When Necessary

Well, there's a surprise. Billionaires and oligarchs only?💰💰💰 If you broaden gold membership I suppose you'd have to then have a 'super secret' forum. Personally, it makes no sense whatsoever for me to buy gold membership as I half expect to be banned with virtually every comment I make. Now that's a possible motivation - maybe gold members could be awarded a 'get out of jail free card' whatever they post. (That seems to be in effect for some people on here already.) 🤔

It's Hebrew - that's what is allegedly on the back of the sacred mirror at Ise (one of the three sacred regalia of the Japanese imperial family). Apparently, some arrogant English guy in the Meiji period demanded to see it and later said it was all inscribed in Hebrew.

Tanobe Sensei's first book in the series, translated into English by Markus, is currently on sale at the NBTHK gift shop.

When we say that 'X' or 'Y' makes a blade bad, there are always exceptions. A missing boshi obviously makes a blade bad - but not if it's Heian jidai as judged by the NBTHK.

Fair enough. But, conversely, how many new people on here would have just given up the first time they heard the death sentence of "gimei" handed down on this board by 'experts'? There would definitely be one less Kiyomaro knocking about. (And no, before someone gets straight on my case, I am not suggesting for the slightest instant that the sword under discussion on this thread is anything even remotely resembling a Kiyomaro.)

I completely agree with you, Alex. This looks slightly older than Edo to me but it's definitely on its last legs and the horimono is an awkward add-on. Restorable? I doubt it - but, as Brian said, it's worth investigating.

"These comments above make you feel good, I know. And everyone wants to be told they have bought something special." Quoting all the positive remarks of Rivkin, Bruce, Alex and Chris but omitting Brian's equally encouraging comment below. Mmm - now why would that be? 🤔

You have a remarkable collection! ❤️

Calligraphy by Araki Sadao, the general who gave the original Yasukuni Tosho their smith names. He was later sentenced to life imprisonment for war crimes but, like most in that position, conveniently got released after America (allegedly) ended its occupation of Japan. It reads 修文練武 Shubun Renbu "Academic Mastery, Martial Training"

Guido was indeed a scholar and a gentleman whose presence is greatly missed on this forum. His wit and frequent sarcasm was always intended to enlighten, clarify and impart knowledge - never to belittle, humiliate or mock.

I truly wish you good fortune in this endeavour, Lewis - it's very exciting! One question if I may? Will you be allowed to submit a supporting dossier along with the blade? Personally, I have only ever put a blade through Hozon or Tokubetsu Hozon, where you are not allowed to submit anything beyond the blade or to talk to a shinsa member until you retrieve your sword. Is Juyo submission different in that regard?

Hi Steve, With all respect, why don't you ever put these in the 'Translation Needed' or 'Japanese Military Swords' sections? You would get a faster response from the right people and it would save the admin's extra work having to move your posts.

Is getting the snap fastener to fit that's the problem.

I just had a thought: if daggers were given to suicide pilots (submarine and plane) as good luck talismans, then surely the efficacy of such a charm would be measured by whether the pilot safely reached his target, killing himself in the process. A tad Catch 22.

John just beat me to it! This beautiful example (sold in Japan) indeed describes the dagger as "a protective charm" https://www.nipponto.co.jp/swords5/TT327962.htm English translation: This dagger is a short sword for Navy Zero Fighter pilots. During numerous battles such as the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Battle of the Coral Sea, the Battle of Midway, the Solomon Islands campaign, the Battle of the Philippine Sea, and the Battle of Leyte Gulf, outstanding Zero Fighter pilots distinguished themselves. The Zero Fighter was so strong that it was said enemy aircraft would scatter like spiders when it appeared. This dagger was cherished and worn in the cockpit as a protective charm. However, in the latter half of the Pacific War, due to the overwhelming resources of the Allied forces, Zero Fighter pilots went into many battles and fought valiantly but were rarely able to return. As a result, this dagger was lost along with the Zero Fighter, making its survival today miraculous. It is valuable enough to be housed in a museum.

I agree John - but I'm convinced they symbolised a willingness to die/ ergo a form of suicide. It's rather similar to the formalised seppuku ritual; in its later manifestation, the participant occasionally carried out the full act of disembowelment but it was far more common for the kaishakunin to strike at the same moment the dagger was placed in front of the condemned. The acceptance of the dagger was taken as a formal commitment to die. I'm sure that the kamikaze, born from a perverted sense of 'bushido', would have interpreted the symbolism of the dagger in much the same way.

Apparently, presentation was upon being (involuntarily) inducted into the Taigi-tai unit.

Thanks Bruce! I should have shown more of the photos as the captions confirm pilots were also given these daggers. The example shown was presented to a Kaiten submarine pilot but it states that Taigi-tai kamikaze pilot Toshimitsu Imaizumi (shown on the left in the group photo and on his own with a Zero) was also given a similar dagger.

I have a copy of 'The Last Zero Fighter' inscribed by the author to the family of one of the Japanese contributors. The book contains a photo which corroborates that these daggers were presented to at least some suicide participants - like yourselves, I presume purely symbolically.

And that's all that matters!

Hi Nicholas, Don't forget to look at the file marks on the top of the tang - that seems pretty straightforward in its information. Rregardless of whether it was made by a student, any Yasukunito is a beautifully made sword and something to be very proud of owning!

Sounds like you've really been in the wars, Brian. 😳 I'm sincerely glad that you've been discharged and hopes this marks a real upturn in your health. 🙏🤞

I'm really glad you posted that incredibly informative video John. It was only a matter of time before someone weighed in and said that "polishing turds should be left to trained professionals only"! 😂

You just made me spit out my Earl Grey! 🤣🤣🤣

Hi Volker, The reason I thought there was a possibility of jishin-saku is the Oki character has the 'open roof' as shown in the book for identifying student signatures.