Father and Son set, study only I will not answer qustions

[raiden]

I posted one of these on the Dai Token Ichi thread, but not the sons tsuba. I have heard that it is possible that the son made his tsuba to match his fathers tsuba to be used as a set.I guess thats possible, as I have seen such a thing before.

[raiden]

[John A Stuart]

So these great tsuba are by Toshitsune Oguma and his son Toshioka Oguma?? It is good to see some better quality from Mutsu. Who trained Toshitsune? John

 

I have been looking at them some more. I find the fathers is just a little better. The takeyabu on the back aligns better with the tora theme rather then the sansui theme on the back of the sons'.

[raiden]

ok just a bit of info, yes father and son, oguma kei. early signature for father is tsuneyoshi, then toshitsune. some books say trained in tanaka school, this is apparent by guchi beni in nakago ana.worked for Date family directly

[leo]

These Tsuba are masterful objects of art. Still I find this attitude pretty arrogant. If you do not want to answer "qustions" why don´t you keep these photos for yourself, frame them and hang them up in your bathroom.

 

Martin

[raiden]

well Brian, shall I refrain from future posts? I have just returned from Japan, and was just posting for people to enjoy, but if it offends some then it is fine for me not to continue.

[Jamie]

Martin,

 

I would imagine that Mike is probably busy or something- It's still very Nice of him to post these very good examples for us to study.

 

Thanks Mike

[raiden]

Yes, actually 4 children,jetlag and a sick wife doesn't make much time for much q&a, so now I am seriously thinking of not contributing anymore. Strange as i was asked by some members to help with the forums, but this is why I didn't wish to do so.

[Ford Hallam]

These Tsuba are masterful objects of art. Still I find this attitude pretty arrogant. If you do not want to answer "qustions" why don´t you keep these photos for yourself, frame them and hang them up in your bathroom.

 

Martin

 

 

At this point I must side with Mike. What answers about these 2 tsuba will actually help anyone 'see' them any more clearly?

 

There is nothing more to be said that will reveal to you what is in front of your eyes. We live in a world where labels and information pretend to be understanding but perhaps by simply keeping quite and looking and thinking most of what you initially need to ask becomes irrelevant.

 

One of the most frequently asked questions we hear; " who made it?" really means nothing at all because we know so very little about the real person behind the name.

 

For myself, there's very little I need to ask, if anything, to fully appreciate the opportunity Mike has very graciously given us to enjoy and study really fine work. And I sympathise wholeheartedly with him when he feels his efforts to share are so ungraciously criticised by people who actually give nothing to our community.

 

 

Ford

[drbvac]

I agree Ford - please don't take one comment as being the thoughts of the 2700 members of the board however and continue to share both your pictures and your knowledge as you see fit

[Soshin]

Hi Mike Y.,

 

I would like to acknowledge and thank you for all of the wonderful examples you have posted on the NMB. All of which are way outside of my purchaing power and would not normally be accessible to me. Being a member of the American branch of the NBTHK I would also go on to personally thank you for all the wonderful research material you have put together for NBTHK members in the USA. Please continue posting on NMB but if you had enough I can fully understand as I somestimes wonder why I contribute myself.

 

 

Yours truly,

David Stiles

[J Reid]

I don't know you personally, but I do enjoy your posts Mike. Don't stop!

[raiden]

Mr. Martin,

I am sorry and surprised for your response on the board. Perhaps you had misunderstood my intentions. I have just returned from Japan, and am very jetlagged. However, for the education and enjoyment of Japanese sword fittings, I post items that i have aquired or seen recently for the purpose of 'Kansho"when I have the time. If you know this board well, sometimes things develope into lengthy threads that I do not have time for. However, if you had taken the time to notice, I actually replied to a question, and will do so if I have a spare minute. I wrote I will not answer any questions so as not to be rude to anyone if they post and I cannot answer. I am a Board member for the NBTHKAB, and often do lectures, there I can entertain many questions, as well as for ther Nanka Token Kai. This being said, my intentions for this board is for the members to understand and appreciate fine kodogu, as there seems to be a lack of information/examples for foreign members and collectors. I will await Brians decision as he is the Administrator of this Board.

M. Yamasaki

[GARY WORTHAM]

Hi Mike;

I see you each year at the San Francisco show, enjoy your great table of treasurers, and the warm hospitality of your conversations of genuine sword exchange. I myself, over the years, have been put off by the occasional rude and sarcastic comments, from those that hide behind their computer screen.

 

Please, do not stop your valuable contact and contribution to this site, as well as any other place where you may encounter the one's in our society, who feel the need to be less than they were meant to be. This study is so difficult, with so few who know much, and the many who know pieces; to bring it all together; to make some sense of it all.

[Curran]

Mike-

 

Get some rest ,

and come back when you can.

 

You're posting the sort of stuff that even those of us who have aggressively collected kodogu for many years do not get to see very often unless traveling to Japan. NMB has grown to several thousand members, some whom surprise me with PMs demonstrating they read if they don't actively post. With an audience this large, please learn to overlook the occasional contrary item thrown on stage when you are sharing. These are particularly fine tsuba you have shared, from an area where I have much to learn.

 

Though you and I may have gotten off to a bad introduction many years ago, I respect your info & image sharing as keystone to improving the level of discourse here. You and Ford are primary members when you two can participate. Please keep in it, when you can. I'm also looking forward to images of the ko-katchushi mentioned elsewhere.

As I said, get some rest and then join us. Hope to bicker with you over your fine items in Tampa.

[Fred Geyer]

Mike,

 

I do not post to many comments on this site but this one I have to....Mike you know that some people only want to be negitive, always half empty, the sky is falling, etc.......!! My thoughts, always do what is right and you will be right! Say what is true and the people who like not to, will fade and go away. So I say POST AWAY!!!!!!!

 

Fred Geyer

[Brian]

Normally I would have quietly taken the appropriate action and removed the unneccesary posts to allow us to continue without controversy. But seeing as I have woken to 2 pages of this...may as well leave them up and address this here.

Very simple really...Martin expressed an opinion that I don't share, and I find it rude and unneccessary. Obviously many feel the same.

It is not the opinion of the forum, and I would have removed it if it had been left without comment.

Since that isn't an option, consider a warning given and hopefully we are all adult enough to now move on and consider it a temporary slip.

Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but one does not speak for everyone and it is also time for people to realize that there are about 10,000 ppl reading the forum every month, and taking offense at one person is silly when there are probably 9500 others out there enjoying the posts.

 

Brian

 

PS - Saying "I will not answer questions" could also be phrased a little bit better, no? We are an educational site and there will always be questions. Expaining why you can't, would go a long way to allaying any confusion.

[Ford Hallam]

And let that be a warning to you all I know Brian well and what he may be capable of

 

 

we are all adult enough

 

[drbvac]

 

IS that what "on the fringes" means?

[Ford Hallam]

:D ...whenever possible.

[raiden]

I thank everyone for their interest in learning about kodogu. I have always felt that this part of sword collecting has been overlooked, and it seems to have gotten more attention in the past few years. I will be more carefull in the future to phrase more carefully my titles. As everyone knows on this board, sometimes the threads take off and require much attention (time I would rather spend posting new items or writing articles) My teachers of tosogu want me to help spread the education of kodogu, and my sword teachers want also the same thing....

But I would like tosogu to catch up a bit with blades ( I study equally as hard on both as those of you who know me well know that this is a true statement) that is why i did such a large machi bori display a few years ago in San Francisco. Also fittings can be appreciated rather easily on this board thanks to digital equipment. We have also started a facebook page that shows news and items dealing with nihonto and events related.

Curran, at Tampa I will bring something interesting to see to discuss with you related to Higo if you have the time.

Thanks to all for supporting the education and appreciation of kodogu.

Mike

[Jean]

Mike,

 

I am in awe seeing your ranking at NBTHK Kantei competition/contest and thinking that Tosogu/Kodogu could be your speciality.

 

I shall always remember when at 2010 DTI, I was staring at two tanto displaid side by side when you went by me and took the time to explain me the Sadamune tanto history and his utsushi by Yasutsugu

[Ed]

Mike,

Getting in on this thread rather late, but still would like to express my gratitude to you for taking the time to post all of the high quality examples and information you have shared.

 

Seeing these fine examples are such a breath of fresh air from the e-bay junk and low end items posted here so frequently, please continue.

[Curran]

Mike and Jean,

 

Now I'm jealous again. I would have loved to see the Yasutsugu utsushi.

As is, the Hirata f/k sold to an NYC club member... wow, studying that kashira under magnification was amazing.

 

Look forward to discussing Higo with you in Tampa, though I admit I rely heavily on books and knowledge of others as I learn in that area. I will be bringing two items worthy of a look. One will be in the NBTHK lecture, though I don't know if you, Ted, or Bob Benson are leading on that.

[Pete Klein]

Curran -- wait until you see the Misumi menuki I am bringing... drool-worthy! ROFLMAO!!!

(DTI - page 22).

Danke Mike!!!

[TosoguCz]

Hello all,

Does anyone have an idea what is the thickness of these tsuba?

Thank you.

[Curran]

Tanaka-ke (or shi, or ippa?)

So going to be thiner. 3 to 4 mm?

Measurements certainly in the books.

 

 

Peter:

Just say the Misumi comment. Confess I really like some of his stuff.

[raiden]

father is 4.2 mm thick, see you all in tampa.

[raiden]

wait till you see what I am bringing for curran..........

[Curran]

Mike,

 

Maybe I have something up my sleeve too, besides a 5th Ace.

Pretty sure I'd loose a game of tsuba Po-ke-mon with you, but do have one or two that might surprise you.

 

Must confess I like the first tsuba a lot. I sold my one good Tanaka example years ago, but this one certainly beats it.