SAS Posted March 12, 2015 Report Posted March 12, 2015 Greetings, when I was a student in Seattle from 1979 to 1983, there was a Japanese department store at the bottom of Chinatown called Uwajimaya. On an upper mezzanine there was a shop which had nihonto displayed; I used to spend some time gazing in the window, but it was never open when i was there, and I am not sure what kind of reception a 17 year old college student would have gotten. I wonder if that store is still there, and does anyone know anything about it? Thanks, Steve Quote
seattle1 Posted March 13, 2015 Report Posted March 13, 2015 Hello: I was last at Uwajimaya's several years ago. It is a going concern with a lot of variety and a nice bookstand, however I don't believe the sword focus is there anymore. One of the founding brothers was interested in swords and Mr. Kondo ran that area at one time as best I can recall. He has now moved across the lake. Seattle has never had many places where swords could be seen, however there are some shops dealing in East Asian antiques and art. Try Honeychurch on Capitol Hill near Harborview Hospital, where Bob Haynes used to work/consult, and of course the Yellow Pages. Arnold F. Quote
seattle1 Posted March 13, 2015 Report Posted March 13, 2015 Hello: It was Mr. Konno, not Kondo. Sorry. Arnold F. Quote
SAS Posted March 13, 2015 Author Report Posted March 13, 2015 Thanks for the reply! My books are still packed but i remember that there was a Japanese swordsmith who had an operation somewhere in the Seattle area; his name escapes me at the moment, seems like he did a book with Leon Kapp, any ideas? 1 Quote
seattle1 Posted March 14, 2015 Report Posted March 14, 2015 Hello: Mr. Konno did and still does polish swords, but I have never heard of a swordsmith in Seattle or anywhere around the area. I believe Mr. Ohno, the author of Gendai Toko Meikan, had some connection that brought him to Seattle from time to time. I am sorry I can't add more. Arnold F. Quote
SAS Posted March 14, 2015 Author Report Posted March 14, 2015 Ah, my brain is working better today, I believe the swordsmith is Yoshindo Yoshihara. I believe the Seattle operation was to be able to produce gendaito beyond the number permitted in Japan. When I have an extra 10 grand or so I would love to have one of his creations. Quote
seattle1 Posted March 14, 2015 Report Posted March 14, 2015 Hello Steve: I am almost certain that Yoshihara did not work in Seattle. He did make a tanto in Northern California, and it was subsequently tempered at the 1972 (?) NBTHK shinsa in Dallas. I believe it went to John Yumoto, then possibly to the late Cary Condell, then to a friend of mine in Rochester, and after his passing to another friend. There is a video of it making. I have seen the blade a number of times and the nakago says that it was made in the USA. Arnold F. Quote
celt72 Posted March 15, 2015 Report Posted March 15, 2015 Arnold - Here is what I believe you were thinking of. I believe Konno sensei brought him to Seattle back around 2005. I went to the Seattle Cherry Blossom Festival in 2005 I think, and there was Yoshindo Yoshihara there making a tanto. I was quite surprised and spent a couple of hours watching him work. Konno sensei's website has offered some of his swords for sale in the past. http://www.japaneseartswords.com/ 1 Quote
seattle1 Posted March 15, 2015 Report Posted March 15, 2015 Hello: Seeing is believing. I didn't realize he had worked more recently than the sword he made for the Dallas event. The blade mentioned earlier, which indicated USA made, has left me with the lingering curiosity if that one would be admitted into Japan. Any ideas Chris? Arnold F. Quote
seattle1 Posted March 15, 2015 Report Posted March 15, 2015 Hello: Pete, your subtlety escapes me. What is so mythical about my comment on the Dallas tempered Yoshihara blade? Arnold F. Quote
cabowen Posted March 15, 2015 Report Posted March 15, 2015 Hello: Seeing is believing. I didn't realize he had worked more recently than the sword he made for the Dallas event. The blade mentioned earlier, which indicated USA made, has left me with the lingering curiosity if that one would be admitted into Japan. Any ideas Chris? Arnold F. I think it would be admitted but from what I understand, it is something that seems to be frowned upon in some corners. It is a loophole that I am surprised has yet to be formally closed. If more took advantage of it, it probably would be... Quote
Pete Klein Posted March 15, 2015 Report Posted March 15, 2015 Arnold -- it was in reference to Steve's post, not yours. I think Chris just answered it above. Quote
Brian Posted March 15, 2015 Report Posted March 15, 2015 I bought my brother an elephant for his room. He said "Thanks" I said "Don't mention it" - B - Quote
Pete Klein Posted March 15, 2015 Report Posted March 15, 2015 When I was very young growing up in Chicago my parents would speak regularly with an elephant friend in New York. They, of course, would have to make a trunk call. Quote
SAS Posted March 27, 2015 Author Report Posted March 27, 2015 Now i am hearing that the elephant's forge is in Kirkland. Quote
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