waljamada

Greetings all, I have four items: three signed unpapered blades and one signed unpapered tsuba and only two shinsa tickets to the NTHK in the upcoming Chicago Sword Show. Which two items would you submit? All three blades have different strengths and weaknesses/flaws and even gimei potentials so I submit them to the highly esteemed NMB members for their opinions to help me choose wisely on my first shinsa opportunity. I will list some general information about the blades and tsuba in order that they appear in the video. Disclaimer: All information is "to the best of my knowledge". 1) Mei: Kunitsugu Era: possible Bunmei Period or between late 1400s and early 1500s. Nagasa: 25.5" 2) Mei: Ashu Ju Michimasa Era: Either 1716 or 1804 Generation Nagasa: 26 1/3" 3) Mei: Kanekado Era: Possibly Tenmon (1532-1555) Nagasa: 27.5" 4 Tsuba Mei: Hashimoto Isshi (Yushusha) Era: possibly between 1820-1896?) I know very little about this tsuba... ALSO it's requested that one submit the blades in a "paper saya". Does anyone have a photo example or perhaps instructions/suggestions how best to make one? Video of above items in the Shinsa running: Below some additional photos:

The feel from some of the choji aspects in the hamon lead me to believe the smith also enjoyed gardening.

I was there random years between 2010 and 2017. I worked with Nihonmachi Little Friends. Ah, if you were in a hotel I would have missed it. I was always street side during the festival.

That's cool, I used to work in Japantown for around 7 years and went to that festival many times. Dont remember ever seeing any nihonto there so if that's a new thing that is awesome. If it's been around a long time than shame on me!

I'll be at the show either Friday and then Sunday...or just Sunday...and have two shinsa tickets. Going to post a "which to submit?" on the nihonto forum in the next few days to help me make a decision. Only have three unpapered signed blades in my collection to decide between and then one signed tsuba that might be worth submission.

No general's tassel but this Yasunori/Yasukunito is on Aoi now and a more affordable price than stateside prices typically: https://www.aoijapan.com/katanashowa-11-nen-10-gatsu-kichijitsu-yasunori/

Popping my head out again as a buyer. Have an interesting antique katana you'd be willing to sell? Perhaps one with an interesting horimono, a poem, a naginata-hi, an odd hi design in general...something interesting in the hamon...an experimental blade of sorts...a blade with a "strange" name, a strange provable provenance, o-kissaki with a cool bohi/sohi combo...a bald with so e kind of artistic flair...calling any odd ducks....in a good way! Also as a refresh: My definition of "odd" in this case: different from what is usual or expected in a traditionally made tamagahane blade in koshirae or shirasaya. Greetings all, have something that doesn't quite fit in your collection but has some odd class? An odd bohi design? An interesting unique aspect? A non traditional horimono theme? (Horimono and bonji etc..can be ato-bori) Some interesting lacquer work? A lesser used bonji? Something with the hamon? An outlier of a school or maker? Looking for something with an odd aspect (in a good way) and much prefer katana length.

I have absolutely no right to feel this way....but if they actually fought that way I feel like I would have a chance against those guys.

Not a print....but a printers block of a Japanese woman. Thought it was cool.

I purchased a modern woodblock print by a Japanese artist named Yamaguchi Ryoshi. Just found it a cool image and the use of metalics in the ink was something I haven't seen much of. Here was the description when I bought it: Lady Rokujo in Demonic Form by Yamaguchi Ryoshu, a 1950s modern woodblock print made after the noh drama Aoi no Ue. In the story, Lady Aoi, Prince Genji's formal wife, is haunted by the demonic spirit of Lady Rokujo, one of Genji's many lovers, who suffers from extreme jealousy that drives her mad. The artist has made heavy use of metallic pigments for this work. The demon's costume shimmers with silver triangles, as do elements of the kimono she holds overhead. In the manner of 1790s ukiyo-e (the best of Utamaro and Sharaku) the entire background of the print has been treated with metals--in this case a gold that darkens at the edges, giving the print creepy tones of shadow within its sparkling brightness, as suited to the supernatural subject.

A bit off topic but anyone here read "I Am A Cat"? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Am_a_Cat

Love a good story time...congrats my friend!

Good stuff! Just emailed you for an order through your website.

How often do you guys wash your micro fiber towels and is there any special way to clean? Best to just rinse in sink and not put in dryer? Drew that same micro fiber towel that Micheal linked to was also suggested to me by another user and that's a great price for them. I literally just bought four of them because of the price.

Really enjoying these videos Ray. Thanks for another one and a very interesting topic.

I'll start with some things on the other side of the coin. For members/users it would be great if people started (or continued) creating dedicated materials/content off their collections and personal research/interests/knowledge. Videos sharing categories in their collection..."unboxing" videos of new swords that arrive in their collection...collection tours...set up/display tours...a cleaning katanas conversation video (talk about a topic while you clean a blade)...just make content that suits your interests/abilities and what your comfortable with. It can be anything and everything. If you don't want to make videos then little "report" write ups of nihonto in your collection. If you have many blades by a specific smith maybe a little thing on the blades of similarities, what makes you collect that smith etc...if you have a niche, what do you love about it? Are you a tosogu guy? What's in your collection and what drew you to it? Do you have a favorite tsuba...what is it and why? Did you piece together a tsuka set? What was your vision and what did you come up with? Are you a dedicsted military nihonto collector...why....what variations are your favorite...what's in your collection? Any topics that float your boat. Videos can be only 2 minutes long even and filmed on your phone and I do think videos would be the most beneficial type of content to create. Personal opinion. I'm also going to walk this walk (have a few videos planned and in the pipeline) but wanted to do a "call to arms" of sorts for the NMB members/users. We can make a forum post called "NMB Community Theater" or something where we post the links of the videos we create to keep an archive and concentrated source that can keep growing. Write ups can be seperate posts for the current/future collectors to search up, read and enjoy. I'm so grateful for all the old posts and can't express the joy when I find one perfectly targeted on what I was looking for. Edit: Just now saw a great example: Ray Singer posted this video using his collection for Nihonto content...Bravisimo!

Bought myself two Polish Akira Kurosawa movie posters from the 80's and a Katana I resisted getting for quite a while.

I need to do this as well...right now I just have the sode (which lacks the cords) simply resting on the shoulders using the yoroi stand and my presentation did not impress when I shared it =|:^) Also, thanks for sharing that uwe.

Yes, I truly thank you all. This board is my daily reader and always have it open as a tab on my phone...literally always. This board is the exact resource I needed when first entering the hobby and has the history, resources and wealth of older forum posts to help me grow as my experience, knowledge and interests increases. I've had interactions with probably all the people listed and many more that have been a graceful presence of knowledge. My appreciation for the hobby and art of Nihonto has been enriched by them. I'm extremely grateful for this board and it's members and tip my hat and give a respectful bow to these individuals that together form this community. Bless you gentlemen/gentlewomen and scholars!

I appreciate this being organized and Chris Bowen and the Chicago Sword Show for facilitating it. I have already reserved two "spots". Going to bring two blades and see what happens!

Brano, What mm macro lense do you use? 24mm?

Brian, sure thing. It really is impressive and the history of it is quite intriguing especially how far back it goes. Wish I could find more examples particularly of the really old ones.

Randomly came across the neat little niche of Japanese Arts and I find them intriguing...just a cool little science/art. An extremely analog and primitive mechanics done with complexity and intricacies. Anyone have one to share? Karakuri (からくり) Karakuri means a Japanese traditional mechanical doll or miniature, or other mechanical device. In Chinese characters, karakuri is written as 絡繰, 機巧, or 機関, and in the old days, it was written as 唐繰. Originally, karakuri was the general term for mechanical objects, and today, it mostly refers to the Japanese traditional mechanical devices intended for amusement, such as karakuri ningyo (a mechanical doll). Etymology The etymology of karakuri is said to have been the nominalized adverbial form of the Japanese verb 'karakuru,' which means 'move something by pulling the strings attached to it,' and the word karakuri was found to have been used as early as in the late 16th century. The English word "Karakuri" means karakuri ningyo. History of karakuri The oldest karakuri in Japan is said to have been shinansha (an ancient Chinese vehicle with a compass whose needle always pointed south), which came from China in the Heian period. It was a practical karakuri that always pointed south, utilizing the differential motion of the left and right wheels. A description of shinansha is also seen in "Sangokushi" (Annals of the Three Kingdoms). Volume 24 of "Konjaku Monogatari" (Tales of Now and Then), written in the last days of the Heian period, says that Imperial Prince Kaya produced a karakuri. Therefore, karakuri has a long history. Incidentally, in those days, only aristocrats enjoyed karakuri. Dashi karakuri (karakuri placed on a parade float) in Takayama Festival is famous. Although karakuri is unique to Japan, its origin owed much to Western techniques that were introduced into Japan in the Muromachi period. When a harquebus came to Japan, mechanisms, such as that of a watch, also came. At that time, mechanical devices were generally called karakuri. The devices were watched with curiosity, since the devices themselves were peculiar things for Japanese at that time. And so, Japanese in those days associated the word karakuri with an amusing (or surprising) thing. From around the 17th century, craftsmen began to produce karakuri ningyo by applying some techniques, including gears used in a watch and other things, to the devices for the movements of the doll. At first, it was owned only by daimyo (Japanese feudal lords) and others as a toy of refined taste, but as it was shown to the public and gained popularity, it spread nationwide. Professional craftsmen were born, and they crafted extremely sophisticated dolls. In those days, only aristocrats enjoyed karakuri ningyo. In 1662, Omi TAKEDA gave a performance of a play of karakuri ningyo at Dotonbori, Osaka. This play is said to have descended to dashi karakuri in some local communities. During the Kyoho era in the early 18th century, a new land-ship car (today's tricycle) was invented by Kuheiji Tokimitsu HIRAISHI, a feudal retainer of the Hikone domain. In the 19th century, at Tsukuba, Igashichi IIZUKA (so-called 'Karakuri Iga') invented a man-powered plane and a karakuri ningyo that went on an errand to a sake (Japanese liquor) shop. The 18th and 19th centuries saw the creation of the most sophisticated works. In the last days of the Edo period, Benkichi ONO, who was called the Second Gennai HIRAGA in Kaga (Gennai HIRAGA was a great inventor in the middle of the Edo period), invented an air gun, a miniature of a steamship, and a camera. Varieties of karakuri Zashiki karakuri (an indoor karakuri) Karakuri ningyo and others Karakuri gangu (a mechanical toy) : From many years ago, local communities all over Japan have produced various toys of their own as a folkcraft, or as a folk toy, equipped with various devices, and even today, many of these toys are sold as souvenirs. The devices of a 'tin toy,' which once backed up the Japanese export industry, originated mostly from karakuri gangu. Karakuri bungu (trick stationery) Karakuri gasa (a trick umbrella): Karakuri gasa concretely meant a Japanese-style umbrella (oddly, also described as a Chinese-style umbrella), and the name karakuri gasa was given because a mere canopy of Chinese origin was changed into the convenient tool equipped with the device for opening and closing in Japan. Famous karakuri Yumihiki Doji (archer doll). Crafted by Hisashige TANAKA. It is zashiki karakuri, whose doll takes an arrow out of a basket, fits the arrow to a string of a bow, and shoots at a target. The movements of the doll are controlled only with coil springs, cams, and strings. The doll shoots several arrows, and when one of these arrows goes off the target --- this is intentionally crafted as such --- the doll expresses regret - when it hits the target, the doll expresses joy - with its head movement. This doll is said to be the best masterpiece of all Edo karakuri. Two original yumihiki doji were found at the house of the Maekawa family in Fushimi in 1990. At present, one of them is owned by Toyota Motor Corporation, and another belongs to the National Museum of Nature and Science. A kit of a model doll that makes the same movements as the above is sold by Gakken Holdings Co., Ltd. Chahakobi ningyo (a tea-serving doll) Chahakobi ningyo is zashiki karakuri that holds a tray. This is a typical karakuri. When you place a cup of tea on the tray, the doll carries it to a guest, and when the guest picks it up, the doll stops. The carrying distance is set beforehand. When the guest places the empty cup on the tray after drinking the tea, the doll turns itself, carries the cup to you, and rolls to a stop. The doll's movements are controlled only with coil springs, gears, cams, and strings. The doll often seen today is a reproduction, which is based on the design included in "Karakuri zui" (Compilation of Illustrated Mechanical Arts), an old book written by karakuri craftsman Hanzo HOSOKAWA in 1796. There has not been found any original chahakobi ningyo produced by a craftsman in the Edo period. Karakuri mikuji (a mechanical messenger of a fortune-telling slip) Karakuri mikuji exists at Nishiki Tenman-gu Shrine situated on the eastern edge of Nishiki Food Market in Kyoto City. When you come near to the karakuri mikuji, kagura (the sacred music performed at shrines) and a mechanical Japanese lion dance automatically begin, and when you put coins into a box and select a fortune-telling slip from among the six kinds (including that in English, that in both Japanese and English, and that for a child), the mechanical lion brings you the slip, performing the Japanese lion dance in accord with kagura --- these comical devices have become popular. Karakuri and the robot Between the Edo karakuri ningyo and the present robot, there exists no technical link, but not a few cultural links do exist. Some say that Japanese feel familiar with robots because they were used to seeing a karakuri ningyo and the like, in contrast to the Western people who feel antipathy to robots. And others say the research and development of robots is active in Japan partly because of the tradition of karakuri. Mechanical dolls and the like seen in places other than Japan At a church or an old municipal office in Europe, a mechanical clock is often seen. Most of the old mechanical dolls seen outside Japan do a simple reciprocation, such as sawing and ax-swinging. In the 19th century, a mechanical doll called an automaton appeared, which was crafted to mimic human movements. Some automata are said to have had a conversation with a human, done a calculation, or played chess.

Bridges, Those "souvenir" swords show up semi-consistently. They are authentic period pieces but tend to have a bit less interest in the general military collecting field that have some "know". For the price of the piece on the duck website you can for sure find, with some patience, a type 98 showato. It wont be perfect. The blade on the duck website looks to me like an arsenal NCO blade in the gunto mounts. I recognize it via the bohi (which are also on Japanese blades), shape and kissaki but the photos aren't great so I could be wrong. I respect and understand the gusto as I've been through it. Also couldn't hurt to post what you'd like to find and your price range on the "Wanted to Buy" section if you haven't already. Tried to hunt some things: https://stcroixblades.com/shop/products/Japanese-model-1889-naval-prison-shore-patrol-sword-anchor-marked-rare-navy/ No idea about this seller: https://www.bowlinggreendrummer.com/Japanese-officer-s-wwii-katana-sword-scb-signed Komonjo but still: https://www.ebay.com/itm/134359224972?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=i-cU9RKGRia&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=_371BgsbQ6q&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY Like I mentioned...gonna really help you if to have patience and wait for the right piece to come across you.

I don't know...but I want it....