M. Hagenbusch

[CSM101]

A great Man has passed. A great loss to the sword society.

 

 

Uwe G.

[Pete Klein]

This is very bad news. I knew he had been quite ill the past few years but did not know he had relapsed. He will be missed.

 

Peter Klein

[John A Stuart]

Is this Michael from München? Condolences. John

[b.hennick]

The Nihonto World has lost a Kantei expert who shared his knowledge freely. I will miss our chats at sword shows. His explanations at kantei sessions will probably never be surpassed. Michael would look at peoples bids and tell them what they saw and what they missed. All this was done without specific preparation. To those who knew him I share your sorrow to those who didn't get the opportunity to know him you missed a wonderful opportunity.

[Ted Tenold]

I am very sorry to hear this.  He was a man of deep knowledge and many experiences.  I am among the many people that will miss him.

 

Thank you Michael for all you did.  Enjoy exploring on your next journey!  

[Bob M.]

Very sorry to hear the news - from what I understood about his condition , this was a happy release , so to speak.

I only knew him by repute ,and am sure that this was my loss rather than his. 

His achievements will live a long time in the nihonto world.

[Curran]

We traded jokes in Italian & German humor at the Tampa show.

I got to know him through a shared sense of humor, and missed the banter when he did not attend Tampa.

 

We would also talk about fittings, and I knew him by reputation to be a great kantei expert of nihonto.

I am very sad to know he has left, but one of his last jokes was appropriate for saying goodbye and a good way to remember him.

Thank you for letting us know.

[Brian]

Condolences to his friends and family. I had often come across his name in connection with articles and serious study into the Japanese sword.

RIP Mr Hagenbusch

[paulb]

I had the great good fortune to meet with Michael on several occasions when visiting Munich. I can say in all honesty that the three evenings I spent with him (through to the early hours of the morning on each occasion) were three of the most informative and enjoyable times I have spent studying and discussing swords.

He made me work very hard doing kantei on each blade he showed me, but he was incredibly generous in sharing his time and knowledge. His enthusiasm and commitment over the years have helped to make the NBTHK EU the strong organisation it is. He will be remembered as one of the great contributors to the understanding of this subject and an inspiration to those of us that knew him and follow.

As previously mentioned he has been ill for some time and I hope he is now at peace and free from the suffering which he bore so stoically, R.I.P.  Michael you will be greatly missed but remembered with equally great affection.

Paul Bowman

[Stephen]

RIP

[Jean]

RIP

[Ed]

My condolences go out to Michael's family.

 

He was one of the nicest gentlemen you would ever want to meet, soft spoken, courteous and polite.  As others have stated he was extremely knowledgeable regarding Nihonto, and was always willing to take time to answer a question or discuss anything to do with the subject.  

 

While all of these things are great attributes, what I liked most about Michael, was his sense of humor.  Sitting around the lobby after a few drinks, he could tell some of the funniest damn stories.  I can hear him telling this story about a German whorehouse as though it was yesterday. Had us laughing so hard, thought I would bust a gut.  What a great guy.

 

Rest in peace Michael.

[jlawson]

RIP, a very knowledgeable collector who will be missed by many. 

[Jesper]

Sincere condolences to his family and friends from me and my wife, Anna, who also knew Michael.  He was a true gentleman and a fountain of knowledge. He was extremely generous in sharing it and teaching everyone seriously interested in the Japanese sword as an art object. I  remember visiting him in Munich where we sat in his Japanese teahouse and had kantei with top-class swords all night.

 

I agree with Paul B. that he will be remembered as one of the great contributors to the understanding of the Japanese sword as an art object and an inspiration to those of us who were fortunate to know him.

 

Rest in peace Michael.

[ROKUJURO]

I am shocked to read that Michael Hagenbusch has passed away.

I have known him for about 40 years, and although we did not meet these last years, I have always kept good memory of him. His knowledge in things Japanese was amazing, and he permanently increased it. He told me that he often travelled to Japan to attend KANTEI sessions. He had a considerable number of very high class swords and TOSOGU, but it may not be known that he had a wonderful collection of JIZAI OKIMONO as well. His apartment in Munich was full of wonderful and famous Asian art items, and he loved to live with them.

Let us hope that there are some wonderful pieces of Japanese art in the next world so he can enjoy them......

 

 

[seattle1]

Hello:

What sad news! Michael's depth of knowledge, extremely retentive memory, scholarly output, and always his cordial and friendly personality and willingness to share his knowledge at length will not be easily or soon replaced.

Arnold F.

[Greg F]

My condolences. Rest in peace.

 

Greg

[Toryu2020]

a real loss.

[DirkO]

RIP Herr Hagenbusch - I'll fondly remember the few times we really had a chance to talk at the Bonn meetings. His kantei explanations were always something special. As already mentioned, he would talk unprepared about each kantei bid and tell them where they went wrong, but always in a very educational manner. A true gentleman and a scolar of the highest level, one of very few who actually did their sword studies in Japan at the museum.

[uwe]

Heard about it yesterday from a club member. I knew him for about 15 years as I entered the world of Nihon-to. I remember, he judged one of my first purchases (a sengo tachi). Not what I wanted to hear at that time, but very educational Anyway.....

It is really a great loss for all the nihonto enthusiasts out there. Especially for the NBTHK/EB and will hardly be superseded.

RIP Michael!

[Andi B.]

Really sad news (although not unexpected for the ones who knew him here in Munich)...

We will miss him - it was an honour for me to know him personally...

 

I'll always remember his "Lasst das Kind mal vor!" when he wanted to have a look at blades we brought to our meetings...  

[brannow]

Very sad to hear this!  RIP Michael!

[christianmalterre]

this is a very sad new years news indeed!

 

we did so much learn from him, and this is certainly ( a maybe expected), but still very sad news to read here,though.

 

 

my condolences. 

 

Christian

[Ron STL]

What a shock it is to read this sad news! I was aware of Michael's health problems but he was one of those we think will never leave us. I will truly miss seeing him at the shows. Always the gentleman, 1st Class! I first met Michael when in Munich in 1988 while visiting family. My wife and I spent a wonderful day at his apartment doing kantei. Years later we closed the Marriot's bar one night, as he told of how we learned about swords, and then relearned everything later. Great memories to have of an old school friend! Ron STL

[Markus]

I can only agree with everything that has been written so far. The Nihonto community has lost a great man, and the NBTHK-EB a great president who managed the branch in a highly sensitve way for 20 years, always trying to bring together collectors from all camps, even if that venture was quite difficult at times. Unforgettable, in particular, will remain my two road trips with Michael from Munich to Hamburg. In those hours over hours driving through the dark of night and chatting about everything and anything, I think I’ve learned more about the Japanese sword world than from a shelf of books. And we were hardly talking about swords at all…

[Curran]

I can only agree with everything that has been written so far. The Nihonto community has lost a great man, and the NBTHK-EB a great president who managed the branch in a highly sensitve way for 20 years, always trying to bring together collectors from all camps, even if that venture was quite difficult at times. Unforgettable, in particular, will remain my two road trips with Michael from Munich to Hamburg. In those hours over hours driving through the dark of night and chatting about everything and anything, I think I’ve learned more about the Japanese sword world than from a shelf of books. And we were hardly talking about swords at all…

 

Well said Markus.

Many of you knew him better than I did, and I wish I had gotten to know him earlier in my adventures upon this field.

[cisco-san]

I met him only one time in Salzburg. But I will never forget this session, it was like yesterday.

His knowledge about Japanese blades was incredible was well as his stories!!!

A big loss for the Nihonto community!!

Rest in peace Michael.