Mark S.

Shi-sho

Thank you so much for the help. I really appreciate you taking the time.

Jussi, Thank you so much for your time and effort! While I am under no illusions about the Juyo level, I’m feeling much better that the mei is genuine and will at least paper which is all I can hope for.

More the merrier!

I would very much like to make this happen if only to meet another collector in the area. Thank you so much for the offer. We can touch base a little closer to the show to work the logistics.

I live local to the Chicago Show, so I’m hoping the Shinsa that was postponed for this year will happen as planned in 2023. I have several items and can save the shipping and handling fees. If it is not too much trouble, you have no idea how much I would appreciate the mei references. Of course if for some reason you can’t, I completely understand. Thank you!

So as I have been researching this blade on line, I came across what I think is a pretty interesting (yet sad) history of this blade. Of course it is sad that it had to come into my hands due to the passing of a respected member of the collecting community. I hope I can live up to having the opportunity to own it. I found it was auctioned at Bonhams on September 24, 2020. The information about the blade in the catalog matches and the explanation of the koshirae that came with the blade also matches. The blade was one of several that came out of a collection of a Mr Kunio Izuka who (according to the write up that was included in the catalog) helped form the Kenzan Nihonto Club that later became the NY Token Kai. Just thought this was interesting info.

Would still be happy to see a few pictures of your blade if you wish to share.

I think the last 3 are: Toshi Hiro Saku

Very nice blade.

Thanks for commenting. Would you have a pic of the mei for comparison?

Thank you Steve. Weird though, nagasa is definitely 30cm.

And better sayagaki pics. Sorry about the order of pics.

Here are a few more in better resolution I hope.

Hi All, so this is the second of two blades I just picked up. Will be bringing to the Chicago Show for ‘in-hand’ evaluation. This second blade I’m a bit nervous about, but took a chance on what I hope is an earlier Bishu Kiyomitsu tanto as opposed to a bundle blade. Mei: Bishu ju Osafune Kiyomitsu. No info on other side of nakago. I know this is a general tip off of a bundle blade except on some earlier Kiyomitsu. I’m hoping blade activity points to earlier. Nagasa: 30.3cm Nakago: 11.6cm Sori: 2mm (almost straight). Motohabe: 2.6cm Motokasane: 6mm Sakikasane: 4mm Weight: 235g Hamon is a fairly thin hoso-suguha. A lot of activity in Hada on rest of blade. Blade came in shirasaya with sayagaki. I could use help with the translation. I think it is more of an ‘inventory’ sayagaki vs an evaluation. Any advice is always appreciated. I may have downsized the photos a little too much. I can try again if it helps.

Hi all, Just picked up two new blades. I’ll be bringing them to the Chicago Show for some ‘in hand’ advice, but figured I would start here for fun. First blade is a wide thick heavy wakizashi with the following information: Mei: Omi no Kami Hojoji Tachibana Masahiro is how I translate it. From what I could find on line, the way a couple of the mei are cut, I believe the mei points to the first generation? Any Masahiro experts want to weigh in on how comfortable they are with this mei? Nothing on other side of nakago. Nagasa: 52.23cm Nakago: 15.1cm Sori: 1cm Motohaba: 3.2cm Motokasane: 7mm Sakihaba: 2.3cm Sakikasane: 5mm Kissaki: 3.7cm Yokote: 1.4cm Weight: 541g Hamon appears wide suguha on first appearance, but abundant ashi give the effect of gunome within the suguha. Attached are a few quick pictures in the sun. There may be some reflections of trees, etc on the blade, but polish is fair. Thanks for any advice or comments.

This.

Not positive if these pics accurately reference what is being discussed, but hope they help. Blade is still awaiting Shinsa, so no verified background info yet.

I think this is the main point. Send it to whomever… top of the line polisher in Japan or Sam the butcher… and spend $1 or a million $… it’s not going to matter. There won’t be enough left to worry about. So throw away the money, but please post pictures of a toothpick made up of core steel if even that is left. Rather than fight with someone who doesn’t want to hear the benefits of proper polishing on a blade that can’t be properly saved/polished by someone who couldn’t properly polish it anyway, let him spend money on grinders who work on blades that aren’t worth it. That way, hopefully, he won’t buy blades and ruin them that ARE worth it. Let’s face it, he is spending $$$ on a $1 blade that will end up being worth $0. It’s hard to convince someone otherwise. Looking forward to pictures.

When a respectful period of time has passed, and the family is ready, I wonder if permission could be requested to have his blog articles archived here at NMB somehow for future collectors? Not sure how, or in what format, but there is so much valuable information that should be saved. I also think it would be an appropriate way to honor and remember such a leader in the nihonto community.

So shocking and so sad. May his family and friends find Peace in the days ahead.

I wasn’t going to ask in the last post, but I will ask it here. Why the hurry? Why not take some time, study a bit more, and get more comfortable with your purchases? While I’m sure no one minds helping, you seem to be completely relying on the Board to help you make quick purchases. And it seems you are rushing into blades you are unsure of or don’t speak to you other than you just ‘want one’. There will always be blades for sale. Why not spend a little more time figuring out what you want and why? The only thing worse than buying a blade you aren’t sure about is buying one you completely regret buying.

I can’t tell you to cancel or not, nor do I want to get involved in a sale, especially if it involves someone here at the NMB. My only comment is to read a little on the subject and then decide for yourself. I added a couple links, but you can also search here at NMB for more reference material on papers.

To start, the most important thing is that you like the blade. My following comments are most certainly not a judgement of you, the blade, or what you like. Conventional wisdom is that green papers (kicho) are not considered to be valid judgment papers any longer. It doesn’t mean they are always wrong, they just can’t be relied upon to be right. You can find quite a bit of information on the NMB (and elsewhere) about this subject. For example: Green papers = no papers – The Cutting Edge Green Papers Pt. 2 – The Cutting Edge So, in my opinion, the first thing to do to ‘maximize’ this blade and to satisfy your ‘historical perspective’ need is to re-submit to Shinsa for new papers confirming what you have. Also, storage in shirasaya is the proper and best way to keep swords. This would be the case whether the sword originally came with koshirae or not. You would probably never recoup the money spent on a new made koshirae and even then, shirasaya is still the proper way to store.

Excellent information so far… thank you!