Kaigunto230

I am constantly blown away by the kindness of folks on this forum. Thank you!!

Oh, interesting! Is the shaku, sun, and bu measurements normally done on green origami but just not here? Or is that a switch when they redid the origami in the 1980s? Would you mind please pointing out specifically where it says that? I'm always so surprised by the length of kanji written out, but it seems like column 3 has a so many characters for just saying "This sword is X centimeters long."

@NobodyThank you for the extra information! Is there a way to determine which branch of the NBTHK issued this particular origami? So, here’s what I have after reading. Like I said, I’m illiterate and just trying to pull from Google/websites, so please feel free to tell me where I’m off. This was a little frustrating but really rewarding, and I couldn’t have done it without you two, @kyushukairu and @Nobody, so thank you! From right to left by column: Ninteisho - a writing/paper which is the recognition of authenticity This item (一) is a katana (刀)with a mei by Fujiwara Yukinaga (藤原行長). The length of the sword in shaku, sun, and bu (Still working the actual length out). To-kyokai (our organization) has rated this item as an Extraordinary Work (Tokubetsu Kicho). The shinsa was held on Showa, 49th year, 6th month, 3rd day (June 3, 1974). “Zaidan Hojin Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai” - The non-profit organization of NBTHK with its official seal. The owner of this sword was named Joe Takahashi.

@kyushukairu Thank you so much for the fast reply and for your time! I really appreciate the help. I'm headed to work, so I need to digest your link and follow-up later today/this week. At a quick glance, the link looks like a great step by step, even more thorough than other websites that go column by column (like the Japanese Sword Index (still an incredible website): http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/origami.htm ). Thank you again!

Envelope and closeup on oshigata:

Good afternoon, all. Could you please assist me with translating my green papers for a shinto katana I purchased purportedly signed by Yukinaga Fujiwara of Bungo province? If you could do a column by column translation, I’d greatly appreciate it. I understand the status of green papers and am not looking to rehash that discussion. I’m just looking to know when this shinsa was held, which NBTHK office, what they said, etc. Thank you so much for your help!

Quick note if you’re planning on attending the show that there is a new county regulation which requires indoor mask wearing for all persons regardless of vaccination status under the CDC’s new guidelines. Tell your friends attending the show!

@Toryu2020 I saw you had commented on both this and another thread about the Token, and the pit of my stomach dropped thinking it was a cancellation message due to COVID. So thankful we’re still on; frankly, I can’t remember the last event I’ve been so excited for. Bought a hard rifle case to fly a new treasure(s 😁) home, been reading and studying a bunch, made flash cards for Nihonto terminology. I’m in totally nerd mode and super excited 🤓 People at the office are egging me on too; it’s great!

That’s a great point! I meant it as a specific trait of this sword, but you’re right that this could get extrapolated out out and get someone into hot water.

Lonnie, this forum has a For Sale thread that may be helpful if you’d like to connect with those interested buyers: https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/forum/6-for-sale-or-trade/

Thank you so much, Maxime! I hadn’t seen it, and that was a great piece. I particularly liked seeing the live-in aspect of apprenticeship, the challenges there, and bond formed between student and sensei (not always built on positive reactions to each other).

Is the display going to be up the whole time or just for one day? I’m coming Saturday and would love to see it, particularly if it’s accompanied by a lecture.

And yes, the sword does yell “I’m a fake” (glancing again, I see the lack of yokote, the “same” ( 😬 ), the tzukamaki, etc. etc. ), and people’s time is limited for commenting. I just know as a fellow beginner, it can be helpful to point out specifics to focus on and think “OH, that is totally fake when I see the real ones side by side.”

For Arnold’s (and everyone’s) sake, instead of just saying “it’s an obvious fake, hit the books,” can we please list some things that helped you identify it as a fake? Not all, but here’s what I saw right away: 1. Kanji on the mei was too spread out, on both sides, funkily chiseled (if it even WAS chiseled), and not normally recognizable characters (katakana?) 2. Thought the erotic scene on the kozuka was very out of place, and the figures themselves were too crude. 3. Kogatana’s blade shape was odd; the sori looked almost fantasy-like with the carved-out area. 4. Rust on nakago was an odd color, too bright. 5. Loose/missing seppas 6. seemed like the habaki and blade were off-center through the tsuba There are others certainly, but I think it’s helpful to take an extra few seconds to point out the WHY instead of always pointing towards the books without further context.

@IbexiSterlinfa any further developments on this one? I’d love to hear if you submitted for shinsa and the results.

This was incredible. Not only the story itself, but Ian, you’re a great writer and drew me in the whole time; I felt like it was me doing the discovery. Thank you and congratulations!

This has been a great discussion all around to be a fly on the wall for. Jon, good luck with your purchase; they all look gorgeous! Thomas, could you please say a little more about Shinto blades and why condition is relatively more important for them than for swords of other eras?

This topic is so interesting to me. Has anyone run into similar stories regarding their own swords? I'd love to see photos and hear what you know. Here's a good scholarly article on revenge killings in the Edo era: Kataki-Uchi - The Practice of Blood-Revenge in Pre-Modern Japan by D.E. Mills.pdf And here's a podcast on the same: https://radiopublic.com/samurai-archives-Japanese-history-GA5rdp/s1!65f68

I posed in my member introduction that I lived in Japan for two and half years a couple years ago, and during that time, we were lucky enough to travel to a bunch of museums. I promised I would post some interesting stories from our travels. This one's the most interesting, and I'm kicking myself that I don't have better photos of the blade itself for us to study the sword's characteristics. Even so, I think it's still an incredibly interesting story. This was at the Odawara Castle museum in Kanagawa prefecture. The two Asada brothers had their father murdered by a Narutaki Mansuke, who escaped from jail and fled. The brothers received permission from their daimyo and hunted down Mansuke and murdered him in revenge. Here's the sword used during the killing as well as more information: Edit: I posted this in the Nihonto thread because of the sword itself, but Brian/Admin, please feel free to move it to a different thread if you think it's more appropriate. Thank you!

@mtexter I wanted to follow up on this thread. Did you ever get any photos of the actual blades or learn anything further rom these? Thanks!

Chris, thank you! It was from a local antiques dealer that always has great stuff but usually far more pricey than things are worth. This time around, I got to turn the tables on them, and we both ended up with a deal (he cleared some space in the crowded front case, and I got a great piece of history). When he told me the price, I was taken aback, but I even managed to haggle him down $50. I think I'm going to hold onto it for awhile, as I love the Navy connection. Maybe some day though!

Are dealers at tables interested in purchasing/trading from non-dealers? It feels odd to walk up to someone and go “Hey buddy, wanna buy a sword?” but I’m wondering if I should bring an Army Gunto to sell and save on shipping etc. Which brings me to a second question. From this nice walkabout video from 2016, it seems gunto (or at least Gunto mounts) are for sale. Is it largely traditional Nihonto (my guess), or does the convention have Japanese militaria as well? Again, thank you all for your time in replying. I’m getting SO excited, and this is all very helpful.

Bruce, I’m out of town for a week, so this is the best I’ve got; it’s close enough to see some detail though. I think the leather is cowhide but am not sure.

Dave, thanks for sharing! I can’t quite see. What’s the material on the tsuka - is it same or leather like mine?

Bruce, that whole thread is great! Thank you for pointing me that way. Your research on the contract with the PX was so interesting! That certainly complicates finding authentic Gunto. The single-hanger confused me too at the antique store, but everything else seemed legitimate, and the price was so good, I went with it. The shop has another sword, this one Army, also for $600. I’m saving my money for the Token Kai and actually getting a Nihonto, but it seems a shame to let it go for that little, even though that one’s same and saya are a little worn. At the modern Yokosuka U.S. Navy base, our version of the PX (the Navy Exchange (NEX)) has a Japanese souvenir section. Some of the goods are locally made and quite nice. Others, to include several junk Amazon-quality katanas, are not so good. However, my office had special cause to look closely at these swords after this incident happened: https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/sailor-convicted-in-drunken-sword-attack-on-bystander-at-yokosuka-laundromat-1.584777 . Always something crazy happening 😬