Toryu2020

A friend in Japan made these for an art project...

I see. I agree Empo goro.

I believe what you are seeing is Den: Etchu Kodai Uda Kunimune. a place name not a date...

Uda Kunimune?

and since I haven't posted this in a while... Gold Tier 2.2k Location:@SanFrancisco in California Name: Thomas C Helm Posted February 17, 2023 Perfect opportunity for members of the NMB to get in some more study - especially those new to nihonto and those who are geographically isolated. We encourage you to join us the more folks who participate the better our programs will become. Check it out! NCJSC Kantei Program In the past year the NCJSC has moved from a printed newsletter to an all electronic format, in that same time we have instituted a new kantei study program for the benefit of our members. This program has three components; Shijo Kantei, Zoom Kantei and in-person hands-on Kantei. Our Shijo kantei or “paper kantei” program is otherwise known as “Hon’Ami Koji’s Kantei Kyoshitsu” this is because the program comes from Hon’Ami Koji Sensei of Kamakura, Japan. Hon’Ami Sensei being a 24th generation polisher in the family tradition and head of the local NBTHK branch. In the past year we have looked at mainline Soshu, Hasebe, Enju, Unji of Bizen, Nanki Shigekuni, Inoue Shinkai and others. Zoom kantei – popular with our out of town members this is our online program that lets you join us for live study from the comfort of your own home. Though many covid restrictions have been lifted here, we intend to continue this class due in part to its popularity. In the past year we have looked at the schools of Ichimonji, mainline Osafune, Hasebe, Yoshii, and Oei Bizen among others. In-person hands-on kantei at our regular monthly meetings. This is not a new program, in fact we have been providing this study opportunity for our members each month for over thirty years! In that time we have seen perhaps every major artist in the world of nihonto excepting perhaps Masamune himself. Each of these programs stands on it’s own and provides incredible insight and value for the student of nihonto. However we would like to propose the following approach; Starting with the Kantei Kyoshitsu, you can see the Japanese descriptions in the original Japanese side by side with an English translation this allows you to start to learn the terms and apply them to known artists work, it can also be used as a tool for learning Japanese as it is applied in the world of nihonto, lastly in the case where the terms are not translated it is an opportunity to refer to your NTHK Novice course and the glossary there for more complete descriptions. Next is the Zoom kantei. This is a full course of nihonto education designed to take you from the beginning to the stage where you have the tools for in-person kantei. There are no curve balls thrown here and as students we all learn together. The focus is on one or two artists each month with discussion of the subject artists work, what other artists may have done similar work, how to get to the correct answer and strategies for playing the kantei “game”. This is often supplemented with examples of the subject artists work from the Juyo To-Ken Nado Zufu and other sources. Very often we are joined by Professor Gordon Robson from Japan providing for an unprecedented level of instruction found nowhere else. These first two may be seen as time on the “practice range” and at our monthly meetings we have the opportunity to play hard ball just as they do at kantei meetings in Japan. You may choose to bid individually or to work as a team, the rules are the same as in Japan and the swords we see are the same or better than one might encounter at a meeting there. Granted it may make for a long day but it is always worth it to remain until “the reveal”, and the setsumei (explanation) never fails to provide new insight into well-known artists. Join us. Thomas C Helm @San Francisco in California (note - the NTHK Novice Course is sent free to new members)

In Japan there are a plethora of introductory guide books - Nihonto Kantei Nyumon and the like. In fact there is an expectation that you have done a little study and read one of these BEFORE joining a kantei kai and looking at swords in hand. It should be no different for us. Books are the beginning and in hand study the goal...

Could it be Hakusei? 白清?

More for comparison

Great example Ray.

Curious to see more pictures of the nakago - show the signature the other way round - and show the nakago-jiri (tip of the tang)

Not a genuine Kaboku signature I am afraid...

I believe it is FUNDO - ingot

The paper seems to think it is this man... Yoshimasa - YOS327 | Nihonto Club

If your agent doesn't offer this service talk to Robert Hughes at Keichodo...

Begs the question, is that a tachi tsuba or a katana tsuba?

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Exceptionally nice gift!

It is a great opportunity to study, in-hand, the work of just about any of the most important artists. Decide what you want to see, visit every booth and note the items you'd like to study in-hand, go back and spend uninterrupted time with each piece on your list. There are few places you can say I want to see Yamashiro works today and have twenty such pieces on hand. By all means attend the Kamakura kantei-kai and the Yakatabune trip but I would focus on getting there early and spending the day studying the best swords you can see...

Yagyu design - Ono execution

Two more

My favorite. A modern subject presented with age old Japanese aesthetic in a Higo style. Tokkuri. Ochoko and two drops of spilled sake, just sublime.

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Took me many years but I found a sword that checked off many boxes for me, so now while I enjoy looking at swords I no longer have the compulsion to buy. Tsuba are another thing, I would say yes they are addictive, especially since I started to focus on sword-maker tsuba, my tsuba drawer is now full and I am not sure how many I have. The idea of my wife reading this forum is hilarious to me, she would rather have her eyes put out I think than read about sword collecting... -t

60+ started when I was 19. One great aspect of this hobby is how it brings the generations together...