Heringsdorf Posted November 24, 2015 Report Posted November 24, 2015 Hello, I'm not so familiar with modern smiths, and was wondering about the status and quality of blades made by Seto Yoshihiro? I'm asking because I received a Tanto by this smith as a gift. This Tanto was made in February of 2002. Quote
lonely panet Posted November 24, 2015 Report Posted November 24, 2015 lucky you, well the habaki is really nice. always loved the gold foiled ones. the suguha is done very well too Quote
Greg F Posted November 24, 2015 Report Posted November 24, 2015 WOW thats an awesome gift! Somebody hear will give more details about the smith but ive seen some beautiful swords made by them. All the best. Greg Quote
Teimei Posted November 24, 2015 Report Posted November 24, 2015 As a gift? Damn, i need better friends ! All i got from my best friend on my birthday was a warm handshake and the words: "We both know that i am poor, aren´t we?" best regards, Quote
Stephen Posted November 24, 2015 Report Posted November 24, 2015 Max thats a heck of a fine gift, id be happy with it and not so worried about his status, you should be able to tell from his work in hand. Quote
Stephen Posted November 24, 2015 Report Posted November 24, 2015 http://www.samuraishokai.jp/sword/13613.html Mukansa?? wow Quote
SwordGuyJoe Posted November 24, 2015 Report Posted November 24, 2015 Really nice! He's a very good smith. Studied primarily under Sumitani Masamine but spent time with Yukihira. Reached Mukansa in 1996. I've always liked Masamine's work. Here is an example http://www.yukodo.net/kata_masamine.html Nice sword at a nice price. Thought about picking it up, but I have my hands full with Kasama and company... Quote
Heringsdorf Posted November 24, 2015 Author Report Posted November 24, 2015 I haven't received the Tanto yet. My father told me that he got me this, and send me the pictures. Thank you all for the information. So the smith is Mukansa level. I know that means above competition, but how common is this ranking? Do most smiths reach this after a certain time span? I did find an older list online which listed 20+ smiths which were Mukansa. Quote
SwordGuyJoe Posted November 24, 2015 Report Posted November 24, 2015 Only the top of the trade make Mukansa Quote
Brian Posted November 25, 2015 Report Posted November 25, 2015 It is a very, very high ranking. Basically...too skilled to need to be judged. Not often awarded. Quote
Heringsdorf Posted November 26, 2015 Author Report Posted November 26, 2015 Thank you Brian and Joe for the good information. Does anybody know if Seto Yoshihiro is still active today? Quote
Heringsdorf Posted November 26, 2015 Author Report Posted November 26, 2015 I was wondering if this is a picture of Seto Yoshihiro? Quote
SanTouSu Posted December 1, 2015 Report Posted December 1, 2015 Seto Yoshihiro is currently 70 years old (born in 1945). That picture looks like a picture of him when he was younger....in his 50's. The only picture I've seen of him was from Leon Kapp's book "Modern Japanese Swords and Swordsmiths". The Kanji (characters) for his name are correctly spelled. 2 Quote
Heringsdorf Posted December 3, 2015 Author Report Posted December 3, 2015 Update. I have family who lives in Kyoto, and I asked them to please try to call Mr. Seto Yoshihiro. They where actually able to talk to him and his wife directly! He is still active, but only on a direct commission basis, and he only sells personally without a dealer. Concerning the Tanto, he confirmed that he did make a Tanto in February of 2002. But couldn't say over the phone if mine is the one he made. He doesn't use internet, so the only way to have him definitely confirm my blade would be to send it to him. I'm debating if I want to do that, since the blade is currently still in Japan. On the other hand I think I have enough evidence now to conclude that this is authentic by him. I received a picture of the Touroku-sho and it supports the assumption of it being authentic. Based on all this, what do other more knowledgeable collectors here think? Thanks. Quote
SwordGuyJoe Posted December 3, 2015 Report Posted December 3, 2015 If it's already in Japan and you have questions, I'd do it. The Touroku-sho doesn't do anything to prove or disprove who made it. Quote
nagamaki - Franco Posted December 3, 2015 Report Posted December 3, 2015 It would be kind of neat if asked, if he would be willing to write a sayagaki for you. Quote
Stephen Posted December 3, 2015 Report Posted December 3, 2015 im getting greener as this thread goes on, right? Quote
Curran Posted December 3, 2015 Report Posted December 3, 2015 Yep. Envious. While I have a few very kind friends, nobody like this in my family. Congrats Max on family that considerate. Heck of a gift. Quote
Heringsdorf Posted December 4, 2015 Author Report Posted December 4, 2015 I send an email to Aoi art asking them if they could send the Tanto to Seto Yoshihiro and ask him if he would do a sayagaki. They replied that they have no contact with Seto Yoshihiro and can't ask him about that. But they offered to have Kazushige Tsuruta to do the sayagaki!? Not really what I asked for, though. Not sure what to do now? Probably will have them just send the Tanto as is and enjoy it. I just thought that it would have been nice to have Seto Yoshihiro himself inspect it. Quote
SwordGuyJoe Posted December 4, 2015 Report Posted December 4, 2015 Why not send it to your family and ask them to send it on? Quote
Heringsdorf Posted December 4, 2015 Author Report Posted December 4, 2015 Can they just accept a sword? I know that the laws in Japan are very strict about these things. Quote
SwordGuyJoe Posted December 4, 2015 Report Posted December 4, 2015 Yes - there may be some back and forth needed with Tsuruta-san, but this is very do-able. It gets far less so once it is cleared for export... Quote
Stephen Posted December 4, 2015 Report Posted December 4, 2015 Maybe Paul Martin or Chris Bowin have connections Quote
Heringsdorf Posted December 4, 2015 Author Report Posted December 4, 2015 On 12/4/2015 at 9:13 PM, SwordGuyJoe said: It gets far less so once it is cleared for export... What do you mean with: it gets far less....? Also what should I ask for? A sayagaki by him or a handwritten note that it was made by him, or have I'm just confirm it. Quote
SwordGuyJoe Posted December 4, 2015 Report Posted December 4, 2015 Once the sword is cleared for export, it either needs to leave the country or be reregistered to stay in the country. If it leaves, you'll need to work with an agent to get it registered (unless you can work the process yourself) so it can re-enter the country. I'm not saying this will be simple, but it'll never be easier and Tsuruta-San can help guide you. I don't know why you'd get him to do a sayagaki, unless he's talented at calligraphy. If you have concerns, I'd have him take a look at it to verify that it was a sword he forged, write a letter, and give him some money for him time. Quote
Stephen Posted December 4, 2015 Report Posted December 4, 2015 am i blocked here?? maybe a connection in Japan can help? I dont see Tsurata doing anything for you if your not buying from him. 1 Quote
Heringsdorf Posted December 4, 2015 Author Report Posted December 4, 2015 Well, the Tanto was purchased from Aoi and they still currently have it. Also the export permit has not been applied for as of now. I will have my family send it to Seto Yoshihiro for validation and get some written prove from him. And then have it send back to Aoi to have them handle the export to me. Thank you all for the input. Quote
SanTouSu Posted December 6, 2015 Report Posted December 6, 2015 Although Seto San doesn't use the internet...he may use a cell phone. If you opt to have the sword sent to you in the US, you can take a picture of the "mei" (inscription on the tang) if there is one, and send the photo to his cell phone. He would readily recognize his inscription. Just a option to what you are considering to do. Quote
Heringsdorf Posted December 8, 2015 Author Report Posted December 8, 2015 Just received this picture from my family in Japan. Mr. Seto Yoshihiro authenticated the Tanto and wrote a sayagaki for it. Very fast service on his part! Looking forward to seeing the blade in person now. 1 Quote
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