Ray Singer

Thanks so much Steve. Any thoughts on what is written in the signature?

Perhaps someone could identify the specific poem, artist and/or date? The painting seems to lead with Meiwa (明和). Best regards, Ray

Would anyone be able to assist with the translation of this painting? It was found by a friend who generally focuses on Chinese jade, but occasionally picks up an interesting piece of Japanese art. Many thanks, Ray

The way I've seen tama (floating jewels) referred to are as very circular tobiyaki (round in shape, rather than oblong, elliptical, etc) such as what is seen in the work or Sukehiro or in some Mishina school boshi. I do not know the term for a tobiyaki which is 'open' in the interior, however in the first sword the feature does resemble a closed crescent moon shape. Best regards, Ray

Half moon or crescent moon patterns just above the hamon are called hangetsu. These however appear more like tama or tobiyaki to my eyes. Best regards, Ray

That Kuniie was a very, very nice gendaito. I may be mistaken, but my impression was that the price was influenced by what appears to be damage to and subsequent restoration of the nakago. It looks like the nakago was corroded at one point and the majority was resurfaced with new yasuri-mei (all but the uppermost portion of the nakago). A change in yasuri-mei, depth of mei, color, remnants of pitting, etc can be seen.

I am fairly sure you can see some accumulated "something" in the hi. Wood fragments, particles of some kind, etc. Would seem to preclude this being an illusion of the camera. I'll shoot an email to the seller to see if they can confirm either way. Best regards, Ray

There is no separation visible within the mekugi-ana. The inside lowest point of the channel also appears to be visible. It seems this may have been an aesthetic choice? Likewise, look forwarding to hearing if anyone else has ideas or has seen this feature before.

Certainly looks to my eyes like a channel has been cut into the nakago mune. Not something I have seen before. Creativity on the part of the swordsmith? Best regards, Ray

It did not take long to return to the site as a consignment item. http://www.aoijapan.com/wakizashi-mumei-atttributed-as-norishige-2

A copy or not, what an extraordinary thing to find framed in a thrift shop. A well done piece regardless.

友 tomo

See below for a photo of the kitae-ware I referred to. The Yukihira is pretty close to perfect, my question is more whether this is perfect for the buyer's needs. Depending on what kodogu are selected and the cost to craft the koshirae this endeavor could easily be 1,300,000 JPY or more. There are quite a lot of options for high quality gendaito at that price, but I will admit to being more than a bit concerned by the thought of this sword or one at that level being used for cutting. BTW, it is interesting to read the chapter on the mukansa swordsmith Ohno Yoshimitsu (New Generation of Japanese Swordsmiths) where he discusses a commission he received for swords to be used by martial arts practitioners, and how the requirements forced him to take a different approach to insure that the swords fulfilled his customer's needs. One of his swords made for martial arts usage was offered for sale at one point and it looked quite different from his typical art swords. Best regards, Ray

It comes to mind that there was a shinsakuto available at one point by the Mukansa smith Enomoto Sadayoshi, made specifically for tameshigiri. That sword has a wide mihaba, thick kasane and a longer nakago with shinobi ana. Best regards, Ray

There are several kitae-ware in the shinogi-ji, including a longer one in the kissaki area. Depending on how fussy someone is about having a perfect shinsakuto, that might be an issue. The sword looks like a very nice piece through and this smith produces excellent work. I see in your other post that you are asking whether this would be a good sword for tameshigiri. The blade has more delicate proportions. I am not by any means a martial arts practitioner, but if so it most likely would not be my first choice to use such a high quality gendaito in top (mukansa?) polish for tameshigiri. Another option would be to commission one made for that purpose and made to your exact specifications. Someone such as Paul Martin might be able to help with that process if there were an interest. Best regards, Ray

In my opinion there's a good chance that the boshi is gone. The hakobore is also severe. Based on the photos I would not consider this a good restoration candidate.

http://www.aoijapan.com/katana-mumei-attributed-as-ko-naminohira-2

Signed Yasunori and dated a lucky day in February, 1934. This is Kajiyama Yasunori (also read as Yasutoku). More information here. http://yasutoku.blogspot.com/

山城國伏見住金家 Yamashiro (no) kuni Fushimi (no) ju Kaneie

If you truly love Japanese swords then please abandon this goal to polish them yourself. There is simply no way to become a competent togishi through self education. It is heartbreaking to think of all the destroyed swords I have seen, that met their end through well-meaning amateur polishers. Ko-Senjuin, Yokoyama Sukekane, Sendai Kunikane, Heianjo Nagayoshi, etc, etc all ruined. A polishing apprenticeship takes ten years. There are no short cuts.

There is a museum I know of that received the donation of a healthy, Juyo-quality 76cm tachi with a Hon'ami kinzoganmei to Sa Hiroyuki. A beautiful sword with 8mm kasane. Sadly the blade has been allowed to rust over the past few years years. The museum does not have the budget for restoration and no longer allows individuals from outside their staff to assist with care and maintenance of the permanent collection.

The assumption being gimei (not an authentic signature). Still, as you asked about the working period here is example of different smiths and time periods where you can that mei used. http://nihontoclub.com/view/smiths/meisearch?type=All&mei_op=contains&mei=%E5%82%99%E5%B7%9E%E9%95%B7%E8%88%B9%E7%A5%90%E5%AE%9A

Bishu Osafune Sukesada. Not a well executed mei.

Your wakizashi is signed Soshu ju Tsunahiro. Best regards, Ray

Photo attached. Itame/mokume in the ji with masame along the edge is, among others, a trait of some Yamato blades (specifically Shikkake). Your sword does not look like a Shikkake though. Can we see a more complete photo? Best regards, Ray