Toryu2020

An awesome idea for exploration Piers! No time to photo tsuba at home but will look for examples at the show this weekend... -t

Sword Show starts tomorrow! Please stop by my table if youd like to register for the 2015 Chicago Shinsa - this is your chance to do so in person, and avoid those pesky Paypal fees! hoping to see you all there, -t 2014 SF Token-Kai Events: FRIDAY AUGUST 1 8:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. Exhibitor Set-up, Main Ballroom E-F 12:00 P.M. - 10:00 P.M. Public Show Hours, Main Ballroom E-F 10:00 A.M. - 11:00 A.M. NBTHK Board Meeting, Marina Del Rey 6:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M. - Welcome Cocktail/Dinner Reception (Exhibitors Only), Foyer F SATURDAY AUGUST 2 9:00 A.M. - 10:00 P.M. Show Hours, Main Ballroom E-F 10:00 A.M.11:00 A.M. JSSUS Board Meeting, Marina Del Rey 11:00 A.M.-12:00 Noon JSSUS Etiquette Lecture, Ballroom C-D 1:00 P.M.-2:00 P.M. NBTHK Exhibit for Members, Ballroom C-D 2:00 P.M.-3:00 P.M. NBTHK Exhibit for Non-Members, Ballroom C-D 6:00 P.M.-8:00 P.M. - Cocktail/Dinner Reception (Exhibitors Only), Foyer F SUNDAY AUGUST 3 9:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M. Public Show Hours, Main Ballroom E-F 4:00 P.M. Show Closes Place: San Francisco Airport Marriott Hotel 1800 Old Bayshore Highway Burlingame, CA 94080 For further information, please contact: The Northern California Japanese Sword Club Fred Weissberg, President and Secretary 650-595-1703

Dan - Nice find indeed. FWIW there will be a polisher at the San Francisco Sword Show next week and for a small fee he could put a window in it to show you the potential of your blade. Bob Benson is expected to be in attendance as well. http://www.ncjsc.org/SF_token_kai.htm -t

Nick - These have to be the best photos I have ever seen for a listing here! Hard not to want this one given the presentation, love that tsuba too. -t

Chris - While not especially pretty at first blush - I would leave it as is, at least until I was sure it was a cowboy and not an umamawari... -t

Our FAQ page http://www.toryu-mon.com/Toryu-Mon/FAQ.html If you have any other questions about this or future NTHK events Visit http://www.toryu-mon.com Or please email us at; nthk2015@toryu-mon.com to register please visit our shinsa registration page http://www.toryu-mon.com/Toryu-Mon/NTHK ... gistration

New Service!! For those who cannot attend - The organizers of this years show will handle mail in items For full details Contact Mark Jones http://www.chicagoswordshow.com 427 W Dussel #128 Maumee Ohio 43537-4208 USA For details on the fast growing Chicago Sword Show see; http://www.chicagoswordshow.com See details of the amenities and location of the hotel, as well as make your reservations here; Hyatt Regency Woodfield - Schaumburg, Illinois Hoping to see you all there! -t

The Nihon To-ken Hozon Kai (NTHK) is pleased to announce - THE NTHK 2015 CHICAGO shinsa April 24th, 25th and 26th 2015 Hyatt Regency Woodfield - Schaumberg, Illinois Yoshikawa Eiichi Sensei and the NTHK have are pleased to have been invited to Chicago with their team of sword experts to provide sword collectors in the U.S. the opportunity to have their swords and fittings examined and authenticated under the same strict conditions practiced in Japan. As this event coincides with the annual Chicago sword show held at the same venue, attendance is expected to be high, therefore early registration is encouraged. for details on the shinsa visit; http://www.toryu-mon.com/Toryu-Mon/NTHK ... gistration

Steve - I hope that you will tell all the folks down in the Ozarks that there is a Shinsa coming. Sadly not this year but next and not too far off. The NTHK (under Yoshikawa Eiichi Sensei) has accepted the invitation to hold a shinsa at the Chicago Sword Show next April. Full details will be announced in another posting, you may of course check here; http://www.toryu-mon.com for info. Your friend in the way, -t

"A few..."

I shall have to check my stock of cards - when I get up, Not sure why that text is there but, may be the ghost of Shinsa past. If it is any consolation we are talking Chicago in 2015! -t

Markus - Count me in on the revision - love your koshirae book but what it seriously lacks in the day and age is large, high rez photos that can be closely examined. A tall order I am sure but will love to see what you come up with. -t

Circle with the character Dai 大 inside most likely Osaka arsenal mark Fwiw -t

Grev - Do you have pictures of the signature itself? Might help to get to the correct answer. -t

This is the reprint however... -t

Why isn't there a "LIKE" button on this forum? -t

John - Fred (Nihonto.com) only rarely visits these pages - after reviewing the articles in question I am convinced you have spotted a typo. A quick check of the Nihonto Meikan show that several generations of Yasutsugu and at least two Sadakuni received the title of Higo Daijo - while neither Yasutsugu or Sadakuni are listed as having the title Higo (no) Kami. This leads me to believe that Fred typed no Kami when he meant Daijo. Given the tremendous amount of research he has to do and the number of articles over the years this must be what happened. I can always ask him to clarify if it is a matter of great importance to the group... -t

A precious thing that. Take good care of it Ed. -t

John - Make sure you search the archives here while you are at it - lots of nuggets buried among the many posts and pages. You might also check nihonto.com - the articles section there has good information on many of the well known smiths... -t

For my money the most useful reference is Nihonto Kenkyu to Kantei by Tsuneishi. This two volume book never ceases to amaze with geneologies, legends and histories, and work-style descriptions that make sense in the real world. The descriptions of the artists work often contain tidbits not found in other works and the author includes second and third generation artists not found or not extensively covered by other references. There are oshigata, photos, and mei included for comparison but the photography is of an earlier time and could use updating. If you are looking for a book with general appeal this will have something for everyone. I would also second Henk's call for a good reference on armour - seeing Trevors effort faulter was a real disappointment. Hoping we can see that come back to life or something like it. -t

Nice! and a terrific example of why one should be a collector of Kasama... -t

Of course if working all this out in Japanese is too much for you - I can highly recommend the Shijo-kantei as published in the NTHK Journal Tô-ken to Rekishi. The explanations and answers are presented in Japanese and English. Translations by our own Dr Gordon Robson, in addition the lecture/explanations for the monthly kantei-kai and the occasional article are provided to the membership at no extra charge. This is a considerable amount of excellent information on swords delivered right to your mailbox in English - While the cost of dual membership is high, I find tremendous value in both. -t

Stephen asked, some time ago I know, how one might sign-up for the Shijo Kantei. Since the answer is a bit involved it took me a while to get around to typing this up; Fist off, please join the NBTHK - if in Japan through your local shibu, if in the US through the NBTHK/US or in Europe through the NBTHK branch for your home country. The cost of membership may seem dear at first but the benefits are worth it and the shijo kantei is a big part of that value. As a member you will receive the monthly magazine Tô-Ken Bijutsu. On the back-side of the monthly "centerfold" you will find the Shijo Kantei sword for that month. Shijo Kantei is roughly "Mail-in appraisal" - so this is a contest to determine the maker of a sword based solely on the description given and the oshigata presented in the magazine. The description is in Japanese, don't let that stop you, use your sword books and kanji flashcards to work your way through the description. It will be difficult at first but the real value in the practice is you will very quickly learn to read and speak "sword". Not only will you be able to translate this skill to the many other descriptions of swords in the magazine each month but I find it is useful when speaking to Germans, Frenchmen, Spaniards and even Japanese with whom I share no other common language but "Sword". There is a post card in the back of the magazine for you to use, you must provide the postage and you have to post your answer to the NBTHK so that it arrives no later than the 5th of the next month. the address is; Nihon Bijutsu Tô-Ken Hozon Kyokai (Shijo-kantei) Yoyogi 4.25.10 Shibuya-ku Tokyo-to Japan 151-0053 Your answer need only be the name of the smith, unless of course there are several generations in which case to get full points you need to include which generation. There is space for you to explain your reasoning, this may be left blank. If you do put something in, it helps the judges to provide a better experience for all in future contests. (note if you keep a journal of your answers you can track your own progress). The answer appears in the next months issue. A full explanation and the name of those who submitted correct (atari) or near miss (dozen) bids will appear in the issue two months later. I will attempt to add some photos to illustrate... -t

A rare date Joe - you really should share the rest of it if you have the chance... -t

John - Let me start by saying we have seen a lot more spent on a lot worse on this forum, so with very little knowledge, if I may say, you have done alright with your first purchases. If the responses here seem mixed it is because you ask a lot without seemingly heeded advice many times repeated on these pages. Imagine saying to your Iaido Sensei, I love your 300 year old art which you have spent decades mastering, "Can you teach me everything you know this weekend, I will send you a really big electronic thank you card if you do!" Since I am sure you are not that kind of student you'll understand if folks here think you should build a foundation first. Afterall Iaido is not just knowing how to draw but also when to draw. If you have a better grasp of the fundamentals you might find you are better equipped to make informed purchases. Ones that you will be happy with years from now. Also asking us to answer all of your questions is a bit like asking "Wheres the airport?" in a foreign language - you might get a long complicated answer you do not understand. For you to understand and learn from the answers given here it is best if you have a grasp of the lingo or at least references at hand that you can use to understand what is said. Hence "Books first, then swords!" Learn to describe your own swords using the accepted terminology - ask focused questions on the features you do not understand, I think you will be much more satisfied with the answers when your do. Take a look on line for the books of Markus Sesko - many of them are available as eBooks and will be good tools for your new hobby. You've taken a big first step, don't let the obstacles we've placed before you deter you, you have entered a world of study that is at least as much fun as drawing a sword... -t PS Sorry for all the Iai analogies couldn't help myself :D