Lewis B

Last visited 2020.

I'm eating in the wrong restaurants.

That kabuto looks awful

Hi Erik, The next NBTHK-EB meeting will be in 2 or 3 weeks time in Solingen. You're entitled to attend one meeting as a non-member. If you need more details please PM me.

How much is Eirakudo asking and how prominent is the midare utsuri?

@Lexvdjagt kindly sent me a short video and photo of the nakago of an exceptional Shintogo Kunimitsu tanto currently on display at the Japanese Sword Museum in Tokyo. This one was posthumously bequeathed to the museum from the Suzuki collection. The tanto itself is probably one of the best examples I've seen. The deki is archetypical Shintogo, ubu with a nengo for 1316. The nagasa is 21.9cm with a slender sugata. There are beautiful lines of kinsuji, one of the key features of this smiths work. Overall it appears to be a very healthy, original example. If the NBTHK published something about this blade it would be interesting to see. Setsumei, kantei etc?

I was hoping to attend but the German Gov have been dragging their feet processing my Settled Status application, which meant I couldn't travel outside Germany. Oh well 2026 then..... Everyone have fun and if you happen see that "Shintogo" tanto (#55) on the Ginza Japanese Sword Museum Taibundo stand, please let us know what you think. Do the papers attribute the blade specifically to Shintogo or are they less specific. The dealer has ignored efforts to get more info via email.

Here is a tachi blade worthy of consideration if you're interested in Ko-mihara. Ubu, zaimei, nengo (1384), quality koshirae and fittings. Juyo papers. Approx 80cm nagasa https://www.toukentakarado.com/item-tk019-juyo-token-mihara

Could be a case of a 3rd party hijacking the real sellers listing and making a profit on the actual sales price. 3rd party buys for 17,300 and sells for 35,300 JPY. Seems like a lot of work for little reward. Happens a lot on Ebay where items the seller doesn't have get posted for 30%+ more than the item can be bought for on Jauce/Yahoo.jp auction site.

Well, it depends. He won't say in writing but the person who collects it after getting the sayagaki could ask for his opinion and, assuming he has a friendly relationship with the dealer, you should have a good idea where it stands. The sayagaki could also give you an indicator. If he writes it's a masterpiece amongst the work of the smith it's a good start. But obviously its not a sure thing. Recent Juyo Shinsa have been 'strange' to say the least.

That great news. Make sure the dealer asks Tanobe sensei if it has a chance at Juyo and you can make an educated decision if it's worth being without the sword for a prolonged period. With the current shipping uncertainty and that the blade is currently in Japan I'd be more inclined to submit to Shinsa if Tanobe responds positively.

I assume someone in Japan would act as an agent for submission, retrieval and subsequent relocation. Since Sky is buying from a big name dealer in Tokyo I would hope they would agree to provide that service (perhaps for a fee).

It has katana mei so that would put it early Muromachi at the earliest. Could be an earlier blade but later signature.

So says the "informed amateur"

Chicago isn't too far for you. Take it to the next show to be checked out by knowledgeable eyes.