Toryu2020

It just means "Sword meeting" and by extension "Club" you would not be infringing on any copywrite...

If it is kukurizaru then they are all upside down in the katana orientation...

Converted to a saber mount... Command saber

Lewis it looks like Sotheby's requires a log-in to view results online...

Results courtesy of Keichodo... Just in case you haven't been paying attention to the international market for fine samurai art.... check out Sotheby's achievements.... Currently the exchange rate sits at around 200 yen to a British pound.... Highlights and exceptional prices Sotheby’s, London Japanese Works of Art A tachi Signed Zen Hakushu Nobutaka nyudo (Nobutaka nyudo, formerly of Hoki Province) Edo period, dated Kanbun jusannen (1673) Sold: £69,300 Formerly in the collection of Quincy Adams Shaw (1826-1908). Sold for over double its high estimate of £30,000. Sotheby’s, London, The Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armour, 11 May 2021, Lot 28: https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2021/the- samurai-Japanese-arms-and-armour/a-tachi-signed-zen- hakushu-nobutaka-nyudo-edo An Etchu tachi Attributed to Norishige Late Kamakura - early Nanbokucho period, 14th century Sold: £60,480 Accompanied by a certificate of registration as Tokubetsu Hozon Token [Sword Especially Worthy of Preserving], no. 100892 issued by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai [Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Art Sword], dated Showa 60 (1985). Sotheby’s, London, The Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armour, 11 May 2021, Lot 36: https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2021/the- samurai-Japanese-arms-and-armour/a-tachi-signed-zen- hakushu-nobutaka-nyudo-edo Sotheby’s, London Japanese Works of Art A katana Signed Tenmangu ni oite rokujunichi kyoku seishin kitae Yukihira kore o tsukru (made by Yukihira and forged to the utmost purity for sixty days in Tenmangu) Edo period, dated Genroku go mizunoe-saru nigatsu saijobi (an auspicious day in February 1692) Sold: £126,000 Sotheby’s, London, The Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armour, 2 November 2021, Lot 48: https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2021/th e-samurai-Japanese-arms-and-armour-2/a-katana- signed-tenmangu-ni-oite-rokujunichi-kyoku A magnificent daisho koshirae The daisho fuchi signed Kimura Kyuichiro shitaji, Yokoya Nobusada horu (the foundation work by Kimura Kyuichiro, engraved by Yokoya Nobusada) The kozuka and kogai of the sho signed Goto Mitsunobu and with kao Edo period, 18th century Sold: £302,400 Sotheby’s, London, The Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armour, 2 November 2021, Lot 48: https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2021/th e-samurai-Japanese-arms-and-armour-2/a- magnificent-daisho-koshirae-the-daisho-fuchi Sotheby’s, London Japanese Works of Art A katana Attributed to the Iwato Ichimonji School Kamakura period, late 14th century Sold: £50,400 Sotheby’s, London, The Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armour, 10 May 2023, Lot 87: https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2022/the- samurai-Japanese-arms-and-armour/a-katana-attributed- to-the-iwato-ichimonji-school An impressive tanto with fine koshirae [mount] Signed Bi[shu] Osafune Morishige The blade Muromachi period, dated Shocho ninen nigatsu hi (a day of the 2nd month 1429) The koshirae [scabbard and mounts] Edo period, early 19th century Sold: £33,020 Sotheby’s, London, The Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armour, 10 May 2023, Lot 65: https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2023/ the-samurai-Japanese-arms-and-armour/a-gassan- katana-signed-naniwa-ju-gassan-unryushi Sotheby’s, London Japanese Works of Art A Gassan katana Signed Naniwa ju Gassan Unryushi Sadakazu kore o seitan [forged by Gassan Unryushi Sadakazu, a resident of Osaka] and impressed mark Sada Meiji period, dated Meiji nijuninen hachigatsu kichijitsu (an auspicious day in the 8th month, 1889) Sold: £33,020 Sotheby’s, London, The Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armour, 10 May 2023, Lot 65: https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2023 /the-samurai-Japanese-arms-and-armour/a-gassan- katana-signed-naniwa-ju-gassan-unryushi A Ko-Ichimonji tachi Kamakura period, 13th century Sold: £50,800 Accompanied by a certificate of registration as Juyo Token [Important Sword], no. 71995041 issued by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai [Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Art Sword], dated Heisei 7 (1995). Sotheby’s, London, The Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armour, 10 May 2023, Lot 69: https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2023 /the-samurai-Japanese-arms-and-armour/a-ko- ichimonji-tachi-kamakura-period-13th-century Sotheby’s, London Japanese Works of Art A Bizen wakizashi Signed Bishu Osafune Yasumitsu (Yasumitsu, Osafune in Bizen Province) Muromachi period, dated Eikyo yonen hachigatsu hi (a day in the fourth year, 8th month of the Eikyo era [equivalent to 1425]) Sold: £44,450 Sotheby’s, London, The Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armour, 16 May 2024, Lot 41: https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2024/t he-samurai-Japanese-arms-and-armour/a-bizen- wakizashi-signed-bishu-osafune-yasumitsu A katana Signed Moritaka saku (made by Moritaka) Muromachi period, late 15th century Sold: £57,150 Sotheby’s, London, The Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armour, 16 May 2024, Lot 43: https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2024/t he-samurai-Japanese-arms-and-armour/a-katana- signed-moritaka-saku-made-by-moritaka Sotheby’s, London Japanese Works of Art A momonari kabuto [peach shaped helmet] Edo period, 17th century Sold: £50,400 The peach-shaped helmet was popular in the Momoyama period because swords and arrows were easily deflected off its smooth surfaces. The shape was influenced by Spanish-style morions with their smooth solid plates forming each side with a central crest running down the middle. This example sold for more than double its low estimate of £20,000. Sotheby’s, London, The Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armour, 11 May 2021, Lot 11: https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2021/th e-samurai-Japanese-arms-and-armour/a-momonari- kabuto-peach-shaped-helmet-edo-period A hoshi-bachi [helmet with raised rivets] Edo period, 17th century Sold: £52,920 The sixty-two plate russet iron helmet bowl accompanied by a certificate of registration as Tokubetsu Kicho Shiryo [Especially Important Object], no. 1631 issued by the Nihon Katchu Bugu Kenkyu Hozon Kai [Japanese Armour Preservation Society], dated Heisei 28 (2016). The helmet performed exceptionally well against its low estimate of £4,000. Sotheby’s, London, The Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armour, 11 May 2021, Lot 13: https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/202 1/the-samurai-Japanese-arms-and-armour/a- hoshi-bachi-helmet-with-raised-rivets-edo-period Sotheby’s, London Japanese Works of Art A rare and impressive nanban kabuto [European style helmet] and mempo [face mask] Momoyama - Edo period, late 16th - early 17th century Sold: £94,500 Sotheby’s, London, The Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armour, 10 May 2022, Lot 36: https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/202 2/the-samurai-Japanese-arms-and-armour/a-rare- and-impressive-nanban-kabuto-european-style A rare and impressive kawari kabuto [eccentrically shaped helmet] Edo period, 17th century Sold: £44,450 Sotheby’s, London, The Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armour, 16 May 2024, Lot 3: https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/202 4/the-samurai-Japanese-arms-and-armour/a-rare- and-impressive-kawari-kabuto-eccentrically Sotheby’s, London Japanese Works of Art A nimai-do gusoku [armour] The helmet signed Saotome Moriie Edo period, late 17th century Sold: £314,000 Sotheby’s, London, The Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armour, 11 May 2021, Lot 20: https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2021/ the-samurai-Japanese-arms-and-armour/a-nimai-do- gusoku-armour-the-kabuto-signed-saotome A yokohagi okegawa-do gusoku [armour] Edo period, mid-18th century Sold: £315,000 Sotheby’s, London, The Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armour, 11 May 2021, Lot 21: https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2021/ the-samurai-Japanese-arms-and-armour/a-yokohagi- okegawa-do-gusoku-armour-edo-period-mid Sotheby’s, London Japanese Works of Art A honkozane nimai-do gusoku [armour] The kabuto signed Joshu ju Saotome Ieharu (Saotome Ieharu, a resident of Hitachi Province) Edo period, late 17th century Sold: £378,000 Sotheby’s, London, The Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armour, 11 May 2021, Lot 23: https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2021/ the-samurai-Japanese-arms-and-armour/a- honkozane-nimai-do-gusoku-armour-the-kabuto An iroiro-odoshi nimai-do gusoku [armour with variegated lacing] The helmet signed by Myochin Nobuie (circa 1504-54) Edo period, 16th century Sold: £239,400 Accompanied by a certificate of registration as a Juyo Bunka Shiryo [Important Cultural Material], issued by the Nihon Katchu Bugu Kenkyu Hozon Kai [Japanese Armour Preservation Society], dated Showa 56 (1981). The lot almost tripled its low estimate of £120,000. Sotheby’s, London, The Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armour, 2 November 2021, Lot 25: https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2021/ the-samurai-Japanese-arms-and-armour-2/a- honkozane-munatori-do-maru-gusoku-armour-edo Sotheby’s, London Japanese Works of Art A honkozane munatori do-maru gusoku [armour] The mempo signed moto Munesuke shinzu Myochin Munetaka (Myochin Munetaka, based on a design by Munesuke) Edo period, 18th century Sold: £352,800 Accompanied by a certificate of registration as a Juyo Bunka Shiryo [Important Cultural Material], issued by the Nihon Katchu Bugu Kenkyu Hozon Kai [Japanese Armour Preservation Society], dated Showa 56 (1981). The lot almost tripled its low estimate of £120,000. Sotheby’s, London, The Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armour, 2 November 2021, Lot 25: https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2021/t he-samurai-Japanese-arms-and-armour-2/a- honkozane-munatori-do-maru-gusoku-armour-edo A fine okegawa shichimai-do gusoku [armour] The helmet signed Joshu ju Saotome Ietada (Saotome Ietada, a resident of Hitachi Province) Edo period, 18th century Sold: £114,300 Accompanied by a certificate of registration as Juyo Bunka Shiryo [Important Cultural Material], issued by the Nihon Katchu Bugu Kenkyu Hozon Kai [Society for the Preservation of Japanese Armour], dated Showa 57 (1982). Sold for £114,300 against a low of £50,000. Sotheby’s, London, The Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armour, 16 May 2024, Lot 16: https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2021/t he-samurai-Japanese-arms-and-armour-2/a- honkozane-munatori-do-maru-gusoku-armour-edo

Published in the newsletter of the Northern California Japanese Sword Club - Fred owns the sword in question and commissioned all the translations accordingly... -t

Thats gotta be something in the saya... -t

Here we have direct communication between the customer and the artists - dictating the subject as well as the terms - some very famous artists involved in this... -t THE NAKAI TOKUBETSU JÛYÔ KOSHIRAE - NIHONTO

sabiji on the nakago looks artificial...

The lack of modern papers is of course a concern neither of these is any kind of guarantee - Would consider them a very neat part of its history... -t

Nothing suspicious here - Tadanobu was eighth in the Satsuma Hon'Ami line while Fukunaga Suiken was a giant in the sword world especially known for his prolific writings...

The absolute best is Isshindo just up the block from Isseido - many many books on swords and fittings and a warehouse full of rare titles so if you don't see what you are looking for ask. I used to haunt the bookstores when I lived there and many places around the Kanto I would ask for sword books and they would tell me "no Isshindo bought them all"... -t

One minor function of a tsuba on a sword is when you are sitting in seiza with your sword on the floor at your side, the tsuba acts as a prop and it is very easy to pick up the sword and bring it into use. Without a tsuba the sword lays flat on the floor and requires a little more attention to scoop it up and draw it... -t

Rain Dragons! Perfect!

" Thank you for your email. What makes a Koshirae Tensho in style is its handle. The handle is winding in the middle to ensure a secure grip during the war fight. It is more opactical than the straight handle. Kind regards, Aoi Art" I think they are saying it is the waisted shape of the Tsuka but I don't see it. I might be inlined to call this a Kobusho koshirae rather than Tensho... -t t is for Tom

Email sent so we will see what they say. They are usually quite happy to answer any questions. -t

Why doesnt somebody ask Tsuruta san?

You guys will love this - from the pages of Tsuba: An Aesthetic Study - page 110 in the new edition available from the NCJSC On the subject of the "Style of the Second (Akasaka) Tadamasa And later generations" "The quality of the iron plate is not as good in the second generation. However, when Kawagane 皮鉄(skin iron) was applied to the surface the plate has a very pleasing appearance. There is a tendency for the folds of the plate to show the laminations quite clearly at the mimi." No where else does he mention Kawagane - has anyone else encountered this term in relation to tsuba? I am familiar with its use in regards to swords and sword construction... -t

Shinshu Token Bijutsu Meito Kansho Hen "New compilation To-ken Bijutsu Meito appreciation edition/volume" So a collection of famous swords from the pages of the To-ken Bijutsu magazine, I expect of the "Gatefold Girls" from each edition...

You could ask these guys... 全日本刀匠会 | All Japan Swordsmith Association

Since you ask, he and his guardian jump overboard and drown shortly thereafter...

In one version of the story, convinced of defeat Tomonori addresses the boy emperor who is too scared to leap into the ocean, see my lord it is but a simple act to leap to your destiny, he then grabs the anchor wraps himself in the chain and leaps into the sea...

A symbol of ultimate loyalty to the (boy) Emperor...

Minatogawa...

Paul is already on the case... Shin Gobankaji Project