Toryu2020

So Mark I would ask can their be study without collection? That has been my path - one can see good examples in hand and not have to own them - (in fact this is how most Japanese learn) - how might you fire the young imagination to seek study of Japanese art and history without requiring a piling up of stuff? Books even can largely be substituted by digital resources at this point. How would you alert folks to resources they don't need a lot of resources for and to persons (albeit older) with the resources and the time to share? -t and if the answer requires several thousand words I am OK with that...

For the past thirty plus years the NCJSC has offered in person , monthly show and tell where people bring in new acquisitions for appreciation and discussion, for the past year the NCJSC has presented three ways to study kantei; in person in hand at our meetings, paper Shijo kantei in our newsletter and monthly zoom kantei very much like that done for the NBTHK. (note we use a little known Japanese program that ranges thru all periods, schools and artists not just the top five) We have also started to broadcast our in-person meetings on Zoom, so out of towners can see and learn right along with us. We are approaching the end of a year in which the theme is the Major Han in the Bakumatsu period - focusing on the history, people, art, swords and fittings of the various fiefs vying for power at the end of the Tokugawa period. Our members set the theme. If this interests you please become a member - our newsletter is now 100% electronic and there are no added fees for overseas membership - if you read this and do join let me know and I will see you get all the electronic back issues from this year... -tch

Jeremiah - Laughing at that last line not the post in general. Let Nick Kolick, Fred Geyer, Bob Benson, Jim Gilbert and others know how you feel - if Nick can't do presentations we know others who can - I will say it again - without feedback these organizations are going to do little or worse think that everyone is happy. I wasn't happy with the speed of my education so I moved to Japan - I am hoping to bring what I learned to students here who cannot make that move - I am happy to share in any discussions - also I am a poor man - I learned early on you cannot own everything (anything really) - lets start banging on some doors, I think people will share and I think the NBTHK will step up if we put some pressure on them. Po jit tibu Yaro! -t

Thomas Buck Tsukamaki.com I think? not sure about Europe though... -t

Well, like the way you think - what I am wondering has anybody seen an antique that show wear anything like this? Patina lost and the regained over time? I love a puzzle...

Cool stuff!

One of members was asking the same questions and one of the sources that happened to pop into my head is nihonto.com - Fred has been president for years and was writing articles every month for the last twenty plus - many of those articles are on his website (under ARTICLES) and they are illustrated with Juyo level sword blades and oshigata. A great reference if you are looking for info on a particular artists or school. He recently re-did the website so not all the articles are there but if you have someone in mind I am sure he would send you his write up if you asked... -tch www.nihonto.com

Thanks Mark Great info - not paint, I think you can see a kind of grainy surface to the rest of the plate that has not rubbed clean in that first photo, Mind you this is near daily practice for more than ten years. This is my mogito but funnily enough my shinken tsuba has similar wear, both tsuba are modern. Have to wonder if all the sake' in my system is making me "chemically unfriendly" toward tsuba!! -t

I didn't say I didn't remember - I said or meant "I don't know about this having any connection to..." and please we used to have to drive 30 minutes out of town to the airport terminal just to play pong and when our five bucks in quarters was gone we had to go home!

Not sure about Space Invaders but that is a lovely tsuba...

If you must be precise then the Nihonto Meikan and the Nihonto Kantei Hikketsu list the nengo and the Gregorian date it went into effect... -t

Why? because straight is boring?

Peter - I have to ask - what are your collecting/study goals? My Japanese is very limited but I pore thru the magazine each month and I do the shijo kantei exercise, I am just rarely correct - so just cause you do not see the names it doesn't mean more people aren't trying. Riv come hang out with us - starts with being social then we get together for serious study... Lots of young ladies into swords now in Japan and as we all know "The Japanese girl of today is the Japanese mother of tomorrow!" Whatever it is you want out of the hobby you have to let people know - you need to be active and vocal - don't expect folks to read your mind or to change the way things are done because of one members complaints. I am working hard on improving our content, would love to have yall's feedback. (Ralph Bell imitation ends here...) -t Support your local sword club!

Here's a question maybe for Ford Hallam - obviously poor patination on thos modern tsuba but why do we not see this kind of color loss on antique pieces? Anyone here use an antique tsuba and never seen a lick of change in spite of years of use?

Dan There is more under the sun than is dreamt of in your philosophy. I appreciate Michael's comments as he clearly understood my point. "Standardization" in martial arts is a modern thing. In the past one was to create advantage was to create differences, the often became "secrets" held only within small groups and passed orally. We must get together sometime, I can show you how to draw a sword worn across the back, how to draw a sword using your obi or how to draw a sword using the kojiri. None of these techniques looks anything like your standard draw in ZNKR Iai. I would hope that if you're new to a subject, when someone tells you something you haven't heard before your first reaction is to ask questions and not to laugh... -t MJER

I would point out two things - 1. You're not doing it wrong - there were 700 han so probably 700 different ways to do the simplest of actions. 2. You own post is evidence that sukashi tsuba were not an issue - afterall if they were a problem they would not have been so very popular... -t

The Red-Headed Devil!! Sad to say Ralph has passed on but is with us in spirit every time we yell at a newbie! Get in line punishments begin at 5! -t

I would say that an open work tsuba would still have the "integrity" to allow you to break the seal on the koiguchi and not cause any issue. If you are practised then I expect you wouldnt be putting your thumb thru any holes. Of course there is more than one way to break that seal and it does not involve the thumb so much. I think a more interesting question is why do we not see more tsuba with wear at the 2 O'clock point on the sides of tsuba? -t MJER

Kikkyo - Chinese bellflower

Here's one.

Peg needs to go anyway if its 70 years old - use an awl or an icepick and gently break it up - careful not to drill holes in your tang. Follow the steps above, proceed slowly youre sure to be successful... -tch

Our newsletter is now 100% electronic - no matter where you live in the world you can receive our newsletter, for the annual fee of just $60 no added fees for overseas membership. For Shijo Kantei, out of town members can submit bids via traditional snail mail or via electronic message transmission (email). The Zoom kantei is open to all paid members no matter your geological location. Please feel free to contact me with any questions, -tch

The Northern California Japanese Sword Club provides three ways for you to improve your sword studies - First is our in-person monthly meetings where we have hands on study (Kantei) of masterworks for your education. Second is our newsletter which includes our new Shijo Kantei series that allows you to study a sword and submit your bids on who the maker is. Third is our Zoom Kantei, each month we feature a sword for kantei and then in a zoom meeting we discuss the maker and what features point you to the correct answer. This month's zoom kantei blade has been sent to the members list, please check your emails and send us your bids. If you are not currently a member please consider joining the NCJSC today.

Excellent! When I started out and told my teachers that I was interested in Shinshin-to they all laughed, "You have to study Koto!" so you're in good company. It is a huge area indeed but that is what makes it all so enjoyable. Roughly there are four paths; Art Appreciation - study of the swords as art and kantei is the tried and true method for gaining knowledge in this area. Craftwork - construction, molding, forging, polishing, all the things that attract the "Hammer Monkeys". Fittings - mountings and all the bits and bobs that adorn the sword. History - the context, politics, fads, art and societies that influenced the sword. (I fall mostly into this last category) However you will see overlap in all these areas and long time students will understand you have to have knowledge, at least a little bit, in each of these areas for true appreciation. Ms. Halchaks book contains much the same information as what you already have but presented in interesting ways that may help cement some in your minds eye that others do not. Lonnie Kapps book is a must for everyone - no other book presents the processes of construction, forging and polishing in an understandable format like The Craft of the Japanese Sword. Of course if you want to delve deeper into this area his newer books provide lots of great information. On kantei in a swordless world - for more than ten years I studied the paper kantei (Shijo kantei) and monthly kantei notes in the NBTHK and NTHK magazines - when I couldn't read Japanese and I had no ready access to live blades. Once I got to Japan I had to learn a whole new set of kantei rules when looking at the real thing but that early study helped immensely. I recommend you join the NTHK and NBTHK and any other organization offering regular "paper kantei" these challenges help you to see swords the way the Japanese do and cement the terms and their importance in your minds eye. Do this and when the Society does start meeting again you'll be ready! -tch

Paz - not enough just to "buy" the books, you gotta read them! Memorize, cross-check, contrast and compare. This is an excellent start. Where you go next largely depends on your tastes, desires, unanswered questions that develop from your reading these introductory books. If you already have a particular area of interest we are happy to point you to references that will further your study. One precaution that I heard early on; "If you can't read it, you don't need it!" You can easily go bankrupt and get buried under all the great Japanese sword books out there but if you can't understand what they are telling you they will be of little help. Take your time, study. One way to solve this problem of course is to learn to read! -tch