Toryu2020

Grev - Look for examples of the Mazaru - the presentation of this style of monkey in art is unique and I think matches your example. Hideyoshi was called "saru" by Nobunaga but it was an insult - others may have referred to him this way but not to his face when he was alive. And no one would wear the insult as a badge on their tsuba. Additionally I would say Tokugawa and Toyotomi symbols on one tsuba would not have happened even after he was dead. Regardless it is a great design. -t (for Tom)

Grev - No Hideyoshi connexion but definitely a Tokugawa connexion. According to the Tsuba Gadai Jiten this theme is known as 日吉山王 (Hiezan nô) and depicts in a stylized way the Torii and Mazaru (Guardian Monkeys) of the Hie (Hiyoshi) Shrine of Shiga prefecture. This shrine has a long association with the Imperial household but in the Edô period a branch of the shrine became the guardian of Edô Castle. Thus the appeal to Edô Tokugawa Samurai. A very cool rendition of this idea, not your everyday tsuba. more on Monkeys here; http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/monkey-koushin-p3.html#ideograms

Simon has it right - Jantonu (sorry don't know how I should address you) this is most likely the fourth generation since he uses the character 参 san instead of 三 san, for his title Mikawa no kami - an interesting piece for research. Would love to see pictures of the blade... -t (for Tom or Toryu)

37?

I am pretty sure this is a copy in silver - the original was Shakudo Look closely at the "plugs" - are they part of the piece or different metal inserted? a nice paperweight but not at that price... mho -t

Great weekend - maybe not as many walk-ins as usual but many folks reported good sales. Including one guy who sold all nine swords on his table to a single buyer! I personally saw many great swords in hand some at the wonderful NBTHK/AB exhibit and some out on the tables. I especially enjoyed the Norishige tanto, the Niji Kunitoshi tachi and a Bizen Tomonari tachi, all of them very good for the eyes! some snaps attached... -t

Looks promising, Nice toppei koshirae - you will need more close ups of everything and maybe overall photos of the blade and nakago. sign me envious, -t

2015 NCJSC To-Ken Taikai SCHEDULE OF EVENTS FRIDAY AUGUST 7 8:00 A.M.-12:00 P.M. Dealer Set-up Main Ballroom E-F 12:00 P.M.-10:00 P.M. Public Show Hours Main Ballroom E-F 10:30 A.M.-11:30 A.M. NBTHK Board Mtg. Ballroom C-D 1:00 P.M.-3:00 P.M. NBTHK Fittings Lecture Ballroom C-D 6:00 P.M.-8:00 P.M. Cocktail/Dinner Reception* Foyer F SATURDAY AUGUST 8 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. Ballroom C-D 11:00 AM-12:00 P.M. JSSUS Etiquette Lecture Ballroom C-D 1:30 P.M.-3:00 P.M. NBTHK Member’s Only Exhibit Ballroom C-D 3:00 P.M.-5:00 P.M. NBTHK Member’s Reception Ballroom C-D 6:00 P.M.-8:00 P.M. Cocktail/Dinner Reception* Foyer F SUNDAY AUGUST 9 9:00 A.M.-4:00 P.M. Show Hours Main Ballroom E-F 4:00 P.M. Show Closes See You Next Year *These events are for Exhibitors only.

The time is near folks - getting excited - our annual To-ken Taikai is just a week away. Besides the events listed below there will be a showroom full of more than 100 dealers from all over the US, Canada, Mexico, Europe and Japan. Collectors in the know wait for this show every year, the largest Japanese sword show and sale outside of Japan. Thousands of swords at every price point for every level of interest. I'll be there all weekend, hoping to see all my NMB peeps there and if you do come down make sure you tell em Big Tom sent you! www.ncjsc.org

I am curious did Yimuyin ever make it to Israel? I have a friend in Tel Aviv willing to help if anyone is on a similar quest. -t

Pete Fred W has almost the exact same tsuba, 10cm, thick, heavy, and all carved. However his is papered to Saotome. Would be interesting to see these side by side. in San Fran of course, - t

"the condition is explicit" Whatever the case, Shigetoshi is a desirable smith, not into WWII myself but i could get into this... -t

Received mine today - terrific! I need More! -t

Well done Steve - few people make such a good start, and few will find a single piece that could make a collection all by itself. -t

Flemming Everything looks to be wartime manufacture - the better swords would have a full signature - yours is number 38 in a run of who knows how many. It is a legitimate sword but not traditonal and perhaps not the best the Showa era could produce. -t

I agree Shinshinto or newer - Not Hizen, jihada pattern looks too large to my eye. FWIW -t

Nice.

Thanks Gentlemen - Malx - in all the images we see of Inuyama the donjon is at the peak of the hill and none of the maps I have seen suggest major stuctures above and behind it as Campbell suggests. Junichi - maybe but it lacks the long walls and the robust donjon of Matsuyama, even if its artistic license I think a painter would want to include those distinctive walls. While the second story appears to have a karahafu on the second story in the picture, so do both Matsuyama and Inuyama. Inuyama is tall and thin looking while Matsuyama blockier. I dont know the answer either, I am leaning toward Inuyama but I am hoping for a definitive image from somewhere to settle it. -t

So tsuba is nerikawa or lacquered wood?

Folks - Here is a question for you - attached is an image from an early Showa oil on silk kakejiku, a recent find. The question being is this Inuyama? Iwakuni? or some other castle. Any thoughts entertained, thank you -t

Maximillan Beautiful set. What are the dimensions? Love the color, if your photos show the true color, like a bar of chocolate! -t

Yitzy Love the look of this piece, any photos of the tsuba? fuchi? inside of the tsuka or koiguchi? inquiring minds you know... -t

John - I would say that it is subjective, since we do not get to take out our calipers and take measurements during a kantei kai. However the benefit of attending many such sessions is that you build a database in your minds eye of swords you have seen, the differences are often barely noticeable but with time you learn to see the patterns. -t

As I recall Hayama Enshin used it often - fwiw -t

ps Matsumae being in the extreme north, the rain (snow) hat actually might belong with these pieces... -t