sencho

Pete, I am not sure of the kanji for the nihonto term "tsunagi", but I would assume that it uses the Kanji 繋.., generally meaning to connect, link, bind or fasten together. Seems to describe what we know as a tsunagi fairly well.... however I do not know if the general term came form nihonto, or the other way around... I believe that Tsunagi is also sometimes used to describe a filler or temporary measure, which maybe the subject of your anecdote. Otherwise the guys were in the wrong type of kyabrakura and actually said 綱取り "tsunatori"... Cheers!

Hi, Respectfully, I don't agree with Mark as far as being a Chinese fake. I further don't think this is necessarily a tourist piece. I believe this is a Japanese made sword, but whether it is Nihonto or a machine made Gunto is another question. The value of the sword would obviously depend on an answer to this question. Some better pictures of the blade and tang (posted on here) would be helpful... BTW your pictures of the tang are upside down Cheers

Kyle, Plenty of reading and study of genuine swords... then you will know immediately that this is a fake..... Have a look at this and see if you can spot the difference.... (click the picture to enlarge)... http://www.nihontoantiques.com/images/Blade%20(62)%20copy.jpg and then look at the mounts http://www.nihontoantiques.com/images/Mounts%20copy11211.jpg ...and then examine all of the other swords on http://www.nihontoantiques.com and the rest of the linked sites on the Message Board. I think you will be able to draw your own conclusions Cheers

Dear.... sorry don't know your name... Where in Kyushu do you live? Cheers Nigel

hamon? hadori? Reinhard gave us a bit of education while ago. viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2165&p=39445&hilit=hamon#p39445 Cheers!

damn.... leave Tokyo on the 25th Oct.... still better for the liver to be on the other side of the world from Bob!!! Cheers!

George, In my experience of three different people reading these kanji, Moriyama san included, all have immediately said INABA.... All three Japanese native speakers and two that knew nothing of swords, but just read the kanji on the kai gunto.. Incidentally none had any difficulty reading any of these kanji (from a style point of veiw) they were immediately obvious to them. Cheers

You'll be pleased to know I celebrated your birthday in fine style in Namba, Osaka last night.... however I do not remember much about it!!! Tanjobi omedetogozaimasu!!

Hi Janusz, We discussed a Kai Gunto with INABA about 3 years ago... see here: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=468&p=2933&hilit=inaba#p2933 Cheers

Jacques, Were you drunk when you wrote this? :lol: Cheers.

Bazza, Nice that you put the Morikami link up there... this fabulous Japanese museum and garden is about 10 minutes from my Florida home and I visit on a regular basis when I am back there for the winter time. I went to the KURUMA exhibition when I was back last summer for a couple of weeks, and have the printed version of this related literature. I have been talking with the curator there, and nihonto maybe on the horizon, one day, as they change exhibitions about every 3 or 4 months. As far as Guido's question is concerned, no more to add, after you got the jump on me! so sorry for being a bit off topic Guid's, me old chum! Cheers!

I am always amused about the romantic notion of Japan's history with everyone being so completely honorable and sticking religiously to a code of ethics that was never ever broken. There has been plenty of sharks, dodgy ethics, double dealing, rip offs, back-stabbers, and general skull-duggery, through all classes of society in Japan for the last few thousand years, just like the rest of the world; and still is today, in the world of Nihonto and just about everything else. That is part of the reason that Japanese history, like European history, is so damn interesting. Cheers! ps... this is not a response to your point, Jon, which I neither agree nor disagree with; just to the wording you used that caught my eye

Use Dr. Steins site for a good glossary of terms... http://www.geocities.com/alchemyst/glossry.htm Also scroll to the bottom of the glossary page.... click 'home' and start selecting sections to read.... your education will take a great leap forward!! Cheers!

I thought I saw 4 horizontals within the box of the second to last kanji 目　且　自　耳　 I think I see more markings above the box too now we have the close up....　You would expect this too, with the proportions of the other kanji.... 首　賀　貸　賞　貨　宜 just wildly guessing here..... I like this tsuba, very pleasing! Cheers

As Grey says definitely go!! I personally recommend Kanazawa, Nara, Hakone, Nikko, the latter two being fairly easy runs from Tokyo. Nara is closer to Osaka and Kyoto and is magnificent. Definitely try Onsen, there are places where you and your bride can have private onsen Hakone is one place, but lots of them in Japan. Just going to local neighborhoods and eating in very local restaurants is a great experience for people who have never been to Japan... last night we sat in an izakaya for about 4 hours eating marvelous food and drinking lovely cold sake, having a great time, and the bill was about GBP 25- 30 per head.... in the middle of Tokyo! (I wish the golf was as cheap!) October is a lovely time of year in Japan.... not too touristy which is nice for Kyoto, and still some warm days but not as steamy hot. Try and be flexible and check the weather while you are in Tokyo... when you know it is going to be sunny and clear go for Fuji-san... it's a right bummer when you turn up there on a set day and cannot see a thing! Have no advise for you on the sword smiths, sorry... have never done it.... however some on the board have... Don't worry about the language... you have a year or so to learn how to be basically polite in Japanese and the people here will respect you no end for your efforts. :D Cheers Nigel

Nice find Moriyama san... Same sword?... I take it they are splitting not just the daisho up but the swords from their Koshirae too??? More profit? seems sad to me...

Had a feeling you, of all members, might pick up on that. However it is not an abbreviation.... just playing with 山 ... and is certainly meant with respect rather than casual or informal... as this is 'off topic', please p.m. me with any reply. Thanks for Reinhard sama's ( ) and Gui-chan's ( ) explanations on this... very informative. Regards

Mori-san.... I have noticed both Shitahara and Shimohara names being used heavily on mei translations of many internet sites but no real explanations of the difference between the two.... ... So many thanks for this! Best regards

Just a little correct, The school is Shitahara and not Shimohara Jacques, Reinhard or Mori-san [sic] for the uneducated like me.... what is the difference between.... 武州下原 Bushu Shitahara and 武州下原 Bushu Shimohara in as far as location, school and pronunciation.... if anything at all??? Regards

Curiously, the seller seems to have this little statement in all his auctions, even for many famous makers with old "papers". I bought a sword from Mike with no papers.... he flat out guaranteed the sword to pass shinsa or he would refund the buyers money and expenses (edit - not shinsa expenses)..... never said anything about 'sold as is'... I won the auction.... love the sword.... don't care for, or about, shinsa, so never sent it to even try to obtain papers.... Have never had anything but full honesty and assistance from Mike... however I am sure he has dealt with plenty of people that need the phrase 'Caveat Emptor' explaining to them... "sold as is" seems a very sensible thing to add to the description! Cheers

Now being pedantic like Ford... Does this rule apply to the making of tosogu and polishing too then?... any tosogu made outside Japan are Japanese-stlye fittings and any polishing done outside Japan is considered Japanese-stlye polishing.... If a Japanese sword smith comes to Europe of America and makes swords in the traditional way, is this then deemed non-nihonto? Happy to see that John in his initial post mentioned quite clearly (as Brian noted) that he made "Japanese Style Swords". At no point has John ever implied that he is making Nihonto and his answers have been very polite, considering some of the board narcissists jumping down his throat because he took the time and bother to actually introduce himself..... I'm not the politest person in the world, but some of these replies, especially the dismissive one-liners are a bit rude! :D Anyway... welcome to the forum John hope you find it an enjoyable learning experience! I look forward to checking out your website. , cheers!

For visitors to Japan, I found a very useful resource the other day. http://www.mukiryoku.com/railmap_e.html Rail maps in the style of the London Tube, in Romanji..... and covering all JR, Metro/Subway and Private lines... a map with all companies is difficult to come by, as the rail companies in Japan only publish maps of their individually operated rail systems, which is sometimes frustrating to say the least. Greater Tokyo map covers Chiba, Saitama, Ibaraki, Tokyo, Yokohama and more. Osaka Area covers Osaka to Wakayama to Kobe (and beyond) and over to past Kyoto. There is also an extensive map for the Nagoya Area Worked very well for me traveling back from Shin-Matsuda to Tokyo early this morning with blood shot eyes and a sore head ...although Shinjuku at 8am can always be a bit of a struggle, even without the aid of shochu!! :lol: Cheers!

Talking of Bahrain do you know what channel it is on in Japan...? I am in Sakai now... Back to Wadaiko, I think the Thunder god was who she referred to.... Raijin.... or Raiden.... Kaminari-don... he always has mitsidomoe on his drums, as you say..... She is in Florida, so not sure when I will ask her... Cheers

Peirs, The Mitsu-domoe mon seems to be commonly found on wa-daiko... my missus is a professional taiko banger (and fue blower!) and she told me the history of why they use it so often on the skin..... As usual I was not paying any attention, preferring to watch the Formula One race, but if she talks to me again, I will ask her..... :lol: Cheers!

hello shipmate, maybe Moriyama san, Morita san or Markus will come to our rescue!!