CSM101

A few more photos: https://www.nihontophoto.com/nbthk-treffen-16-03-2018 Uwe G.

And some more... Uwe G.

Dear members, last Saturday the meeting of the NBTHK-EB was in Berlin at the Samurai Art Museum. Members from the Italin Branch, Sweden, Finland, Austria and Switzerland attended the meeting. Guests from Russia were also there. Members of Token Society of Great Britain, members from the Katchu Society and some Germans. That was really a huge meeting. Nearly sixty people. First we had the chance to know each other. Then Prof. Kremers introduced Mr. Peter Janssen, the private owner of the Museum and Ms. Martyna Lesniewska M.A.. Ms Lesniewska studied Japanese and East Asian art history and is a scientific researcher at the museum. After that the doors were opened and we all together had the chance to see the exhibition. After a short lecture about handle and care by Mr. Paul Bowman and Uwe Heinz 4 blades were provided for an appraisal. Rai Kunitoshi - Juyo token Rai Kunitoshi - Juyo token with a sayagaki by Tanobe-san for Ryokai Rai Kunimitsu - Tokubetso Juyo token and Bizen Unji - Juyo token All blades are unsigned. The Rai Kunimitsu bears a kinzogan mei. A fifth blade you could study and give your opinion. It was a signed Nobukuni katana and the second Tokubetso Juyo token. So, the blades together with the armor made this one of the highlights this year. At 6.00 pm we all went to a restaurant nearby. It was a long evening. Once again I want to thank Mr. Peter Janssen and Ms. Martyna Lesniewska for this oportunity, the friendly welcome and for the organisation af this meeting. Uwe G.

Dear Members, I will give a longer report and more photos tomorrow. Just enjoy for the moment.... Uwe G.

Hello George, I think you are a victim of your own imagination. I cannot find or see a cylinder or letters. Even with the mighty power of C.S.I. (means PS, LR, Photozoom 7 pro, convert into 3D, etc.. ). I hope, that one day you show us the photo of the coloured samurai. Best regards Uwe G.

Hello Sean, again a signature for comparison. Think they both match. Uwe G.

Try "archives" February. Catfishing. Uwe G.

Wanna see "Dumb and Dumber"? Uwe G.

Found this: https://yuhindo.com/ha/ Uwe G.

Hi Alex, I don´t know where the sword was found and in what kind of condition it was. I can only speculate on your photos. Three points: the tip is too long and in a certain part the edge is too sharp for an old sword. The bending seems to be new. I do not know how much you paid for the sword. The last chokuto (rusted) I know of was sold for 400 EUR. Uwe G.

Okay, that is too far for my russian speaking abilities: "Good....."a lot of blanks and in the end "..english language". But as always russian is an interesting language. Just one question: the blade in the left corner is your sword? Uwe G.

Maybe a sword. Age ond origin unknown. Uwe G.

Who said that this sword is more than 1.200 years old? Judging by the rust I really have my doubts. Uwe G.

Dear Chris, I´ll give you another example: there is another Japanese sword on egun. I know the seller, I know the buyer and I know the sword. The sword was offered for more than 2 years and was sold for 4.500 EUR. I was asked, if the sword was worth the price and I said yes, at that moment it was worth 4.500 EUR because he paid that much. He never asked if I would have paid that much or if he would ever get the money back. 2 weeks later he went to the seller and told him, that he wants to sell the sword now for 6.000 EUR and if he could recommend someone who would pay that much. And this is another story of "inform first, buy later", because the buyer got very greedy. And now you have some background infos. Here you have now some background informations from Mike (thanks for that). So, before you start to overreact, you should go and inform yourself. Uwe G.

Dear members, I think you all don´t get the point: Instead of claiming that an oil quenched showato is just worth less than 1.00 EUR you all should put a new price tag on all oil quenched showato. At least 3.000 EUR because there is an expert opinion saying so. "Every day a sucker walks through the Karlstor" in Munich. And Mike Prill found that person. So, congrats from my side. This is just the textbook example for: inform first, buy later. Just my one cent. Uwe G.

Dear members, Let´s come to an end. And the answer is Awataguchi Omi no Kami Tadatsuna (II) 粟田口近江守忠綱. That was easy because a part of the blade you can find here: https://www.nihontophoto.com/ikkanshi-awataguchi-tadatsuna But what, if you didn´t see it? Well, you have to observe the details. Sugata? Not Koto. And a Osaka yakidashi. Who are the big three in Osaka? Shinkai, Sukehiro and Tadatsuna. Just speaking in general: Shinkai´s hamon is getting broader towards the tip, Sukehiro is toranba or suguha so it comes to Tadatsuna. A slightly longer chukissaki, chojimidare hamon and sunagashi, 8 kanji: Tadatsuna. Very easy! And an early work? Well, that´s what one of the former owners said: Michael Hagenbusch. But maybe it was just his explanation why there is no date and a dragon horimono. An even better explanation you can find in #3 by Andreas - a.k.a. Tokaido. But let us come to the answers: Yamato Daijo Fujiwara Masanori and Kashu Kiyomitsu. For Masanori I give you 2 photos so you can see the difference in the hamon. And Kiyomitsu you can exclude by observing the tang. And the yakidashi! For the last time a few words about nihonto and photography: Forget about technique, about equipment or polishing. These are all minor problems, if at all. The biggest problem is: If you want a good photo you need a good sword. And the better the sword, the better the photo. Let me give you an example: Semi-Erotic Session. You can have Christy Turlington (clearly Kokuho level) in the desert with a LOMO camera for one hour. On the other hand, as a contrary you can get on lowest Hozon level possible in a fully equipped studio with Annie Leibowitz as a supporter for a whole day: ME. And believe me: next to Christy Turlington I look like Quasimodo´s uglier brother. So, whom would you pick? Kokuho or Hozon? And that´s the reason why I think that Okisato Fujishiro was - is - and will always be the best photographer ever. I remember his exhibition in Solingen in 1999. One photo: Sanchomo/Yamadorige - Kokuho and one of the five best swords under heaven. And a Shintogo tanto: juyo bunkazai. I don´t know who made all the photos in the Meito Zukan. But I think it was mostly Okisato Fujishiro. So, how do you want to be better? Right, you can`t. Or only when you are reborn as one of the best Japanese polishers with photographic skills. Very easy, indeed! But back to the offer I mentioned: As you know, a picture like that takes time. A long time (more than 2.000 shots and 3 whole days on the PC). And a lot of trouble with she-who-must-not-be-named. Usually I give those photos away for free. But not this time. This time I want to get paid for all the trouble. Here is the deal: you already have the ura. If you want both sides together it costs you 10 $. But instead of making me a very, very rich man the money should go as a donation to Brian and the NihontoMessageBoard. You can find the Donate-button right on the home-page. As soon as you made your donation, please inform me via PM and I send you the download-link. Brian can buy a lot of bitcoins then. And you can kill three birds with one stone: you get a poster, you support the NMB and you will get some Karma-points so you are one step closer to your rebirth as a Japanese polisher. I hope you enjoyed it. I´ll have a Lagavulin by now. Or two. Uwe Grabowski

"This is just fun and should be treated as such." What else is kantei than fun! Uwe G.

The only one I found: Sue Tegai. Uwe G. +1

Dear members, once again: Kantei by photo. And since it is a very easy one you only get one side. And only nagasa: 70,2 cm. Two hints: there is a long signature (8 kanji) and it is an early work in his career. Uwe G. http://daten-transport.de/?id=4vphCh24sLkD I forgot: I`ll give the answer on Friday and in the end I will make you an offer you can´t refuse.

五十 円 = 50 Yen (?) Uwe G.

Dear friends, I really don`t like the term "best photographer". Japanese swords is education. And not competition.Especally here on the NMB. If there was any, then the result was settled a long time ago. And the all-time-winner was - is- and will always be Okisato Fujishiro. No doubt about it. Okay, there are a few men who try to stand on the shoulder of a giant. But that´s it. All you have to ask yourself is: Can I do the same? Or even better? Then welcome to club! Just my 2 ct. Uwe Grabowski Btw: I really like Darcy´s photos.

Morning Sergei! http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/12185-please-confirm-kanji/?hl=%2Bhachiman+%2Byoshiro&do=findComment&comment=126453 Uwe G.

Just another one: Uwe G.

I just want to add another signature for comparison. Waki, Tokubetso Hozon. Uwe G.

Here you can find the sword in question: https://www.jauce.com/auction/e254918760 Uwe G.