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Hi Jean, Found that tsuba on a internet search. Described as Myoga design (Japanese ginger), Ko-shoami school. The design is a bit more intricate in the sukashi than your first tsuba, but there are two hearts and a very artistic plant look a like 😎👍 Best regards Soren

Have just received a beautiful sword in a hard wood shirasaya , two very nice Koshirae (Edo and a high grade type 98 army with leather protection) with custom made tsunagi and silk / cotton protection bags. NBTHK Hozon paper, Aio-Art appraisal and a full Oshigata. In total more than Daniel promised 😎👍 On top on that - a very fast and secure shipment. Very professional and competent. Very satisfied, thank you 🙏🤗

Evening Dale, It does indeed look like a musket shot, and if that is correct, then maybe the lucky fellow who survived that shot decided that this cheap Tsuba had to be his lucky charm - no matter the damage /Soren 😎

Gentlemen, Thank you for those reply’s, and taking your time. Curran - measurements: 83 x 78 x 5 mm. Feels like a Tsuba for a Katana. /Soren

Hi Steve, Thank you for your honest reply. Truly appreciated. And in reflection I do see your point. My initial question was not intended as anything but a true desire to find out more about this specific Tsuba. The kanji is a bit “twisted” and possibly difficult to translate (translate correctly) which I hoped that someone would be able to clarify. But - there is no need to put anyone “through a minefield”. @Brian would you have the courtesy to delete this post. Thank you. All the best Soren

Dear NMB fellowship, I am again in need of your guiding hands on the subject of either confirmation or possible correction of and earlier translation of Mei. This time a very nice iron Tsuba I recently acquired from an esteemed NMB member. Design: Iron Mokko Gata Tsuba with Phoenix bird and Paulownia (the Phoenix bird was adopted in Japan as a symbol of the imperial household - especially the empress. Measurements 8,3 x 7,8 x 5 mm. Former Mei translation: “Higo Tadamasa Bishu Josai” - made by Tadamasa from Higo school (Edo Higo) in Josai district of Owari province. No records found so far on who he was. Mei is made in nunome zogan inlay in gold, and have the feeling of being genuine ( but - I might be wrong). I would therefore very much appreciate: translation / confirmation or correction of the former translation of the Mei Your thoughts and knowledge concerning the maker of this Tsuba (should you have any) Best regards Soren

Hi Krystian, Tsuba number IX (Mokko Gata with Phoenix) arrived safe and sound, and what a beautiful bird. Very exquisite work - thank you 🙏 🤗 All the best Soren

As already suggested, use the combined and infinite wisdom of the NMB. The synergies of that “crowd intelligence”, and sheer amount of accumulated knowledge is both extensive, friendly and close to being your new best friend in starting on your tsuba collecting journey. And - as so often is suggested by some very learned people - consider reading and studying books. A beginners favorite could be: by one of the boards wizards 👍 And again - no commercial is intended 😜 /Soren

That was fast - much appreciated, thank you 🙏 😎 Best regards Soren

Dear NMB translation experts, Once again I’m in need of your skills in reading and decoding Mei. This time it is on my latest research topic, a tsuba made of yamagane (raw or natural copper) with a design that could point in the direction of several schools. The tsuba has clear marks of having been mounted on a sword (wakizashi) and probably more than once, and probably also on different swords over time. Dimensions: 69 x 67 x 4,5 mm Weight: 130 grams Can you help Best regards Soren

Hi Jeramiah, What a beautiful set - close to what dreams are made of Regarding the maker of the tsuba I do believe that Ian has a very solid suggestion when referring to the Yoshioka School. There is a very similar tsuba (shakudo and three dragons in gold, and on the rim / mimi) on auction through Catawiki at the moment. Auction estimate between 1500 - 1700 euro (same as in USD). Unfortunately it’s not possible to copy link /Soren

Gentlemen, Thank you for both the time and the depth of your reply’s. It is truly appreciated with the full acknowledgment that you most likely have stated the same many times before🙏 Jeremiah - 👍on those pictures of authenticated Sugiura Joi mei for comparison. Steve - You have a strong point. It is probably very unlikely that several, and almost pristine works of a major master craftsman can be found on auction without papers of authentication, and at the same time. Should raise a question or two…🤔 Ford - I value your perspective on the actual craftsmanship (groundwork, carving and design) as you have that explicit knowledge (feeling, seeing and knowing), that is so hard to really comprehend for a novice, such as myself. It’s one thing to see and instinctively like a design, drawing or carving, as opposed to fully understand the talents acquired to make that design, drawing or carving. I feel that I have just expanded my own perspective on viewing those parts 😊 BaZZa - I will continue on the long road of study and learning. And I will think hard and long in regard to Shinsa. I have the feeling however that they would just confirm your opinion’s as stated above. But - even though the arrow points at “no joy” (Copycat you Ford 😜) I feel I have made a bargain in both tsuba and the acquired knowledge. Thank you. Best regards Soren

Dear NMB fellowship, I have just acquired this beautiful maru gata tsuba from a dealer in Japan. The material is Shibuichi (alloy of copper and silver), and it has a deep silver grey patina. The drawing could be of Ri Tekkai, one of the eight Taoist immortals. Spec: 70 x 66 mm Mei and Kao is apparently identical (as far as I can tell) to the great Nara artist, Sugiura Joi. Both design, the used materials, and the carving is very close to other pieces by that famous artist that I have seen. But that name has been used as gemei quite a few times, and I have read that he was not known to have made that many tsuba during his lifetime. So - I would again both enjoy and appreciate any comments, reflections or knowledge you may have on the subject of this tsuba: mei / gemei? design / carving or possibly it’s history (if seen before) Best regards Soren

Hi Bruno, Thank you for your time and effort. It is much appreciated. And gimei is unfortunately a very realistic possibility as this makers name is often used 😳 All the best Soren

Thank you Bruno - much appreciated translation as I had my hopes🙏🤓 Yes - it’s a big name, and a very fine craftsman. The Tsuba is heavy for it’s size, and the atagane (Kogai Hitsu-Ana) is probably Shakudo. So - it looks and feels like real quality and craftsmanship. I have however seen a few Mei from Hamano Noriyuki, and most of them had also a Kao inscribed - does that say something when it’s missing on this piece? And is it possible to say anything about which generation - I or II generation Noriyuki? Maybe an early work of one of them?🤔 I acknowledge that these questions may belong under the Tosugu forum but would really appreciate any further comments on design, generation and whatever comes to mind. /Soren

Dear NMB members, I have recently acquired this beautiful Tsuba with a finely carved design of a dragon in cloud’s. Metal base is refined copper (suaka), and it’s size is about 70 mm x 62 mm x 4 mm (probably made for a wakizashi). The design and Mei indicate and corresponds with the Hamano School, but I would greatly appreciate your thoughts and comments on the subject - and especially on the translation of the Mei. Best regards Soren

Hi Sean, You have a very nice sword to a fine price. If that item had been posted in Europe (within the EU) I would have sent you a PM with an offer. But the severe restrictions and customs between the US and Europe very often make it a very expensive and time consuming transit (especially in regard to Denmark). The situation in Europe (Ukraine and Russia) is also testing our economic future in so many different ways. People are probably just “waiting” to see what way things are turning. Hope that make sense. /Soren

Dear Jan and John, That was fast - thank you 🙏 Best regards Soren

Dear NMB members, I have a fine tanto in yoroi-doshi (armor piercing) style. Mumei but apparently ascribed by NBTHK 30th March 1975 to (Tosa) Yoshimitsu if I’m reading the middle and last kanji correct? There have been several Yoshimitsu smith’s over time however, and I therefore need some help to translate and clarify both the first kanji but also my own interpretation of the name. Tanto specification: Nagassa: 254 mm, one punched mekugi ana (ubu nagassa / nakago) Sori: none Mune / hamachi: 10 mm Best regards Soren

Hi Florian, PM sent - shakudo mokko gata - if not to late. Best regards Soren

Good evening Okan, That was very interesting link👍 Indeed - same sword and same seller, correct translation but as you have noticed not the same Torokusho. This time it has Mei but otherwise with matching Nagassa length and Sori 🤔 Looks like a real “forgery”. I bought through CataWiki. And I have a feeling that seller may have found it a bit difficult to re-list through or on that platform. I wrote directly to CataWiki senior support with my suspicion that clearly indicted that seller, against all good business conduct, deliberately had used wrong and misleading information in order to secure a sale. With auction fee included the final price was 4300 Euro. Seller later offered to sell for 3000 Euro. I honestly believe the sword to by traditional made and in fine quality, and Saya was (is) very nice with gold inlaid Mon. Tsuba is very probably late Edo, but the rest of Tosugu is Showa. I am not qualified to judge wether the price is fair and actually a fine deal, but I simply found seller wanting, professional incompetent and so stupidly suspicious that any further dealings was completely out of the question. But - I am more the wiser (steep learning curve), and I will find another sword to fulfill my curiosity 🤓 /Soren

As promised - a little follow up 😎 Based on your valuable input I confronted seller with all the discrepancies that was inconsistent with the auction information that he had provided in the original listing. Seller “fell flat on his face”, and without any fuss admitted that the sword and Saya was not from the Edo-period. Then he gave me an alternate offer and price reduction if I would have the courtesy to cancel (opt out on my purchase) through the auction house (online auctions have a window for regretting a purchase). In short - when I had my initial payment returned from auctioneer, then I could just pay him the sum that he and I had agreed upon, and we would both save the auction fee. All our communication was performed through the auction houses own communications platform, and therefore visible for their internal customer support 😂 I refused the transaction, and the sale was terminated as the auction house confirmed that my claim was valid. The sword was returned to seller. Sword and Saya was fine, and in good quality - but all in all it was not what I was looking for. Seller will now have to deal with whatever sanctions (exclusion or fine, or maybe nothing) that the auction house finds to be appropriate. @Brian donation to NMB (#349) in appreciation of both your work, the platform, and the invaluable information gathered through the members willingness to share their knowledge. Thank you 😎👍 /Soren

Thank you all for taking time and effort to respond. This is the strength of forum’s like this, and I will donate to the board in respect for that collective support 👍 And thank you MORIYAMA for reading the Torokusho and pointing out the discrepancy between what it states, and the actual Mei. And Steve - it does itch a bit The sword is apparently well made and in fine condition as is the Saya and Tosugu. But there is always the matter of what you expect to get, what you get, and what you really pay for 🤔 Based on that observation and the rest of your valuable input I contacted the seller and give him a few questions to answer. Seller, by the way, runs a business from Italy selling Japanese artifacts which includes Nihonto swords (with or without Hozon certificates) imported directly from Japan. And he has just responded. He apparently sold the sword in commission for a regular customer (client). He recognizes the discrepancies that you all have pointed out, and apologized for having trusted that client, and not checked the correct information him self before submitting the sword to an international auction. He will get in touch with that client and return in order to facilitate a compromise. Then we shall see. I will give you a follow up, when I have one. Enjoy your Easter 🐣 /Soren

I can not explain the seemingly yellow rust on the tang from the pictures in the original listing from seller. But - in normal light it looks like the picture I have posted. And - from what I can tell - the yasurime also seems to correspond with the smith that Brian mentioned - Shimizu Tadatsugu (1921 - 1998) file pattern. The sword and fittings that I have received do seem to be the ones in sellers “pictures”. The only, and obvious, discrepancy is in the Torokusho and concerning Mei or Mumei. Can there be a reasonable explanation to that? /Soren

Thank you - that is some very valuable insights that you have brought to the “table”. Appreciated 👍 I have just taken a picture of my copy of the Torokushu I am no expert on either kanji or how these papers should be translated, but length of Nagassa and depth of Sori fits with my first examination 🤔 But I guess it should state Mei if it was inscribed from the start?