword look nothing like the kanji used by any of the Yamato-no-kami smiths. Actually, both of the kanji on the sword look like parts of kanji, or unfinished kanji. This one has me stumped.

Some WW2-era blades have torokusho. Some even have NBTHK papers. I think there has been a gradual reappraisal of the term "art sword", and relaxing of standards that were formulated in the immediate post-war era. This sword is an example of that.

Hello Nicholas, not an oshigata, but here is an authenticated (Tokubetsu Hozon) example showing the 2nd Generation Masanori's signature (photo on the left of the certificate). This is a gassaku, made together with Masakatsu, whose signature is on the right side of the certificate (tachi-mei style). There may be more out there, but this is the first one that popped up in a search. https://www.e-sword.jp/sale/2013/1310_1005syousai.htm (Embedding the photo in case the link goes dark. For educational purposes...no copyright infringement intended. All rights to e-sword.)

No, nothing about the blade other than the type of blade (katana), attribution, and the length. This is normal for Hozon and Tokubetsu Hozon certificates. Unfortunately, they never mention anything about the blade, or the conclusions drawn by the shinsa team.

Hmm, the link works for me. From the site. A sword featuring the inscription Nio Masakiyo

Hi Frank, This is not particularly bad handwriting, and there is no dialect involved. It's just highly stylized. Those seeing the banner at the time it was written, wouldn't have any problem understanding it, because they knew the person in question. And, they were closer in time to the age where calligraphy of this kind was in daily use. Piers, I got your drift - I just didn't think these were Shimazu. But...I haven't shut the door on that possibility completely. The way the brush strokes flick seem too different from 島津 as written on the name on the left side (below). So I'm stumped.

Hmm - I hadn't even considered that. Actually, I don't have much confidence in the 津 in that part, but I couldn't come up with any other possibility. The Shimazu on the left (the writer's name?) looks a lot different to the large kanji written in the center, so I think I'd rule out the possibility that they share the same last name. And the other bits above Toranosuke... Is it 之? 定? or 之人? The whole thing might be 応集勇途之人 近衛寅之助君 (Sending off the brave Konoe Toranosuke-kun), but I feel I'm grasping at straws now.

Slightly unusual in structure, so it's a bit hard to parse. Anyway, the vertical writing is 祝 (congratulations), 歓送 (congratulatory send-off) and then the word 近衛 (Konoe) which is a rather noble family name, but also a word used to describe a guardian of the court. I don't think its meant to be a name here. Maybe its use is intended to be patriotic, or invoke a martial spirit. But it seems slightly weird to me. Under that: 應集 (a word used to assemble a group, sort of like the military command to "fall in") 勇途 (another word to invoke a glorious send-off of a brave person). Then we have what should be the recipient's name, but I can't quite get it. Maybe 津寅之助 (Tsu Toranosuke)? Anyway, its somebody Toranosuke. Then on the left side is the writer's name (I think) Shimazu Hatamata, although I'm not 100% sure of this. The two kanji at the top of this name might be a location name (Sata? Yuta?).

Japan Sword and Aoi Art are other Tokyo-based shops dealing in various sword-related goods, and might have something for your budget. Both are used to dealing in English, and both can communicate in English, at least via email. As Brian says above, all swords are subject to export restrictions, so you won't be taking any swords back with you in your checked baggage. But koshirae and other decorative elements are normally not subject to restrictions. There have been some reports of customs agents demanding export certificates for higher value items (tsuba over a certain value), but generally you won't have to worry about koshirae. Sometimes customs agents don't actually know the latest laws, and get over zealous. http://www.japansword.co.jp/js-e.html https://www.aoijapan.com/

Kinokuniya is a shop in Tokyo that carries a huge selection of samurai-era antiques. They mostly sell armor, but they may have some koshirae. You can email them to see. They are a rather large "clearing house" for antiques, so the items they sell are not particularly high grade antiques, but you can get authentic items that might fit your budget. Located near Tokyo station - however there has been extensive renovations around that area for the past several years, so I'm not quite sure if they are still located at the address mentioned on their home page. They seem to be open to communicating by email in English, so you might try to contact them. I used to enjoy just walking around the shop and looking at all the items they had. Disorganized, stuff piled on top of other stuff, dusty, musty, but fascinating to look at. http://www.kinokuniya.tv/info_en.php (Not to be confused with Kinokuniya the book store, or Kinokuniya the grocery store, both of which are completely different enterprises catering somewhat to foreigners in Tokyo)

Piers has it. 雲窮 This is also what is written on the top line of the tag on the back (written, however, in Chinese simplified style on the tag). Again, its Chinese so I'm not sure what the pronunciation would be.

First one should be 雲. The second one is 瑞 maybe? No idea of the meaning, but it is from a government office in Beijing, so might be something specific to China or Chinese language. Left side is 1999, Summer?

The black text says 一貫齊 (Ikkansai), the name of the tsuba artist. The gold text is, as you mention, 鐔 (tsuba). I don't think it is meant ironically. Its just stating what is inside the box. It is pretty common for tōsōgu boxes, or, for example, boxes containing pottery. Edit: Just to be clear, I have no opinion on whether the tsuba is actually made by Ikkansai. The text on the box says Ikkansai, but the tsuba could well be from someone else.

I wonder if it is a case of 1. The immediate post-war generation dying off, and a newer generation finding these unregistered items in storage, and, now having access to information via the internet, this new generation is willing to get the items registered. (I don't have an statistics, but I believe many of the previous generation were hesitant to do anything with their swords as they feared they would be confiscated, or that the police would arrest them). 2. The effects of Covid and more people staying at home and stumbling across items that were in storage (or in hiding). And again, the younger generation was more willing and able to research how to properly register the items. Maybe a mix of both.

I know next to nothing about this particular organization, except that they no longer exist as a going concern, and that nobody in Japan regards these certificates as having any authority. As I mentioned in another thread, I have no reason to doubt any particular appraiser's judgment, but on the whole these 2nd tier appraisal groups are not held in high regard. If you haven't already read the article concerning "green papers", it's well worth your time. The papers in this thread are a different kind of green paper, but the same principles apply.

It is "juyo", but its not from NBTHK. This paper is from the Bijutsu Nihontō Shinsa Kai (Art Japanese Sword Appraisal Organization), one of the 2nd tier groups that started issuing papers after the NBTHK scandal of the late 70s. Their "juyo" is not to be confused with (or compared with) the juyo papers issued by NBTHK.

Hello, If I recall correctly, this was one of the dealer-affiliated appraisal groups that sprung up, possibly as a reaction to the NBTHK losing some credibility in the late 70s and early 80s. I don't think this group is around any more. I have no reason to doubt their appraisals, but nobody regards these papers as having any authority. The NBTHK made some changes, got a bit more conservative, and as a result none of these other appraisal groups really got any traction. These papers are an interesting bit of these swords' history, so no need to throw them out. But most collectors will look at them with some skepticism.

Ironically, the genuine swords will probably be easier to ship to Japan, as there is a fairly well-known process to get these through customs and get these registered. You will need the assistance of someone in Japan (Robert Hughes, Paul Kremers, Paul Martin, etc.), but these guys do this all the time.

Presented to the Mayor of Maebashi, Mr. HORI Yasuo, from the city councilmembers, on the occasion of his receiving an official honor. It doesn't specify what the honor is, but it would be clear to the presenter and presentee. Probably some civic medal; Order of the Sacred Treasure, or something similar.

Hello Max, Let me add mine to the voices who have said it is a minor flaw and not worth worrying about. Even in your photos it is barely discernable. For the price you paid, I think you've done well to get a papered blade w/koshirae. As a first blade, it is perfectly fine, and superior to the first blade that many collectors purchase, as many of us bought unspectacular or problematic mumei pieces as an entry into the sword world.

Suggested with slight reservation 早乙女　家貞 Saotome Iesada (I just noticed some Japanese sites list the reading as Sōtome Ieasada. I think most would intuitively read this as Saotome, so the reading of Sōtome is a bit unusual/unexpected for me.)