waljamada

Neil, love the grouping and variety of a smiths work!

Hey Steve , From the seller and I believe from the seller before him whom I believe was a dealer. So it's a pass down of unknown origin. Google searches are zilch for the smith but I do perhaps remember someone looking him up in a book for me and found those two active periods for a smith going by Ashu Ju Michimasa. It's been quite a while. Also I noticed you were the one who shared/translated who the maker of my tsuba with me many moons ago. Thank you for that. Adam

Mark and Chris, Thanks for the advice! Just to share some of my internal debate; I was also thinking the first two blades. The main reason i still feel tempted by the Kanekado is because that blade and the Kunitsugu, with so many generations and potentials, increases the difficulty for me personally to "verify" or narrow down facts around them. The ashu ju michimasa in sheer numbers is much less therefore easier for "amateur verification" within a higher degree of certainty. I am also unsure if the current state of polish of the blade is good enough for shinsa as I have no experience submitting and don't know required parameters. Also, I am in the que with Woody Hall for the Michimasa to be polished. So right now I am still leaning towards the first two blades, Kunitsugu and the Michimasa. I believe the tsuba is pertaining to be made by a well known maker but I don't know enough to feel strongly about it. I know none of these are "heavy treasures" but I look forward to adding a bit more shinsa light to my little Nihonto corner to where there was none before. Playing my part in helping some of these items in my care.

Mark, thank you very much! Don't think there could of been a more perfect resource video! Adam

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?