Toryu2020

There will be a shinsa at this years NCJSC San Francisco To-Ken Taikai - www.nthkamerica.com - visit our website for details...

Saw an exceptional blade by this smith the other day - anybody have more info? 杉田明二　Sugita Shoji or Akikazu or Akiji of Yamaguchi-ken Signatures include; 善昭作 Yoshiaki saku 長州長府住川上家伝来昭和六〇年八月日　善昭作 Choshu Chofu ju Kawakami ke denrai Showa 60 nen 8 gatsu hi Yoshiaki saku 3 Time Nyusen winner Member of the All Japan Swordmakers Society lives in Hofu, Yamaguchi 防府市真尾掘溝 511 -t

I am inclined to go with "gojusai" but looking at John's rendering and the last character "hoko" seems more correct. John how would you translate the cho? -t

Army Kendo manual - for the army not the general public...

Rick - Your certificate is a Kantei sho - blade is unsigned but attributed to "Den Fujishima". This means that they think it the work of the Fujishima school but cannot pin it to a particular artist. You'll want to look at Fujishima artists working around Tensho for an idea of whom this might be. -t

Thanks Peter

Update! The first batch of certificates was mailed out today! The second batch from Japan was received today I should be mailing these out shortly. We do appreciate your patience, your certificates are on their way! -tch NTHK Hyogi-in

Seikado Meito Hyakku Sen

Dear members We are sorry for the delays in sending out the papers. Seems there is a shortage on the handcrafted paper used for the certificates. The Japan team reports they are about halfway thru and should finish up in mid- February, once the paper comes in. It usually takes about six months but this year is taking a bit longer, we do appreciate your patience, -tch NTHK Hyogi-in

Jay et al We are sorry for the delays. Seems there is a shortage on the handcrafted paper used for the certificates. The Japan team reports they are about halfway thru and should finish up in mid- February, once the paper comes in. It usually takes about six months but this year is taking a bit longer, we do appreciate your patience, -tch NTHK Hyogi-in

Shimenawa and pine?

The picture on the left is the place name the right column in the right picture is a buddhist lay name... -t

Sergei the right column is often a place name or title the left column is most often the signature... -t

Robert - not Hachidai but Yatchiro or Yatsushiro a place name in Higo... -t

I say Bizen Osafune Ju Kanetsugu 兼継 very poorly cut, likely gimei but then the date looks to be Genki so late late generation, low grade smith? -t

Kanzan and Jittoku for sure... -t

Love it, signature looks early... and just for fun

nice piece

Now this is not based on anything but vague memory I beleive the Saru-hiki was at one time seen as representing Tanuma Okitsugu, a corrupt official who essentially ran the shogunate. The Shogun being the hapless monkey on a leash... -t

from the Tsuba Gadai Jiten Saru hiki or Saru mawashi - entertainers who trained monkies to do tricks then they would travel house to house seeking tips for their performance.The origin seems to be a monkey that was owned by the Ashikaga Shogun, Yoshiuji. the monkey was said to dance wearing an eboshi and kamishimo while Noto n/k Mitsumura played the tsutsumi (drum). when the performance was over the monkey would hold out his hand asking for tips. People it is said were delighted. By the ate Muromachi they could even be seen visiting the Gosho, Imperial palace. By late Edo there were theaters that put on elaborate plays with exciting plots and spectacular costumes. At new years these troops would be invited to the Nishinmaru of Edo castle and there entertain the retired Shogun. They also visited various Daimyo mansions. The regular costume for the monkey was a simple scarf but when performing for Daimyo they wore montsuki hakama or kamishimo

a few more...

a few images...

日本刀一振りを？

A real loss.

奉奇進 read Hou ki shin