Katsujinken

I ordered one yesterday without issue.

Yes, you do need to confirm your particular airline’s policy regarding “weapons”.

I assume you mean checking the sword as luggage during round trip air travel? No, there’s nothing you need to do. If it’s old and valuable, it’s always a good idea/precaution to have documentation proving that you have owned it prior to your trip and did not acquire it abroad (if your trip is international) to avoid any confusion about duties and the like.

Nice choice. Welcome to the edge of the rabbit hole. And to the NMB!

Great choice!

I was going to say exactly this. Here's a video of this process (link to specific timestamp at 46:08)!

Thank you so much! I love this book too.

May his memory be a blessing.

I’ve found ChatGPT does a great job with jargon filled printed nihonto material in Japanese, but I’ve never tried asking it to OCR cursive poetry…

Incredible! Thanks for sharing.

EMS. I have paid duty on a UPS package in the past, but everyone should note the difference between a customs duty and a tariff.

This is one of Sasaki sensei’s students from the wonderful doc “In Love with the Samurai Sword”: https://youtu.be/i5f7HI05mCU?feature=shared He seemed like a very kind, earnest fellow. Glad to see he’s still at it!

新藤五国光 (Shintōgo Kunimitsu) was, in effect, the founder of the Sōshū tradition; three celebrated smiths—Yukimitsu, Masamune, and Norishige—trained under him. At first glance his workmanship recalls the Yamashiro Awataguchi school, yet the prominent chikei (dark steel lines) and kinsuji (bright “golden” lines) that appear in the steel surface are hallmarks of his blades. Kunimitsu favored straight hamon (suguha) of varying widths and, as a master of tantō, is considered a peer of Fujishirō Yoshimitsu. This tantō is forged from well-refined steel showing delicate chikei and is tempered in a neat, narrow suguhahamon. With a slight inward curve (uchizori), the harmonious balance of its steel texture and hamon gives the piece an appearance of dignity and refinement.

Hello Lewis! Wonderful post, thank you for sharing it and best of luck! The video of the Kunimitsu you shared is mine, so I am happy to say I have additional photos, attached here and in subsequent messages.