What books for kantei?

[Marius]

Dear Members,

 

I have always wondered what books you use when trying to attribute a blade to period, tradition, school and master. Especially when you don't know Japanese.

 

Most of us know books like Hawley's Index, Fujishiro's two volumes or Nagayama plus Nakahara and also the recent NBTHK kantei volumes translated and compiled by Markus Sesko (excellent!).

 

What books do you use? Can you name those you use for Koto and those for Shinto Shinshinto and Gendaito?

 

If you have Japanese books without English translations/indexes, how do you use them (besides looking at photos or oshigata)? Which ones are a must?

[cabowen]

Nagayama's Kantei Dokuhon, as translated by Mishina san, is hard to beat and as far as I know, the most comprehensive guide in English to kantei, as a systematic study, available.

[DirkO]

Shin Nihonto Kantei Nyumon by Yuichi and Kazuo is also a good one, and Afu Watson did a translation of the text.

[Marius]

Thanks guys, what about reference works with on specific traditions/schoold with oshigata and descriptions? Any favourites here?

 

Again, I don't know Japanese, unfortunately...

[Marius]

Nagayama's Kantei Dokuhon, as translated by Mishina san, is hard to beat and as far as I know, the most comprehensive guide in English to kantei, as a systematic study, available.

 

This one is always with me :-)

[Ken-Hawaii]

I would definitely add Markus' books to this list. He has books for Koto, Shinto, & Shinshinto blades.

 

Ken

[Marius]

Which I have mentioned in my first post :D

[Ken-Hawaii]

Oops! Sorry, Mariusz. Should have read more closely.

 

Okay, there's always Paul Martin's little Guide to Nyusatsu Kantei, which is small enough for me to carry around.

 

Ken

[JDinMT]

Mino-To By Cox and the Teiryo Yogi by Honami Koson, trans. by A.Yamanaka and the Sue-Koto volumes put out by the JSS/US have been very helpful too, besides those books already mentioned. Being limited to English, I'm very thankful there is as much information as there is, but always seeing more books for sale I wish I could read (Japanese text).

 

John D.

[Marc]

I read somewhere that nagayama Kantei traduction is included in The Connoisseur’s Book of Japanese Swords. Can someone confirm this? I was looking for nagayama book with traduction, but I already have the Connoisseur.

 

Many thanks,

[Grey Doffin]

Connoisseur's is the English version of Shin Nihonto Kantei Nyumon, both by Nagayama.

Spelling corrected.

Grey

[Ken-Hawaii]

Connoisseur's is the English version of Shin Nihonto Kanyei Nyumon

 

I didn't realize that, Grey - thanks! I have both, but as I also can't read Kanji, didn't know about the translation. I assume you meant Kantei, instead of Kanyei, above....

 

Ken

[Marius]

Yamanaka newsletters? Are these useful?

[nagamaki - Franco]

"Nihonto Newsletter", by Albert Yamanaka, over 1900 pages in four volumes http://www.ncjsc.org/ncjsc_publications.htm , it's hard to go wrong having a set of these.

[Marius]

Franco,

 

I was mulling a purchase of Yamanaka's Newsletter, but wanted the re-formatted version (Grey cab surely get me one). Question is: how much useful is it when you have a sword in and that you want to assess?

[Jussi Ekholm]

Well I have to say I'm absolute novice when it comes to kantei. I think I can spot some more obvious characteristics (at least usually) but then when it gets into fine details it gets too hard for me. My main goal is usually to get the period correct, and if I can recognize some feats which I could connect to something.

 

I can't read Japanese, but of course I've learned to identify some letters and hopefully will continue to do so more and more, and hopefully some day I'll be able to learn to read Japanese fluently.

 

I quite recently picked up Kantei Dokuhon with translation, which I try to use sometimes instead of Connoisseurs. I think this is great practice for me first trying to read the original one a bit and then check from the translation for correct reading (of course I practice on "easy" stuff).

 

Yamanaka Newsletters are very good. As I personally have most intrest in Koto, I mostly use the first book which covers Koto, and 2nd book has 2 excellent parts. 100 page part History of Japanese Sword and 100 page part Identification of Nihonto through shape, I've found both of these to be amazing reads and I keep going to them again and again.

 

I must say most of my "kantei" is not excatly kantei, but more information seeking in general nature. As in many occasions the items I look for are already been identified with persons far more advanced than myself. Then I try to search information from to books to understand the identification.

 

Here of course books like Nihonto Koza are excellent. For example, after the Naminohira school part there is an excellent read in Koto Book 2 page 386, Kantei method for Kyushu mono overall. This is most excellent reading, and plenty of gems like this can be found in Nihonto Koza.

 

As for Japanese ones, for a specific smith I try check the value from Toko Taikan and Token Kakaku Jiten, and possibly try to read the entries. I've also tried to sometimes use Nihonto No Kenkyu To Kantei, but unfortunately I think it's too advanced for me and I've used it very rarely. The previous owner made a small sub-index in English which has been helpful. The small glimpses of information I've gotten from it have been helpful.

 

Then something which I've found very helpful, Nihonto Daizen 2. From pages 40 to 66 there is most excellent Kantei guide with high quality color pictures identifying some stereotypical traits. Unfortunately the text is in all Japanese (and I can't read it as whole), but small identification pointers are fairly easy to read with help of other books. Great information with great pictures about the 5 traditions. Of course this same information can be found in all other books of the same subject, I just really like the high quality pics so I can actually see the details that I try to understand.

[Marius]

A bunch of excellent sources, Jussi. I have forgotten to mention the Nihonto Koza, which, as you say, is also a great resource.

 

So you use the Toko Taikan? I find it extremely hard to do so without an English Index.

[sohei]

Dr Thomas did an English index for the Toko Taikan years ago, if you PM me, I will send it to you. Thanks, Mike

[Brian]

If you would email it to me, I would be glad to add it to the indexes file in the articles section.

 

Brian

[Ken-Hawaii]

Mike, are you talking about the Toko Taikan index that's referenced to Hawley's? If not, I have the digital file available.

 

Ken

[nagamaki - Franco]

Franco,

 

I was mulling a purchase of Yamanaka's Newsletter, but wanted the re-formatted version (Grey cab surely get me one). Question is: how much useful is it when you have a sword in and that you want to assess?

 

Yamanaka's revised is for someone wishing to advance their kantei skills and knowledge beyond the basics. It's more of a guide for the nihonto student, rather than a how to for collecting.

[Marius]

An impressive list coming together, thank you All :-)

[Jussi Ekholm]

I have a secret ace , I got an used one from Grey, and previous owner had crossreferenced every entry with Hawley code in pencil. That makes it a lot easier for me. There have been couple misplaced entries, but they have usually been most likely just accidents.

[Brian]

Thanks to Mike, I have added the Toko Taikan Index to the indexes file in the Articles section.

 

Brian