Mark S.

God creates the heaven and earth… and then creates man… and then man expects and demands that God prove he exists? Hmmmmm……

I always like when we get reports of purchases and shinsa results!!! C’mon guys!!! Want to live vicariously through you!!! Hoping the Chicago shinsa happens next year.

I also have an oshigata from AOI with blank scroll and I don’t know what was intended for mounting by AOI Art. The following information is probably going to be WAY more than you want to know… but like any art, there is always more to it than we would think. I will attach some YouTube videos that show the process plus a new, modern way of mounting that might work. I would first like to state that my ‘experience’ with this process is old and minimal. 30 years ago in college I took a Japanese black ink painting class with a Japanese professor and part of the class was learning the process to mount our ‘class final painting’ to make a rudimentary scroll (kakemono). The main thing to keep in mind is that the oshigata is ‘see-through’ and mounting it directly to the provided scroll would probably be too dark and much of the detail would completely disappear. Usually, paintings on rice paper are mounted to another heavier paper before mounting to a scroll. This adds strength and gives a white background that is no longer transparent. The process requires completely wetting the original drawing on rice paper and mounting it to the bracing paper with thin rice or flour glue. Quite the ‘pucker factor’ when working with your ‘class final’ painting and completely wetting it down! You got one shot at it!!! So here is a video showing the ‘ultimate’ of what that process is… obviously way beyond our little oshigata scroll… but just like blades, we might as well start with ‘the best’: Next are two videos that show more detailed procedures for wet mounting. While these are Chinese paintings, the process is pretty much exactly the same: Finally, a more modern way of mounting with silicone paper and iron that may be more suitable for our application. NOTE!!! I have absolutely NO experience with this process: Right now I’m leaving mine rolled up ‘as is’ as that is safest until I can figure out what I want to do with it…

To get you started, the left side of nakago I believe reads: Sakuyo Bakka Shi Hosokawa Masayoshi Tsukuru and then the Kao (stamped seal) in lower right.

The rest of the horimono looks pretty polished down so this is definitely a possibility. Could it also be remnants of an old flaw in the blade that the horimono was engraved over to cover up… or just an area of core steel that is starting to show through from numerous polishes?

I can’t figure out why you guys try? Discussion is not part of the formula. Charlie Brown… Lucy… Football. All these threads end the same. You’re wrong.

Elitism There is a huge difference between saying “I only LIKE the best 10 smiths” (and by default “so should you”) and “I KNOW jack about those 10 smiths”… or anything else for that matter. I’ve met many people who have money and claim to like the best (of whatever… cars, wine, etc.) only because they could afford it, not because they knew or appreciated anything about it. And I’ve met people who ‘claim’ to like the best of everything because they think that is what they should say to impress people. You can never be wrong with that claim and you can even pretend to ‘hang with’ the ‘right crowd’ based only on your words. I’ve also met many people who can enjoy the best of everything, graciously share some of that experience with others, are grateful for their ability to have all that, and still treat others who don’t have all that with respect and dignity. Rare maybe?

And there you have the perfect definition of an elitist… they become an island unto themselves because everyone, sooner or later, gets tired of their attention whoring and making everything about them instead of the subject. When they start to realize everyone isn’t enamored with ‘them’, they start to crap on everything to still get the attention they need. How can you find the elitist in a crowded room?… wait 5 minutes and they will be the first one (only one) to make sure they tell you they are an elitist… they can’t help themselves. Chirac??? Nobody cares what he said.

If it had been around tax refund time, I wouldn’t have thought twice… of course an engagement ring later this year is also in the cards…. I’m guessing it will be Tokubetsu Hozon level… if I don’t get Juyo, neither does she.

Just email them and ask about your specific blade. I just bought a yari from them. When I asked about shipping, they said it was included in the price they quoted on line for that item. They do respond.

Ishihara Kanenao

Love the tiger and moon as well as the mountain scene with hut and farmers. ‘Saving’ items from a thrift store is always so much fun, but usually not as grand as this story. Well done!

I will add, if you can go to some shows, or join a club to see blades in hand, it is the best way to learn. Study enough to know WHAT you like and WHY.

Do YOU like it and why? Can YOU afford it and think it is a good deal? Can YOU own it and not care what anyone else thinks of your collection? Are YOU ok if you find out later you might not get your money back or it will be difficult to sell? Does it make YOU happy no matter what anyone else thinks?

Check the Dealer section here at NMB

PM sent

With all the things that could potentially go wrong during a cut and the chance to devalue or ruin something that can’t be replaced… what’s the upside?

Breaks my heart…

Original E-Bay listing Nagasa: 38.0cm Sori: 0.4cm TOTAL length: 59.0cm Age: Muromachi (provided by the seller at katana-boutique) - no reference information provided in the listing.

I assume there is story behind this? If there is an old thread on this one, please let us know... or has been requested, pics and a story PLEASE!

So it would appear that the reference taped to the shirasaya was a mei comparison reference. Still interesting. Yari in the article is a standard yari, mine is a jumonji yari. I do appreciate all the help in the hunt for the information. Just the idea that I could have purchased something that was referenced in one of the NTHK articles was interesting. See below for the standard yari mei in the article vs my jumonji yari mei.

Thank you so much Michael! The NMB (and the people here) never cease to amaze me. First, the resources we have available, but second, and more importantly, how generous so many of you are with your time and information.

In case you want to see how it looks:

Usually a sayagaki is written (and signed) by a trusted 'expert' in kantei whose sayagaki written opinion will be known and respected by others who trust that person's reputation. Format I have seen is: attribution, description of quality (why blade is important), date of blade, length, date sayagaki was written, signature of scholar. There is also what is know as an 'inventory' sayagaki. This can contain any information you wish. One (old one) I have is: attribution, zaimei or mumei statement, and length. I would think adding blade date (if known) after length would be in order, but usually that information should probably be on the nakago or at least on the papers, otherwise it is a bit of a 'guess' (my opinion only). If you ever find out the blade is a different date, it's not like you can erase it and change. I suppose you could make note of the Hozon paper, but that is probabaly getting to be too much info. Once again, my opinion, but I don't think the calligrapher should sign as they are not 'authenticating' anything other than their written artwork.

You are both AMAZING! Thank you Mark & Jussi. Went to look at the link and found Volume 611 pages 25-30 is titled (translates to): Genealogy of Yamashiro no kami (Governor of Yamashiro Province) Shige Hyakukoku Nyudo / Yoshitaka Mori / p25-30 So I believe Kunishige worked in Yamashiro and did receive the “Yamashiro no kami” title. Not sure if I will be able to obtain copy of article to see if this yari is referenced specifically or if there is information about the smith.