drjoe

Yes, I understand that part. But I'm still not clear on the application and more importantly whether there are substitutes. Previous discussion here touches on this subject, but I'm looking for more details.

The sword is in a bag and in a gun safe, so no UV damage. My concern about the sayagaki comes from handling it every once in a while.

I have two shirasaya that seem a bit dry on the outside. One has sayagaki that I'm concerned may fade. I understand that applying a thin coat of ibota is the traditional approach, though I'd like to avoid a mail order from Namikawa. Anyway... I have 3 questions: 1. How is ibota applied -- you basically put the powder in a cloth and rub vigorously? 2. Does applying wax risk messing up the sayagaki? 3. Are there more easily available alternatives to ibota? Rennaissance Wax? I suspect pure beeswax might be the most acceptable substitute, but I'm equally unclear as the ibota as to how it might be applied.

awesome, thanks!

I assume, but couldn't find the thread, that someone has already posted about this, but the short version is that this year's Dai Token Ichi has been cancelled and that the yearly catalog has been published online to faciliate sales: https://www.zentosho.com/daitoukenichi/?fbclid=IwAR0p5HRQYDVUp7KL0ZcGyE269MkX1GWbS0LqSFWu4d60_PcJAUyeMm4UBxU The purpose of this post is mainly to inquire whether anyone has yet come across an English translation and if so, to ask if they can please post it here.

Welcome back Joe! I'll keep an eye out since we have overlap in what we collect. And you can always just track down your blades and buy them back... I know where several of them ended up including your long Shigemasa blade that changed hands this year--that one was a beast. Here's a few at Tsuruginoya, though I suspect you've probably seen them already: https://www.tsuruginoya.com/items/a00563.html https://www.tsuruginoya.com/items/a00416.html https://www.tsuruginoya.com/items/a00551.html https://www.tsuruginoya.com/items/a00540.html https://www.tsuruginoya.com/items/a00566.html

There's a brief write up here: There's a few copies on Ebay for around $100 (with additional description): https://www.ebay.com/itm/284224928211?hash=item422d2039d3:g:psYAAOSwDoZgVF6P And also one from Namikawa: https://www.namikawa-ltd.com/product/1021 There also appears to be a booklet version that I've been looking for with no luck: http://www.sanmei.com/contents/en-us/p1653.html

Yeah, I ran it through Google translate without luck. Individually, the kanji seem to mean "heaven (ten) mysterious (gen) mulberry tree (kozo)"--the kozo is "paper mulberry" which is used to make washi paper... I suspect it's a kind of "kigo" or poetic way of stating the time of year.

Where'd you get that Yoshihara Kuniie "tea towel?"

Trying to help out a lucky friend of a friend who was gifted an "attic" katana. Some translation help from Ray Singer (and a couple hours of additional slow-going research on my part) reveals that the mei reads 嶋田七郎右衛門尉源義助 Shimada Shichiroemon no Jo Minamoto Yoshisuke. It is dated 享保三天玄楮 Kyoho 3 (1718). According to Markus Sesko's Index of Japanese Swordsmiths, the civilian name "Shichiroemon" in the zokumei and the date would make this the 8th generation Shimada Yoshisuke, though Markus' book lists his death in 1712 a few years before this sword was signed. I have 3 questions: 1) Has anyone seen a signature or oshigata from the 8th generation Shimada Yoshisuke to compare? 2) Does anyone know what the phrase "天玄楮" means in the date? 3) The blade is in old mounts which are in disrepair with what appears to be an original polish that, surprisingly for an attic sword, is mostly free of rust. Any idea of what a reasonable asking price would be for the sword if offered for sale? These are the only photos I have at the moment... will add more if I can get them.

yes, "kaji" 🔥 is a very appropriate term for Kiyofusa's work!

Official results are up: https://www.touken.or.jp/Portals/0/pdf/mokuroku/2020Contemporary_Swords_and_Artworks(English).pdf

nice daisho recently for sale (but sold now I think) http://sanmei.com/contents/media/A58786-7_S2229_PUP_E.html?fbclid=IwAR3sIBjfH4045wDc7niYzgdwkTW2EaOWYfbDk-HN4gaYe59_9Wq-f5EoB6M

Still available if anyone is looking for a higher end, but used, iaito. Warp has been fixed; tsuba has been swapped. Joe

Yes, I found that one too, thanks!

English translation courtesy of Hiroko and Lonnie Kapp here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1teJkwb3FxcnD7WDVBsj17YQsAfCjp7bj/view?fbclid=IwAR0H5nl-9kGWkjfzLFtLpD9GJ75jbgj79tqyDVDDDIc0aLTD41YoYNiUOx8 Does anyone have the results from 2019? I'd also be interested in purchasing any catalogs from these competitions if anyone is selling.

Interesting example. “Sugata” is similar to another one I picked up. BTW if anyone is interested in buying the non-spiral ones above, send me a PM and make an offer.

In case anyone is interested in this as an iaito, I am happy to report that the warp has been corrected. It otherwise remains in used condition with scratches from tameshigiri and shinae from a corrected bend. Back to $5000 now.

didn't think i'd like if when I saw the description on email, but as i see it now, that's pretty cool

Hmmm... there's a lot to unpack here and I don't claim to be an expert by any means, but... First of all, I'm not suggesting that shinsakuto are better than older blades, I was just explaining where my interest is as a collector and why. If I had a choice between a Tokubetsu Juyo level Bizen Ichimonji and a modern shinsakuto by one of the best mukansa smiths, I'd take the koto blade. I also completely agree that there are still many good koto blades out there that are in a very, very healthy state of polish -- I've been fortunate to see and handle quite a few up close. Second, while it's said that many smiths are trying to recreate koto blades and many work in a particular style, I wouldn't say that means they're imitating to the point of copying or pastiche. An swordsmith working in a tradition is still creating as an act of self-expression, even when doing utsushimono (by way of corollary, there are Elvis imitators and new rock artists inspired by 1960s classic rock -- I would argue that the modern Japanese smiths are more like new rock artists than Elvis impersonators). Even with something like Ono Yoshimitsu's Yamatorige utsushi, it's not as if he's trying to make an exact copy or that anyone would confuse the original with his work. Similarly, going back in time, it's not like all of the Shinshinto (or any other post-koto period) smiths were just recreating previous work within one of the Gokaden traditions. Was Kiyomaro just doing Kanueji pastiche? I don't think so. And finally, although many smiths do work within a certain tradition, there are plenty of smiths whose work is instantly recognizable as something fairly unique. Sugita Yoshiaki's hadakayaki blades come to mind as an obvious example. Incidentally, I also happen to admire Western smiths who work in the Japanese tradition, not copying the work (sometimes to a fault), but adding to it in their own way. Howard Clark's L6 blades from a performance standpoint or Michael Bell's forge welded cable katana for example. Or Pavel Bolf's work trying to unlock the mysteries of koto blades by experimenting with different orishigane and quenching without clay. Alas, my collection of shinsakuto is modest and mostly consists of second hand blades, so I'm not supporting the smiths directly through commissions, with a couple exceptions. I also enjoy working as an occasional bladesmith myself as a way of creating something while appreciating the larger Japanese tradition (not to mention saving myself from buying more blades made by other people).

it's just suboptimal (actually too much) lighting.

I found your Toshisada in my online searches and liked it a lot -- it might be my favorite example. I was lucky to find one very similar.

yes, assuming we're talking about the "tortoise shell" tsuba, Michimasa was the original translation (see above). what I'd really love to know is that the other side says; something makes me think it's the real mei. Kiyo - something - something it seems.

Doesn’t seem so... here’s some better pictures of both sides (sorry, not sure why they want to post sideways)

These obviously have some wear and pictures are not the greatest -- they all look better in hand. Any corrections to my translations are appreciated.