DirkO

I would agree with Paul, many of the Koto Gassan were simply signed 'Gassan' although there are signed pieces left as well. I think their attribution refers to that fact.

Kogatana is signed Tamba no Kami Yoshimichi, I think

I find this an interesting rationale. It's known that certain blades were rejected by shinsa, but after crushing the mei, they were attributed to the smiths who were in the signature in the first place. So likely they were rejected for the mei and not for the work itself. This is a self fulfilling way of working, because over time, all the varying mei will be assumed gimei, except those in the books. So it stands to reason that this way, certain valid shoshin ways of signing will disappear because they were deemed gimei, simply because they weren't recorded in the books.

Hi Thomas, Thanks for clarifying! Seeing it's a meito book I suspected a named sword, so it's good you me straight Now I can move forward with the rest of the index.

Thanks a lot Morita-sama! I actually had Ochi, but thought it was wrong :-) But I never would've found Haito without your help! Does this mean this is a mei-to, a sword with Gô "Haito"?

Hi, I'm currently making an index to Shinko Meito Zufu and this kiritsuke mei for a Rai Kunitoshi tachi has me stumped. I can find most of the kanji, but can't make anything from it Can someone help me out? ?IchiRyu? Omi (no) Kami X X Nao X Katana 一柳近江守越智直敬 ? 刀

Years ago I also offered to pay him in advance for this book. But he refused. I can't remember the exact reason nor can I track down the mail (probably deleted). Maybe you should simply contact Harry and ask him?

http://www.nihontomessageboard.com/faq.html

OK, how about our favourite shape-shifter - the tanuki?

Big congrats Ford! Thoroughly deserved

Here's what the Bishop museum in Hawaii thinks (no idea where I got this .pdf): Urushiconserving.pdf

Hi Martin, They use it merely as a selling point, but it's more nuanced probably. Seeing the blade belonged to someone important at that time, doesn't mean by definition that it's a good blade (although one can expect a somewhat higher standard - the Daimyo addage is made purely to this effect)

Isn't a Daimyo Toroku (sho) just a torokusho with a very early low number? They call it Daimyo because the first ones to have their swords registered this way were the nobility at that time. More info: http://www.nihontomessageboard.com/articles/sword_law.pdf

Very interesting! Thanks Morita-sama

Stunning, I absolutely love the contrasting textures You continue to amaze us, even though our expectations of you might have become unrealistically high!

@ Morita-Sama, Thanks a lot for the kao! Even the new book by Markus Sesko about the Hon'ami family doesn't have those

Hi Morita-sama, That explains why I couldn't find a match, my list of kao only goes up to Koson. Do you perhaps have a good scan example of his kao? (for future reference)

Here's another one which might be helpfull: scanning nihonto.pdf

Hi Robert, is there a stamp on the other side located at the same position as the kao? Would it be possible to post a larger picture of the origami? The 2 kanji just above the Kao seem to indicate Hon'a and it's dated the 3rd day which is also correct. I couldn't find any match for kao though.

Thanks Chris for the reply - Tomosada it is then.

Hi, Can someone tell me if my translation is correct? Not sure about the tomo kanji: Kashu Ju ?Tomo?-Sada Saku 加州 住 友定 作

Jean,John, Isn't the swastika the other way around on the kozuka?

Is the hitsu-ana also changed from the original square form? Seems to be filled to some extent...

My guess would be Kyo Tamba Nidai (2nd gen) - can you please post a better (clearer) picture of the mei?

Hi David, Sorry, but that's all the pictures the auction has : http://page11.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/n104401809 I ran it through Google Translate and it clearly states ivory.