Nicholas Fu

Hello friends, dropping the price down to 9,500 AUD!

Hello friends! I am listing this beautiful Tachi made by Akamatsu Taro Kanetsugu. It is a Kiyomaro style Tachi. The Akamatsu Taro are well known for their Kiyomaro Utushi style swords. Broad Thick Powerful shape with an O-Kissaki. Here are the Specifications. It is signed Higo Kuni Ju Akamatsu Taro Kanetsugu It was made in Reiwa 3, Year 2021 It was customed ordered by me. Blade Length: 78.7cm (2 Shaku 6 Sun) Sori: 2.8cm Motohaba: 3.4cm Saki Haba: 2.5cm MotoKasane: 0.7mm Kissaki: 7cm The Hamon is the Akatmasu Taro Family's Signature Gunome Choji. It is absolutely gorgeous. The Jigane is very fine. This is a flawless blade. I am asking for 12,500 AUD for this blade. Thank you for checking out my listing friends!

Hello everyone, I would like to announce that this Listing has not been SOLD. Thank you.

Wow, that is absolutely beautiful! I have plans to have a similar style koshirae made for my blades too. I literally just made a post asking about people's experience, if they ever had a koshirae made for blades they already own in Shirasaya. Could I Kindly ask what the process was like? Did you have to find your own fittings? and did you needed to have your blade repolished after the koshirae was made? Sincerely, Nicholas

Hello Nihonto friends! Hope everyone is well, holiday season is coming. I would like to ask you knowleadgeble folk of the nihonto world some advice. I have been collecting Nihonto for around 3-4 years now and most of my swords that I own are in Shirasaya. I am currently waiting for a commissioned sword from a smith and asked my agent about the process of getting a koshirae made for it on top of the shirasaya. He told me that the way it works, is for me to hunt for the fittings and then send it to him or the chosen Sayashi, as I've been told that it is usually the Sayashi who is the master coordinator for the various different craftsman involved in making a koshirae. I was also told that it would be better to get the Koshirae made the same time they are making the Shirasaya for the blade, so that the blade does not risk getting scratched before final polishing of the blade. So if I wanted to get a koshirae made for the blades I already own that only have shirasaya, there is a chance that during the process of having a koshirae made for them, they might get scratched in the process and may need to be sent for polishing. Is this correct? Further concerns that I have are regarding antique Fuchi Kashira. Firstly, when I begun hunting the pieces, I was fortunate enough to be at my first ever Dai Token Ichi this year, I had picked a theme in my head already, and just as I was about to purchase a fuchi kashira, my friend stopped me saying that it might not fit for my modern blade. So I took out google translate and asked the dealer and they said the fuchi kashira would be too small for a modern blade. So, what do I do? Are Antique Fuchi Kashira pieces usable to make a Tsuka for a modern blade? When I look at sites that specialises in iaito and iai and tameshigiri blades, they sell modern sword fittings and the Fuchi Kashira are indeed larger in size. So I guess in the end, besides my concerns above, does anyone else have experience having a koshirae made for their swords? whats the process like? Did you find all the pieces of a specific theme together to create your custom koshirae? Thanks in advance friends. -Nicholas

Try Giheiya or Nosyudo, or even just contacting a smith of your choice. If the language barrier is a problem, going thru an agent such as Paul Martin, can help you with your custom made Nihonto.

Hi everyone, I am dropping the price down to 3,500 usd + shipping, would really like to move this. Thank you

@BjornLundin Thank you!!!

@BjornLundin Thanks for the tip! I've already planned my trip, will be starting at Okayama, giving the Okayama bizen sword museum a visit, as well as the Hayashibara Museum of Art, as they have the exhibition for the Reiwa 4, modern swordsmithing comeptitions works. Then heading to Kyoto for a day, and then 2 days in Nagoya for the Tokugawa museum, and to visit Seki, for Seki's traditional swordsmith museum. And then will be spending the last 3-4 days in Tokyo to cap it off with the Dai Token Ichi 2022!

@1kinko Whats the store like? are the dealers friendly to foreigners?

Ooooooo @1kinko, have you been to the Aoi sword shop before?

Hello my fellow Nihonto Enthusiasts! i am excited to announce that I am planning a trip to Japan purely for a Nihonto holiday! I have to go to Singapore for my brothers wedding so I thought that I’d stop by Japan first for about a week. I am currently planning on going sometime in November and to make the Dai Token ICHI for the first time in my life! I will only be able to make day 1 however as I will have to leave on the 19th on the Saturday. but I plan on visiting loads of museums and some sword dealers! I’m also considering doing the be a swordsmith for a day tourist attraction! would anyone have any tips or place recommendations for Nihonto enthusiasts? And any tips for the Dai Token Ichi etc? many advice and tips will greatly be appreciated

Tsuka is wrapped in the standard cotton material. It is on the shorter side, measuring at 26cm. I hope I took the hada pics alright, I apologise everyone, I'm not very good or experienced at capturing close up photos of hada and hamon, but any tips would be appreciated and feel free to ask for more pics, i will try my best. Thank you.

@Bruno Yes, it is in one of the pictures, it was made sometime during the Showa period, in August.

Hi Everyone, unfortunately for me, I have to let this piece of my collection go to make room. I believe this is highly relatable to fellow nihonto collectors. Here I have this katana made by Enomoto Sadahito. It was originally made for Tameshigiri but I have only ever had it for appreciation within my collection. There are no flaws. Enomoto Sadahito is the son of Enomoto Sadayoshi. He began training under his father while an elementary student, and became a licensed smith in 1977. He specializes in the Soshu Den, making swords in the tradition of Masamune and Sadamune. He also works in the Gassan tradition, making the trademark ayasugi hada. He uses tamahagane as well as old steel and oroshigane. He makes swords using the kobuse or makuri construction. True to the Soshu Den, his hamon is a midare with profuse nie, sunagashi, kinsuji, and other hataraki. Sadahito was invited to demonstrate his craft in 1998 at the University of Wisconsin Art Facultyˆ‚s Traditional Japanese Metalwork Seminar. He is currently the President of the Tokai Branch of the National Association of Swordmakers. Sadahito is a regular entrant in the yearly sword making contests; he has taken the Doryoku Sho, or Effort Award, three times. He is an up and coming smith with great potential; surely his future is a bright one. blade length is about 74.8cm Sori: 2.0cm mihaba: 3.2cm Asking : 4000 usd + shipping.

SOLD

Hello Everyone, I hope everyone is well during this Pandemic. I am yet lowering the price of this Tachi. Asking for 9,500 AUD for this magnificent Tachi by the late Mukansa Smith Hiroki Hirokuni.

Hello Everyone! I’ve recently sold a pair of Fujiwara Kanefusa Daisho after lowering my asking price as I am expecting a baby later on this year. therefore I have decided to have to let go of some of my nihonto collection. Will be lowering the asking price of this Tachi by the late Mukansa smith Hiroki Hirokuni. new asking price: 11,000 aud.

SOLD

Hello Everyone, it has been a while. A very recent development in my life has happened. I am going to become a father! Therefore need to sell some of my things for the future haha. I haven’t had much luck with the sale of this gorgeous Daisho yet, but have decided to lower the asking price to 10k aud. Please let me know if anyone is interested.

Pardon me friends, I can't believe I forgot to put up the blades specifications. Here are the measurements. Contemporary swords(Heisei 6 / 1994) Gifu (DAI) : Length of cutting edge 74.8cm Curvature 1.7cm Width of base 34.0mm Width of Yokote 26.0mm Thickness of base 7.2mm (SHO) : Length of cutting edge 55.3cm Curvature 1.3cm Width of base 28.5mm Width of Yokote 22.5mm Thickness of base 5.8mm

Haha, thank you so much for the kind words. You know what, I would love to share my collection with everyone on the forums. Once I receive my commision orders, I'll make a brand new post to show my collection

Yea they are haha. But my collection is getting to big haha and I've already commissioned quite a few blades in which I will need to pay for haha. By the way here are more close up pictures. I tried my best....im not very good or experienced at taking close up pics, but perhaps these will help show you the jigane a little more.

Hello my Nihonto friends! As my collection grows, I am seeking to lighten up my collection and let go of this beautiful set of daisho within my collection. This is a superb set of DAI-SHO by skillful sword smith the 25th generation Fujiwara KANEFUSA 二十五代藤原兼房. His real name is KATO Kazuo 加藤賀津雄 who was born in 1957, as a 2nd son of the 24th generation Fujiwara KANEFUSA 二十四代藤原兼房. At the age of 18, he started training in famed living National treasure Gassan Sadakazu 月山貞一. After years of diligent study, he became an official authorized sword maker in 1982 and then established his own atelier in 1984. The founder Kanefusa 兼房 who paralleled to KANESADA 兼定 or KANEMOTO 兼元 has flourished throughout Japan ever since Muromachi Koto period. This masterpiece set of DAI-SHO bears SOUSHU manner in mind, especially ardently admired by the work of Shizu-Sasburo KANEUJI 志津三郎兼氏 from late Kamakura to Nambukucho period. There are splendidly active with abundant activities of Nie and Nioi, vividly bright in extreme beauty. Among similar works, this set of DAI-SHO was made to order. Blade construction:Shinogi-zukuri, Iori-mune, Width of base is wide standing firmly on base and less degree of tapering from base to elongated large Kissaki. The shape is created in a brave and lively style which is widespread during the period of the Northern and Southern Warring States Period Forging(Hada): Forging pattern is conspicuous Itame-hada with an indication of some large Mokume and streaming Masame-ware appears mostly along boundary lines. The steel gives off sparkling martensite crystals of Ji-Nie against bluish steel of Jigane to generate long gleaming lines of Chikei over the Hiraji surface. Temper(Hamon): Hamon is martensite crystals of frosty Nie based with misty-Nioi where boundary area shines clear and bright along varied in shape and height, flamboyant lines such as large-Choji, Tadpole-Choji or Waist constricted Choji and so on. There works with intensive long lines of Sunagashi and thick lines of Kinsen or Inazuma. The entire quenching state is impressively clear and bright in full of Soushu-den tradition. Temper of tip(Boshi): Boshi forms flame Kaen with an indication of intensive Hakikake. Tang(Nakago): Both Nakago are UBU in original. One Mekugi-ana peg hole. Slanting left Sujikai filemark. Single-bevelled Ha- agari Kurijiri heel end. The signature in Hakiomote front is Fujiwara KANEFUSA-saku 藤原兼房作, To order of MITSUMASA-uji generations 為光将氏重代 in new line. The other side is chiselled with the date of year A highly Auspicious day, October, Dog, the 1st calendar sign of Heisei (1994) 為光将氏重代　平成甲戌年十月吉祥日. Gold plated Silver Habaki collar, preserved in Shira-Saya mountings. Recent polish/Condition scale: mint (using a scale of mint-excellent-very good-good-fair-poor) Note: I apologise for the real life photos as I am not very good at taking them but feel free to PM me to take some more. Asking Price: 13,000.00 Aud

I was suprised too! haha, it's awesome. I have messaged the guy who posted that post to ask if he is gonna go back and capture the other half, haven't gotten a reply though. By the way guys, theres a part 2 in there in case you guys didnt see it, that has the tosugu section as well. https://note.com/katana_case_shi/n/ndc48918a2216 But yea, those new shinsakuto at the competition are beautiful.......wish I could be there in person.