Markus

Thank you all for your kind words. :D I´m thinking about an English version, but I´m already working at a new project (this time bilingual, English/German) at the moment. Maybe I could start in summer, let´s see... Keep you informed.

Hi all! Finally, my latest book project (in German) is now available in online bookstores. It is called "Geschichten rund ums japanische Schwert" and deals with many legends, myths, interesting stories and anecdotes around famous Japanese swords (for example the provenance of many meitô) and smiths. 200 pages, A5, paperback, 52 s/w pics. Price 29,90 Euro. It can be ordered via amazon.com: http://www.amazon.de/Geschichten-rund-u ... 515&sr=8-2 or directly at Books on Demand: http://www.bod.de/index.php?id=1132&objk_id=352732 Many thanks for your interest, Markus PS: Those who will meet me at one of our next meetings can also get a copy directly from me.

"Ki-zukashi" or "ike-zukashi" (生透) is an old, nowadays unused term which is today just represented by "ko-sukashi" (小透), a way of differentiation from large-area "ji-sukashi" (地透). However, when the entire surface of a tsuba is occupied by a design composed of smaller ko-sukashi, the term "ki-zukashi" is appropriate. The description of the "Tôsô-kodôgu-kôza" is as follows: 生透・小透：これをキズカシあるいはイケズカシと呼んでいるが、キズカシと呼ぶべきである。すなわち文様そのものを 透して地面を残す工法で、地透と対比するものである。現今では小透という表現が多く、生透という言葉はあまり使われ ていない。すかし、透しの図柄が大きく画面いっぱいになっているときは生透という用語は適当であろう。

Hi David, The reading of the signature is correct, "Kunihiro", but the other term should read "naDekaku" (撫角), i.e. "rounded-off angular (shape)".

Haynes lists a Kaneshige affiliated with the Nara school. This would be IMHO the most fitting attributive guess here, hence I have no comparison´s of his signature nor am I totally sure about the signature itself.

There were several Kaneshige active (Haynes lists seven using the characters given). Can you post a pic of the entire tsuba, maybe we can rule some out...

Hi Peter, The pics are upside-down but the signature could be "Kaneshige" (兼重).

Yep, the latter is the simplified form of the former but otherwise the same character. I am curious about the mei on the sashi-omote. Maybe one can do a check-up in an electronic smith´s list which smith working round Keio used "Kane" as last character

The year is "Keiô" (慶應), and the second year is "hinoe-tora" (丙寅), so this is correct. The (土) is IMHO just the upper part of a following "kichijitsu" (吉日). Unclear about the other signature, the last character seems to be "Kane" (兼).

Hi Andi, "Only" a branch of the Shôami school is mentioned, namely: Aizu Shôami (會津正阿弥)

I agree with George as the rocks being a stylistic measure - bearing Chinese landscape paintings in mind as Ford said - to place the central motif in a more natural environment.

Ouch, kissaki resting on hard kitchen unit. Makes me feel hurt

Due to the shape of the nakago-jiri, we should think about Kaga as well. Darani Katsukuni is also known for his sanbonsugi hamon. The third generation was working around Kanbun.

Ah, Morita-san, you are my rescue I need Nakamura´s article on he Tenkyuwari-Kunimune. Can you PM me a scan of the pages 2-13 if you have time. There is no hurry. Thank you very much!

Dear members, I am looking for No.446 of the Japanese Token-Bijutsu magazine. I think it should be the March 1994 issue. If anybody has an archive going back so far, I would be happy because I need an article which is presumably published in this issue. Thank you for your efforts.

John, thanks for the update.

The missing character is "chakushi" (嫡子), meaning "legitimate son" or "heir". I am not aware in which context this stands to the rest of the signature (heir of whom?). Am just about to leave the house, so maybe someone is able to check the connections of Masataka to shed light on this one...

I agree with Ian on this one. I saw a couple of oversized blades (tanto, wakizashi and tachi) which were presented to sumo wrestlers.

経済第一部長: keizai daiichi-buchô (assistant chief of staff, economics) 愛媛縣部長: Ehime-ken buchô (head of Ehime Prefecture) 熊野徳次: Kumano Tokuji (or Yoshitsugu)

Lou, it is not a common day to day phenomenon to stumble over an inscription of chinese proverbs, so it has to be regarded as let´s say "rare". More usual are inscriptions of the sword´s nickname, and much more frequent we find the name of the owner chiselled on the nakago. I can´t say from the pictures of the nakago if your sword is unshortened, so we have basically three possibilities: 1. The owner had him chiselled these proverbs when he ordered the sword. 2. The owner had him chiselled these proverbs on an unsigned sword he owned or obtained at a certain time. 3. The owner had to shorten a blade due to whatever reason and had him chiselled these proverbs on this occasion on the new nakago. I am sure someone can jump in for more possibilties :D

Hi Lou, These are Chinese proverbs about mastering/cultivating onself. The first one reads: 有所恐懼、則不得其正。 Kyôku-suru tokoro areba, sunawachi sono sei o ezu. When you are awestrucked, this hinders you from correct decisions. And the second one reads: 有所忿懥。則不得其正。 Funchi-suru tokoro areba, sunawachi sono sei o ezu. When you are full of rage, this hinders you from correct decisions. [i´m still on holidays without my books, so please forgive any careless mistakes ]

Hi Chris, Please don´t consider this as an offence, just a tip which is dear to me, but I suggest to touch all non-ferrous tsuba and fittings with gloves. It would be a pity if the one or other pieces patina gets damaged through exhausitve touching with bare fingers.

The reading was correct: "Hidenobu" (秀宣) He was a Seki-based smith.