komogawa

Hello, Thank you for your reply. Maybe I worded incorrectly. I'm not losing any sleep over some issues that people have had with NBTHK papers (mainly the kicho papers). When I say issues people have, I'm refering to what I've read in previous posts and sites on the internet. I'm interested in who writes all the information on the NBTHK paper. The NBTHK paper states that it was judged by NBTHK, but there is no signature from the individual or individuals who judged the sword. It looks like you answered my question. A judge or several judges will judge a sword, and then another person fills in the specific information (mei & date paper was issued). The rest of the writing on the paper was placed on ahead of time? Yes, some of the writing looks like it was already printed on. The mei column looks like Ichi writing was already printed on. And in the date issued column it looks like the era, year, month, and day writing was already on. The specific info was filled in after. My understanding is the paper is prepared ahead of time with some of the writing already on the paper, then the sword gets judged by several judges, then someone else writes the specific information (signature on tang & date issued) on the paper.

Hello, These NBTHK paper issues sometimes bothers me. I've looked at alot of NBTHK papers (both old kicho & new hozon), and noticed one thing they all have in common. Some columns of hand writing looks the same on all the papers. Columns 1 Kantei Sho, column 4 (the sword been judged at NBTHK), and column 7 (Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai) above seal. In the mei and date issued columns it looks like the hand writing could have been done by someone else. Maybe the judge? Do these papers get made up ahead of time, and the judge fills in some info? I don't think this means that they are fake papers. I see this with the old and new papers. I've seen this done on some swords that one wouldn't bother to fake (mumei wakizashi of unfamiliar smiths). I'm curious as to how the judges wrote up the papers? I'm always worried about a possible fake. Regards, Komogawa

Hello Eric, Thank you for the info. I'm not sure if the Kicho papers or Hozon papers are better to have. If the Kicho papers are from 1950's and 60's, not a big name smith, maybe they're most likely good. I don't know how to recognize a fake paper. I see some Kicho papers from the 1970's and 80's that I like, but I'm never sure if they were faked. But then again, some Hozon papers could be faked too. I found a site that gives the mailing address, phone number, and fax number of NBTHK in Japan. They don't have an email. Maybe NBTHK will confirm a paper if I contact them. I'll look into becoming a member. Regards, Komogawa

Hello, I purchased a yari signed kanekage with NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho paper (green paper), gold NBTHK envelope, and the old torokusho permission permit. The paper looks legitimate to me, but I'm no expert. My understanding is that the green NBTHK Tokubetsu papers and white kicho papers are good papers. That the NBTHK Tokubetsu kicho paper (blue dragon paper), and Juyo papers from the NBTHK old system in the 1970's were sometimes fake. It was usually the ones with well-known smiths. Is there a way to contact NBTHK to see if they have this paper on record? What is the date of issue on the paper? What does mei read? Is this a good paper? Any info would be a help. Regards, Komogawa NBTHK Tokubetsu.doc

Hello, Thank you Kenkaku, Brian, and Rich for the info. I tried registering at JSA Auction again. I still could not get too far. I translated the site to English, created an ID nickname and password. After I entered them an ERROR shows up stating service of bitsudaza is to be packed at present. What does this mean? The ID name I have chosen is already being used? What is strange is that I tried registering without translating the site to English and using the same ID name and password word and I was able to get to step 2 of the registration process. They only problem was that nothing was in English. Nor, in Japanese. It was mostly a bunch of squares for letters. Any info would be a help. Thanks. Regards, WS

Hello, Has anyone been able to register with JSA Auctions? I translated the site to English and tried to register, but it will not accept me. Is JSA a closed market? Regards, WS