sabiji

Beautiful blade! For me, Taima is the most beautiful representative of the Yamato-Den. Also note the typical Taima hada in the boshi!

Hello Minh, I think your urge to explore is very good. However, it's always better to research first and then buy. Unfortunately, the reverse is most common. Well, you seem to be a young beginner, and then you really want to own something, even if you get advice to the contrary. But I can completely understand you. A homework assignment for you now could be to find out about the history and stylistic working methods of the various Nobukuni branches. What are the special characteristics of the (legendary) first two generations (there is still a lot of controversy and mystery here)? What are the special features of the Oei-Nobukuni? When did a change of style to Bizen-Den begin? When did Nobukuni swordsmiths move to Kyushu, especially to Buzen and Chikuzen, and why? Did this have an impact on the way they worked, and if so, what was it? Are there any differences between Buzen and Chikuzen? What possible connections and interactions are there with the immediate neighbors in Bungo-Takada? When and why did the Buzen Nobukuni disband? Did the remaining representatives possibly move to Chikuzen or Bungo? Why did the Chikuzen Nobukuni survive until the end of the Edo period? Isn't that a project? Look at so many Nobukuni blades of various branches with your own eyes. Collect information, photos, Oshigata, and learn to draw Oshigata yourself. And in 2, 3 or even 10 years, you may be able to provide us with valuable information. You will help others here who are not familiar with the Buzen-Nobukuni to see unknown schools in a different light. That's how it works, and no other way, if you take a serious look at the subject. Let's go!

No, I'm not surprised. Have a look at Tsuruta-San, there are some Ko-Mihara, Ko-Uda, Enju, even Kyo-Mono with TH, which reach up to just under 1.5 million yen, all of which have their irregularities, faults and shortcomings. Sometimes he has blades from this environment and price segment that show a really good and even jihada and also the Nioiguchi is right from front to back and promises good quality. Unfortunately, others also seem to have a good eye. In any case, such blades are sold quite quickly.

Let's not kid ourselves: would a healthy blade with intact hada, with this length, from this time, from this school, cost the price quoted here at a Japanese dealer? It would realistically start at least three times the price. It is an old, worn and tired warrior that may have had a quite decent basic quality in its younger years.

Looks like a very old, but also very worn blade. I hope the spots on one side of the monouchi are not umgane, but just loose welds. It's really hard to see.

Honestly - and I'm sure I'm not making any friends - but I can count the really good Sue Bizen works I've seen in recent years on one hand. I know that Sukesada & Co can do it and then I think, holy sh..., what a great blade! But most of what you find, including the linked swords, are (in my eyes) weapons, nothing more. Robust swords with a sharp edge, conceptless hada with rough weld seams and conceptless hamon, a hardening that often looks rather uncontrolled. One should not try to see anything artistic in this. Of course you can find something like this interesting and collect it, that is completely legitimate. And if dealers are asking such prices, then there seems to be a corresponding clientele.

We've been through this before: even if there is some machiokuri, the Nakago is still ubu!

Okay, and since in the "Suriage definition" the tapering and the material thickness of the Nagako are adjusted by grinding - even if the Mei and the original Yasurime are retained at least partially on one side, it explains the Kanji 磨 for me.

My mistake! There is nothing in the text about changing the tip. Nevertheless, I am of the opinion that some material is missing from the Kissaki. Under the “ubu” it is noted that the (nakago) tip has been cut off and is kurijiri. So ubu and suriage? It will be a point that I will make a note of and ask about in Japan in the fall.

...and where did I translate something wrong?

Nathaniel, in the Juyo Nado Zufu, ultimately only the Oshigata and the Setsumei are depicted, i.e. what you (or Tsuruta-San) are depicting here. And in the Setsumei it says Naginata, and the Mei has been cut off in the date. Of course, the setsumei also states that the saki has been cut. Perhaps Jaques has another Zufu...

Yes, the Kissaki has been reshaped! You can actually see that the mune slopes down towards the Ha. It also says in the origami that the moto saki has been “cut”.

iiiiiiidesuneeee!

Oh God Thomas, what have you done? Now I have to buy an extra suitcase! Many thanks for the tip! The offers on their homepage look very promising!

Brian, in 2019 I picked up my daughter in Tokyo after she had spent a year mainly in Kyushu. Although our hotel was in Jinbocho, the few days were so full of appointments that I actually only made it to Isseido once - just before closing time. I was in Japan with my wife in 2022. In order not to burden her with too much “sword stuff”, I was only able to make two short visits to the NBTHK Museum and the National Museum. In the latter I was only in the Honkan, while in the Heiseikan (I think it was in the Heiseikan) the anniversary exhibition of the National Treasure Blades was on display. And I walked past it because my wife wanted to go somewhere else. (I only noticed it when I was back from Japan...) This year I'm traveling alone, so the focus is only on my hobby! And if I turn every single bookshop upside down this time...