Mark S.

Hope I’m not out of place, but just as an added bonus Kantei (and assuming the lottery winner is completely comfortable with it once selected), could the winner be named, but before the big reveal of what the prize is, could the prize be posted and a separate Kantei be conducted? Maybe just a short period of time for this Kantei?.. just for fun and education?

Good enough for me... sometimes kinda the same way we pick women...

Oh boy... as the old saying goes... "time to flop it out on the table and let everyone whack at it with a stick"... Kantei 1 - Long blade with nice sori. Kesho yasuri and condition of nakago point to Shinto/Shinshinto. Choji midare hamon and boshi with midare komi and POSSIBLY a short kaeri based on oshigata (although I am inferring what is NOT actually shown). I'm going with Shinshinto Osafune School Yokoyama Sukenaga or Sukekane working in Bizen tradition. Mid-1800's. Kantei 2 - Shorter blade and shallow sori along with kesho yasuri point to Shinto/Shinshinto although location of mekugi ana might indicate slight shortening or machi-okuri? Chu-suguha(?) with wide nioiguchi and some nie in hamon. I'm going with Shinto era Tadatsuna II. Late 1600's Kantei 3 - Appears o-suriage with deep sori. Age of nakago and shape of blade point to older Koto. Hard (for me at least) to get a lot of defined detail from photo, but think I see a combination of suguha and gunome hamon and mokume-hada (and am I imagining utsuri?), so just kind of going by feel on this one. I'm going with Fukuoka Ichimonji (or one of the Ichimonji schools) but I am also going out on a limb and looking at the possibility of a No Sada copy of Fukuoka Ichimonji due to the whitish color of the jihada (although it could just be the photograph?). EDIT (9/19): As I keep looking at this blade, I am also seeing some possibility of Yamato Shizu, although I don't think the hada is correct. I know in kantei, we are supposed to pick one and go with it so I will still stick with my original Fukuoka Ichimonji, but then again I'm still learning too and just putting it out there.

BU!!!! of course! This is so embarrassing... I was staring at it knowing I had seen that kanji before. All I had to do was turn the paper over!!!!!!!!!! Thank you so much.

Second is the Shinsa final paperwork. Just a quick question on the notation after (what I believe is) Kaeri

All, So I guess I will be the first one to ask for some help with just a couple translations from my recent Chicago Shinsa papers that came in. I've worked hard trying to do as much as I can, but there are a couple that I have not been able to translate. There are two off the score sheet and one off the final Shinsa papers. Questions are circled in red. I'll say "Thank You" in advance for anyone with a few minutes to take a look. Oh... and if you see anything else I am way off on... please feel free to let me know. First is the Score Sheet. I think one of my questions refers to Utsuri... unfortunately, the notation did not end up on the final paperwork.

Mine arrived today as well. I was in the Saturday/Sunday group.

Most important question... what does your tameshigiri teacher recommend? No offense, but if you are not in a position to know what type of live blade you should be using, you shouldn’t be cutting with said blade without the direct supervision of someone who does know. THAT is the FIRST person you should be asking... and I say that giving all due respect to the members here...

Thanks for the update!

So... while we wait for the Shinsa paperwork to arrive in the mail from Japan... can anyone describe what the process looks like once the judging team arrives back in Japan? Is it simply a matter of transcribing the judgment score sheets or do the judges reassemble to discuss items, confirm information such as smith dates, etc.? Also, I would assume there is a catalog process for all the items they judge. How do they catalog the information they collect? Simply by year of Shinsa, by smith, other? Any idea on numbers of items catalogued by the different organizations? Thanks, Mark S.

I submitted a mumei wakizashi that was judged to be Den Bingo Kai Mihara Masashige, Tenbun era, with a score of 74 so not too bad. Kinda funny, when I bought the blade I thought it might be Mihara school, but after trying to research and getting some very good advice, I thought it might be Mino, Zenjo school... and it came back full circle to Kai Mihara. Just wondering if there were any surprises, or exceptional scores that the Shinsa team awarded?

It was a wonderful show!!! Everyone involved should be proud of the event they put on. Hope everyone's Shinsa results went well...

Mark, Thanks for the update. Mark S.

Mark, Once the times are finalized for the lectures/presentations, would it be possible to get that information posted here before the show? Just don't want to miss anything. Thank You, Mark S.

My letter arrived today. Mark S.

I guess another way to look at it is, is it worth $275 minimum to you (and only you) to get an expert opinion of your blade or signature whether it adds value or not? Once again, no one can answer this for you. You just have to decide if the financial gamble is worth it, or if the 'expert education' you will receive of your item is worth the fee.

Appreciate it. So if I am planning to attend most of the day on Saturday (I roam for HOURS), I just need to try to schedule a time slot when I will have plenty of time on both ends (drop off and pick up). Should I really stick to that time, or is early drop off acceptable/proper? Want to 'respect the process' while still being safe. I'm sure Mr Bowen gets deluged with this same question, so just trying to educate myself beforehand. Thank you again, Mark

I apologize if this has been asked before, but I would like to submit a blade (my first shinsa ever) at the Chicago Show in April. I live locally, so will be able to attend in-person and submit the blade. For those who have been through the process, can you give a few pointers and a quick rundown of the process? Main questions: 1) When reserving a 'time slot', is that the rough time the blade should be dropped off, or when it will be judged by the Shinsa team, or when it will be available for pick up after having been reviewed by the team? 2) If the time slot is not the time the blade should be dropped off, how soon before the time slot must the blade be presented? 3) How soon after blade is judged can it be picked up? 4) Any other advice? Thank you in advance, Mark

Something a bit different...

It hasn't arrived yet. I was just doing a little investigation while I wait for the mail Thank you all, Mark S.

You have been more than kind and helpful. Thank you.

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply and help me Morita San! Do you know if this is a kiln name, artist name or something else?

Of course the bowl will sit on this...

I just purchased a Yuteki Tenmoku tea bowl. I was wondering if anyone might be able to help me identify the artist from the kanji on the bowl? I think the second kanji might be "Yoshi"? The first kanji is a complete mystery to me. Thanks all. Mark S.

I'm voting for the dark purple. Always considered a 'royal' or 'noble' or 'high ranking' color. Nothing but the best for those fittings...