MikeyJ

My success rate for receiving items shipped from Japan to the US is 85% over the past two years. About one year ago a Tanto was last seen "EMS submitted to US Customs" (JFK). US Customs said they never received it. After a lot of finger pointing, EMS paid the claim (to the seller, not to me). It was a hassle, and seller wasn't helpful at all. Never bought from his shop again. Second item was a nice Koshirae pole for a Naginata, shipped via FedEx. It was last seen "arrival scan Nashville." FedEx said it must have been lost in their warehouse, FedEx paid the insurance claim (to the seller), which was only for a fraction of replacement cost. My takeaways, 1) use well-established dealers only, 2) make sure the insurance value is US replacement cost, 3) pay with credit card so if necessary you can dispute charge (for example, seller keeps your payment, and also keeps insurance payment for an item you never received).

Sorry for my confusing post, while I am indeed a very novice collector, this is not my first Nihonto. It's my first time purchasing from this shop, and my first Naginata. And you were spot-on, my first Nihonto (2-3 years ago)was an archetypal (Shinto) katana. Luckily I had connected with a well respected dealer and he steered me to a choice that I am still very happy with.

I'd really appreciate hearing your first-hand impressions of the shop. I went ahead and took the plunge on a papered Naginata from their website (image below). I worked with Nobuo Shimada and he was very helpful and an excellent communicator.

I'm close to making my first purchase from https://www.yamasiroya.com/. From my research Yamashiroya appears to be a well established and well respected shop. Before I take the plunge, I'd appreciate any input from the sage members of this forum.

Good to see another fine Tennesseean on board!

Bradley, I like the dragon design too. I debated about bidding on it at 450,000 yen, but opted out when it hit 500,000, and was surprised to see a non-NBTHK yari in a modern Koshirae go for 801,000.

AOI listed the Yari (below) in Shirasaya at less than 400,000 (if memory serves, can't find original posting), no bids. A month later its re-listed with a giant (modern) "big dragon" Koshirae and it sells for 801,000. The unpapered Naginata (below) with a similar modern "big dragon" Koshirae is currenty listed at 600,000. Whoever is making these Big Dragon Koshirae for AOI needs to start his own business! https://www.aoijapan...ords-appraisal-club/ https://www.aoijapan...n-no-kuni-yoshihiro/ ≈

Thank you for sharing this, it all makes a lot more sense to me now. I was looking at https://www.nihontocraft.com/Mishina.html and at https://www.Japanese...ndex.com/mishina.htm and not connecting the dots on the number of "Tangos" in the Mishina school.

I don't have the experience to make an intelligent guess as to what NBTHK meant, so I appreciate your perspective! I didn't think "Tango (no-kami) Kanemichi" had been used by any generation except the founder, so I was "hoping" it was attributed to the him specifically. But as you point out, seems like they would have included the known dates Tango no kami Kamemichi was active

Wally Hustetter is worth contacting. Wally's old school, so a brief email, followed by a phone call is the best way to connect with him. https://shiningmoon13.com/about-wally/

I would appreciate insight on the specific translation and meaning of the NBTHK (Hozon) for an unsigned katana I purchased a few years ago. I believe the the attribution (below) is to "Tango no kami Kanemichi." Can anyone please confirm this translation? Second question, if translation is "Tango no kami Kanemichi" does that mean the attribution is to that specific individual, or is it more likely just a general attribution to the Mishina school? (I understand that it is difficult to distinguish 1st and 2nd generation even when signed). Thank you!

I think it is OK for dealers to fit a yari/naginata into an existing Koshirae as long as work is performed by a skilled craftsman, which has been my experience with AOI. If there is some kind of cultural taboo then I don't know it.

AOI put this same blade (in Shirasaya) on auction earlier this year, it didn't sell. So I think AOI had the blade fitted to a pre-existing Koshirae made for a longer bladed yari. I agree that the Koshirae is attractive, though I think it was made in modern times.

I've been lurking on various dealer websites for the past 6 months looking for a nice yari in Koshirae. I see one on auction at AOI (link below) that made me curious about the proper length of saya compared to the blade. In this case, the blade plus Kerakubi is about 26 cm, and the saya (Koshirae) is 42 cm long. So the blade only runs up about half of the saya. I haven't handled enough yari in Koshirae to know how common this is, but in the dozen or so I've seen the saya is only slightly longer than the blade. https://www.aoijapan...ords-appraisal-club/

Very helpful post. Interesting that the article states AOI's "online selection is not the greatest at the moment", but it seems that AOI typically has as many or more items listed for sale online than any of the other sites on the list.