Toryu2020

The question was asked beforehand, would they consider a star-stamped blade for papers? The answer was, "if it is hand-made", this blade was indeed not only hand-made but also well-made I am glad we got the chance to see it. good on you! -t

Yes! Several folks, lucky enough to already be at the hotel, have expressed interest in submitting items. We will be taking registrations from walk-ins but as we have stated Friday is full and your choices for Saturday and Sunday are becoming limited with each new registration. We will no longer be able to respond to email after this. Come see us in the SHINSA ROOM located on the lobby level of the hotel in their "Bayside meeting room" - anytime after 1000 tomorrow if you want to see about registering for a timeslot. Please remember this is a cash only enterprise and we have to give preference to those who are pre-registered. Thanks to everyone for their support, looking forward to seeing everybody this weekend! -t

Jamie - in the image Jacques so kindly provided, I never would have come up with this so fast BTW, you'll see two signatures; one from TAIEI (1527/8) and the other from EIROKU (1567). In the text they ask the question "was there a first and second generation or is this one man?" Not sure what other sources say about this smith but your guy could be either one. Do you have a signature to compare it with? Be interesting to see what you find out. -t

For those of us who don't use Hawleys can you let us in on which Masachika you are thinking of? thanks, -t

Keith - I think of things the other way round, Buke perhaps were "chaste" but everybody else was going at it. Japanese sexual mores being much looser than here in the west. @Ray take a look at the back of Ladies Home Journal, they call em "personal massagers" but the shape is unmistakable. Nothing in the rule book says she has to use the fat end... -t

It's a vibrator! -t

Justin - Pre-registration closes tomorrow. You might contact Moses at nihontoantiques.com he was offering a for fee service for some of his customers. Also Bob Benson of Bushido.com was doing the same but he of course is located West of here! There are still a few slots open for Sat and Sun, -t

Eric - Need to post photos of the overall nakago as well as close ups of the habaki moto and the hi (horimono) - at first glance, this is not suriage because of the placement of the hi. Really need to see what the hamon is doing at the ha-machi. If this is suriage then the horimono are ato-bori thats why we need to look closely at them. I'm just dumb enough to guess from photographs and given these photos I would say Shinshinto or later... -t

Is it Tim? If you are anywhere near San Francisco this month there is a shinsa being held at the NCJSC To-Ken Taikai, the largest Japanese Sword Show and sale outside of Japan. visit the following for info on the shinsa; http://www.toryu-mon.com/Toryu-Mon/NTHK ... ement.html a real alternative to sending swords to Japan, and visit the NCJSC for info on the sword show; http://www.ncjsc.org best, -t

Moriyama-San I see is on the case, Any chance this is 藤原慶登 or Fujiwara Yoshinobu? Thinking outloud... -t

Mik - Your date is 天保十亥 or Tenpo Ju I nen or the Tenth year of Tenpo junior year of the Earth Rat.　I think Yoshinobu is correct not sure of the family name - may look at it again later but suspect others will suss that out before I do... -t

Kanefusa sayagaki number one appears to say; 長サ壹尺有之 or Nagasa: Isshaku kore ari If I may say this is an exceptionally well written sayagaki, I should be interested to see any information on the reverse of these. The length as given on number two eludes me as well... -t

Just MHO but I would not risk any dollar amount - looks like the front end of a katana re-worked into a tanto, not good... -t

For those thinking of coming to this years Taikai, The shinsa slots for Friday are full up, Saturday is going fast - if you are thinking of submitting blades now is the time to get your registrations in. We have updated the website with a Team Bio page: http://www.toryu-mon.com/Toryu-Mon/NTHK_Team.html Please check it out and feel free to ask us any questions, -t

Great tsuba! A sake cup and gourd - I wonder if that is an in-theatre retrofit, a man after my own heart... -t

Save your money and wait for the next one... -t

I would agree that is a lotus seed pod and the theme is simply "Autumn"... -t

Has anybody figured out how to load these onto an iPad? -t

Thank you Mr. Moriyama, That makes way more sense "thickly tempered in ko-nie"... -t

Mark - Thanks for those. This is what I think I see, though I have to say I am not sure about some of this; 三原住貝定守　　無銘　　　直調小鉦深き出来良工　　　長　壹尺七寸有之　　　昭和壬子年春日 Mihara ju Kai Sadamori Sugu-cho ko-gane Fukaki-deki Ryo-ko nagasa 1 shaku 7 sun kore ari Showa Mizunoe Ne toshi Shunjitsu Kai Sadamori of Mihara (mumei) suguha - tight jigane - deeply tempered - a skilled maker Length 1 shaku 7 sun (this attribution given) on a spring day in Showa (sorry I don't have the right book handy) a year of the rat Suiken (Kao) Fukunaga Suiken is perhaps the most prolific writer of books on Nihonto - a man who came up in the sword world before the war - a student of Takase Uko, (among others), founder of the NTHK, a doctor and a friend to any student of the Japanese sword - He was for many years part of the NTHK under Yoshikawa Koen, where he was an integral part of their shinsa team. Thanks for the chance to check this out, -t

Mark - Sue-Mihara is likely around Tenbun/Tensho. Toshinaga (Jumyo) on the other hand is all across the board, the shape will be the best clue to the time-period. I believe your sayagaki is by Fukunaga Suiken - if you have the time I would to love see close-ups of that sayagaki... -t

Should be available thru KENDOWORLD.com... -t

Thank you Sir! Lucky you, to have so many Ko-sori blades you can't keep the papers straight... -t

Very well, Why don't the nakago pictured on the kantei-sho and the nakago on the sword as pictured match? -t

The measurements given don't match either, Brian - are you gonna let him know? -t