Curran

Peter, thanks for the post. One of the sets was perfect for what I needed. Now mine.

Doesn't roll when sword put on the floor.

"Survey Says...?" (Dawson from Family Fued)

Here is one set: http://thesoulofthesamurai.net/product.php?s=yasuda I was trying to find the link to another mitokoromono set of shakudo I'd seen recently. Seems to have sold. Also looks like Mike n Cyrus had something signed by this school on their website at some point.

Peter, I'm going to belabor a point for a minute: upon what distinction are the Yasuda included / excluded from the 'Iebori' of the Tokugawa Shogunate. Some books have then as sub contractors to the Goto or alternatives to the Yoshioka. They worked almost exclusively for the bakufu, lived on bakufu land, and were supposedly better paid by the bakufu than the Yoshioka (just in lump sum terms, not per employee basis). But as supposed 'Goto subcontractors' they also hired further subcontractors. Slippage in quality. Thus I don't hold their work on par with mainline Goto or Yoshioka. When not Goto, not as crisp as Yoshioka, and something of very high level shakudo but unsigned- Yasuda seems to be the NBTHK paper.

Beautiful kogai. You've probably already seen this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tachibana_clan_%28kuge%29 The list of persons associated with the 'mon' are below in the link. ~However, given that it is a kuge thing / historical allusion vs a mon, I'm not sure you can take a firm Edo period answer away from it. Finding Western Heraldry to be a bit of a mad mix-up, I've always hesitated to delve into pre-Edo heraldry. I was hoping one of the more broadly educated savants on the board would nail the answer. Would like to compare your kogai with the one I have of this design, which I eventually attributed to Yasuda School and said that is good enough.

Again, Peter Klein's well done hierarchy: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=15350&p=134790&hilit=goto#p134790 Photos attached of my NBTHK Hozon set papered to Kyo Goto, aka Waki Goto. 脇後藤 Compare/contrast with ThunderCat's set. The rendering of teeth, claws, hair, fur, eyes, double spinal ridges along the back, etc.

Peter, Thank you. I remember reading that long ago. It was such an excellent write-up by you that I printed it out and placed with my Goto books. Unfortunately, my Goto books are in storage for the summer- I should have remembered this write-up. I'll send you a PM later about a Goto piece that I have been studying.

Thanks.... that is killer in that 2 pieces of high level goto side school work I have seen in the last 24 hours get lumped in with hood ornament level 'Waki-goto' level work. NBTHK Hozon papers slay me more and more with what they don't say these days. Of recent papers, I've seen a 3rd gen Hayashi Tohachi tsuba given 'Hayashi' Hozon, and a another Nishigaki work simply called 'Higo' Hozon. Dumbing down to minimal effort at the Hozon level. I'm aware of the issues several of the advanced Higo collectors have with the NBTHK Hozon papers, but hope it isn't spreading to non Higo. Forgive the minor rant. Even with the Yen weakening, it is difficult to justify the expense of such milktoast NBTHK Hozon papers.

You've posted this in the Translation section. Should be moved. As to sambonsugi : Kanemoto

Thank you to both of you. I still could use some clarification. (1) I have a set of nice Goto menuki with recent NBTHK papers that say 脇後藤 (2) I am also looking at a set of menuki with old NBTHK papers that say 傍後藤 Both have the same meaning as "Waki Goto"? One is not more favorable than the other? Waki Goto is a very casual term in the west for anything looking remotely Goto. The old set is practically Kyoto junk, whereas the NBTHK set looks like Kaga Goto work. I am surprised it wasn't given specifically to Kaga Goto. Even respective of the age difference of the papers, it is hard to believe these two different sets of menuki share the same 'classification'.

I was looking at a set of rather mediocre looking menuki. Had very old papers saying 傍後藤 This isn't a goto school I recognize. I put it through my translator and it came back as "Pong-Goto". Please don't laugh, but is this simply the kanji for 'Waki' as in Waki-Goto?

Debatable that they be Waki Goto or Kyo Goto. See Peter Klein's excellent post: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=15350&p=134790&hilit=goto#p134790 Here, slightly funky off-beat Goto style trying to convey more motion or dynamics that the normal goto menuki. There are a lot of rendering similarities between mine and yours. Thus, I say you may have been able to grab a pair of Kyo Goto menuki cheap. Might get the Kyo Kinko attribution instead. Better to get a second opinion, as people like Peter K. know Goto better than I do. Sorry in that I don't have any photos of them. Will try to take some if possible.

I just punched up the auction this morning to see the results. The bids were up to $5500 Reserve was *Not Met* Looks like it would have been a fair bargain, given the necessity of a trip to RI to retrieve it.

Adam T- Get us more photos whenever possible. Otherwise, arrange to meet with me or visit the NYC Metro Sword Club one Sunday.

Excellent explanation by George. Learned something today.

Thomas, Very well chosen article. That is definitely all John. He was part of the quiet machinery in so many things. He and Sachiko were also romantic proof that sometimes the best years of your life can come at the end. They always played 'Jun'ken' (Rock, Papers, Scissors) to see who got the first big bite of dessert. That is all I'll say. Others welcome to post. Memorial will probably be in Jersey City or Hoboken on Saturday.

John's friends and students set up nearly around the clock watch with him during his week in terminal Hospice. They did exceptionally well by him. Few us will have such company when we pass. Almost always there were at least two of us in the room with him. I filled a window of time on Sunday with just me and him. He'd lost his speech by then, but he held an iron tsuba for a while. We talked the best we could as the last two Jersey City guys, now that Satchiko and Kodama-san have gone.

I regret to inform the community that my longtime neighbor, friend, teacher, martial artist and fellow Nihonto Collector John Prough has passed today. I am going to borrow the words of another of his friends, who wrote; "My heartfelt condolences to John's family, students, and his countless friends throughout the budo community. May he rest in peace, reunited with his beloved Sachiko. John was a stalwart warrior whose long dedication to budo will be missed, as will his generous spirit and sharp wit. Along with myself, I know he will be in the thoughts of many throughout next week's annual AUSKF national Iaido event." ___________________________________________________________________________ He was tough as an iron tac, and fought all the way. Many of us got to spend time with him this week and say our thanks and our good-byes.

Brian- It is mostly about who owned it. But it is pleasing to see a simple tsuba with such providence. Unless the tsuba is extremely thin, I think many of us would pass it by on the tables as an early edo piece and not quite recognize its age. Only the altered nakago ana gives any hint to me as something special to someone.

Huh.... I'd really like to see that, and get some red miso while at it. I wasn't intending to return to Nagoya until next year (it has only been 24 years. Figured I'd make it a solid quarter century), so would like any images if anyone gets the chance.

Ludolph, Follow up with John. As he touches, there is a huge amount of Mino reference elsewhere. I love the Malcomb Cox book as a quick reference before I need start pulling out Taikans. If John has them, then you might get somewhere.

Interesting. Not the 'Invincibility' tsuba?: http://markussesko.wordpress.com/2013/05/

Ludolf, With many of the Sue-Seki, some argue that they can be sub classified based on hamon and jigane. My Mino books are in storage for the summer, therefore I cannot take a look for you and try to guess how they say 'Kaneharu'. As to the 9 generations.... phew.... on an unsigned blade, your guess is as good or better than mine. When I was a younger collector, I had a nice signed 'Shimosaka' where I thought I would pinpoint the generation. Dozens of books later, I never did.

Jacques: The inspection at the Marshalls was Monday. I considered going to see it, but an old friend/mentor just entered Terminal Hospice. I decided the sword wasn't worth my time. I like Omiya very much and TH with cutting test was very interesting. However, as hearty as Omiya and Oei Bizen are in surviving centuries of polish- really got to see them in person to know the diamonds from the rhinestones. One or two very small kizu or grain openings would not be unexpected. They are more common in Omiya than Oei Bizen. However, blisters and shintetsu are difficult to believe. You can polish many Oei and Omiya until they are nothing but butter knives. They are much much much (totemo) more resilient than your Hizento after a few polishes. From the geometry in the photos, I didn't think it looked like it had been polished down that much. I am not bidding, and have no financial interest whatsoever in this sword --(1) It is supposedly from the De Simone Art fraud case. If one he legally purchased, then it is 'free and clear'. If one of the fraud ones never paid for.... I don't know if it is free and clear outside of RI. Debatable. --(2) The others who were defrauded by De SImone haven't gotten their swords back, so I am surprised this one is up for sale. It may or may not be able to infer that this one isn't evidence in the fraud, but rather forfeited property. Up to you to find out. --(3) There is an undisclosed 'Reserve' on this auction. Bidding starts at $3k. I have no idea where Reserve is, but I would sell my own favorite papered Omiya - gold habaki, Japanese top level sashikomi polish, great shirasaya, for $7500-$8000 privately. I'll be curious where the re-seller has set the reserve and how high it goes. I hope someone will be kind enough to report the Reserve and Final Price later. Might be a nice deal, but I couldn't bring myself to chase my tail on it when I already have a nice one here. Omiya aren't quite Oei Bizen, but they can be really beautiful.