Equinox

Hi Everyone I'm fairly new at this but I've searched the forum and while I can find a couple of bits and pieces on it I haven’t been able to find a general guide to having a Shinsakuto made. I'm thinking about commissioning one sometime, due to the expense I'm not sure yet, but if I end up deciding to do so, I would like to have my homework done beforehand. I admit to part of my question being academic I really think the ordering process itself must be interesting from a socialogical point of view. I've mentally made up a list of things I think I need to have decided or at least thought about before I seriously talk to a smith, but I was wondering if people who have had one made or know the process could let me know if I'm forgetting anything or if their are some problems I should consider that I'm just not seeing. Now a disclaimer, I appreciate the fact that everything should be done in consultation with the smith in question but as Japanese is not my native language it would be nice to go in knowing what to expect at least so I can learn the right vocabulary before hand. So in no particular order excluding fittings as I think that is a separate problem for separate post. Although I’d be really interested to hear if anyone knows a menuki or Fuchi kashi maker. School of sword shinogi zukuri, shobu zukuri etc Purpose display, usage or both Approximate length shaku sun bu Approximate weight in grams Type of Hamon gunome, notare etc Type of quenching pattern, (Hada) Type of tip sho chu o Find a smith whose work I like and who I trust/can communicate with. So being a bit of a beginner to all of this and after having considered each of the above what have I forgotten? Then once having decided/pondered on all that what is the actual process from an ordering point of view? (indeed do all smiths allow you an input in your sword? The one I've spoken with asked me to list what I want then chat to him, but is that the norm?) With thanks for all advice and hoping not to sound like an idiot. David.S

An Update We'll is summer in Japan now and the heat and humidity have begun to climb once more here in Tochigi. The damage north is slowly being cleaned up in the news a couple of weeks back they highlighted the mamoth task of moving all the beached boats back to the ocean. while there are no blackouts everybody has been asked to keep electricity usage to a minimun and espcially not to use air conditioners if possible. so far its working and the government hasn't resorted to blackouts again, thankfully. while many refugees have been relocated many are still in shelters awaiting temorary housing. The reconstruction minister resigned this week after making several political gafs so now we will have to wait and see who will replace him. there isn't a lot else to report on here at the moment other than the primeminister is once again on tenderhooks and will likly resign in august. well hope that helps keeps you guys informed regards always David

@Nobody Really? I'll have to file that away for future reference, I have always used 菩薩 bosatsu in the past for bodhisattva. Learn something new everyday. If I may ask is it still pronounced daishi? I can't find it in any of my dictionary's as a compound. (sorry if its a bit off topic kanji are something of an obsession for me at the moment). The tsuba are beautiful by the way. Thanks

an update well its May here now in Tochigi prefecture, (Fukushima's south and slightly western neighbour). Life is slowly returning to normal after the quake, the black outs ended a few weeks back. Aftershocks, it seems strange to call them such there pretty big still, are now down to about two a week here. Food is, for the most part, back to normal and a lot of people went away for the annual golden week of public holidays, many many people volenteered up north to move wreckage and help in the clean up effort. The nuclear power situation is hard to judge but it seems to be contained at the moment. The locals seem to be taking it all in their stride for the most part and many of them are telling interesting stories about what they were doing when the quake hit. (my favorite come from the owner of the local sword shop who went around putting his most valuble blades into their shirasaya midquake i'm truly amazed he didn't cut his hand of). The news here is also showing stories about the quake area and its progress, schools going back and the empoers visit got a lot of coverage as well as the horrific amount of debris still remaining. The signs of the quake still linger however roof tile repairmen are booked solid for the next year I've been told, so there are many houses sporting blue tarpolins on their rooves. In the quake area the local governments are estimating a minimum of ten years to rebuild totally and people are being encorage to relocate to higher ground where possible. well thats about it for the Japan update, I'll try to keep posting in the comming months. regards David

The kanji on tsuba 1 translate to great warrior or big warrior 大士. I'm afraid i don't know a lot about tsuba so i can't really tell if that has any relivence other than as decoration, but i hope it helps anyway. regards David

Hi Guys I went up and had a chat with the local sword shop and as far as he was aware EMS was still allowing swords to be sent as usual he hadn`t heard of anyrestrictions. this could just be the case with the specific countries he`s shipping to (mainly european i believe) but regardless I`m now a bit confused. I guess its a case of check with the vendor. sorry guys I seem to have found more questions than answers. The only brightside is the owner said he`d keep me posted if he hears anything so I`ll let everyone know if i hear anything regards David

Gentlemen and Ladies I just saw this thread there is a have a sword dealer living up the road from me (Tochigi prefecture Japan) who ships swords internationally quite a lot. So I`ll make enquiries with him during the week how he`s shipping at the moment he might be able to enlighten us as to the best way to ship from Japan at the moment. I`ll keep you posted. Regards David.

Hello To add in my two cents worth. My Iaido instructor always told me that a left handed grip (I.E left hand above right hand on the tsuka) shouldn`t be used because it creates an opening in the guard, sort of an imaginary triangle between the pommel, the tip of the blade and the opposite hip, this is owing to a change in angle apparently. It therefore makes it harder to parry some forms of attacks, I would take a guess that the biomechanics of the wrist play some roll in the way impact is absorbed and redirected which might be affected to but thats just a theory. As to the properties of the sword in question, well that I`ll leave up to someone with more experience to judge. Hope that helps Regards David S

Greeting to all My name is David and I have been reading the board for a while now so I have just created an account at long last. I`m from Queensland Australia but i currently live in Tochigi prefecture Japan. I`ve been interested in Nihonto for a while now but only started collecting last year so I`m still learning especially when it comes to specific smiths names and style preferences. Therefore i`m looking forward to learning heaps more espcially about sword Kanji. I`m currently interested in Wakazashi, Tsuba and especailly blades with uncommon hamon patterns. My favorite sword is currently a Meiji period police sword. looking forward to interesting discussions. Thanks