Juyo 2018

[Jussi Ekholm]

I kinda did promise I'd give romanjinized version of the results when I get them and as George posted the link I thought I'd give it a go. I was bit tired after working 2 jobs today so there might be an error or two amongst those. I didn't add ō-ū etc. for correct pronounciation as I kinda did this fast and on the fly, and I only picked up some easy details in brackets. I just hope this is of assistance for those interested.

 

1. Tachi (mei) Sanjo (tomei ga aru)

2. Tachi (mei) Kuninaga (Gojo)

3. Katana (kiritsuke-mei) Norikuni

4. Katana (mumei) Awataguchi

5. Tachi (mei) Sadatsugu (den Ayanokoji)

6. Katana (mumei) Ayanokoji

7. Katana (mumei) Rai Kuniyuki

8. Tachi (mumei) Niji Kunitoshi

9. Tanto (mei) Rai Kunitoshi

10. Katana (mumei) Ryokai

11. Tanto (mei) Rai Kunimitsu

12. Katana (mumei) Rai Kuninaga

13. Katana (mumei) Nakajima Rai

14. Katana (mumei) Nakajima Rai

15. Katana (mumei) Nakajima Rai

16. Katana (mumei) Rai Kunizane

17. Katana (mumei) Rai Kunizane

18. Wakizashi (mumei) Rai Tomokuni

19. Katana (mumei) den Hasebe

20. Naginata (mei) Nobukuni (Nanbokucho – Oei)

21. Tanto (mei) Nobusada (Yamashiro : Oei)

22. Tachi (mei) Kuniharu (Senjuin)

23. Katana (mumei) Senjuin

24. Katana (mumei) Ryumon

25. Katana (mumei) Ryumon

26. Katana (mumei) Taima

27. Katana (mumei) Taima

28. Katana (mumei) den Yamato Aritoshi

29. Katana (kinzogan-mei) Kanenaga (Nanbokucho)

30. Tanto (mei & date) Kanetsugu

31. Katana (mumei) Tegai

32. Tanto (mei) Sadamitsu

33. Katana (mumei) Hosho

34. Katana (mumei) den Hosho

35. Katana (mumei) Shikkake

36. Katana (mumei) Shikkake

37. Katana (kinpun-mei) Kaneuji

38. Katana (mumei) Yamato Shizu

39. Wakizashi (mumei) Yamato Shizu

40. Ken (mumei) Yamato Shizu

41. Katana (mumei) den Yukimitsu

42. Katana (kinpun-mei) Hitachi Masamune Honami

43. Katana (mumei) den Sadamune (Meibutsu)

44. Katana (mumei) den Sadamune

45. Katana (mumei) den Shizu

46. Naginata-naoshi-wakizashi (mumei) den Shizu

47. Katana (mumei) den Naoe Shizu

48. Naginata-naoshi-wakizashi (mumei) Naoe Shizu

49. Katana (mumei) Kinju

50. Katana (mumei) Kaneyuki

51. Tanto (mei & date) Morikatsu (Shimotsuke)

52. Tachi (mei) Hoju (Eitoku)

53. Katana (mei & date) Fuyuhiro

54. Katana (mumei) Tametsugu

55. Wakizashi (mumei) Tametsugu

56. Katana (mumei) Kashu Sanekage

57. Katana (mumei) den Kashu Sanekage

58. Katana (mumei) den Go

59. Katana (mumei) Norishige

60. Katana (mumei) Ko-Uda

61. Tanto (mei) Uda Kunihisa

62. Tachi (mei) Ohara Sanemori

63. Kodachi (mei) Ohara Sanemori

64. Katana (kiritsuke-mei) Hoki Motoshige

65. Tachi (mei) Nagakane (Ko-Bizen)

66. Tachi (mei) Yoshizane (Ko-Bizen)

67. Katana (mumei) Ko-Bizen

68. Tachi (mei) Yoshifusa

69. Katana (mumei) Ichimonji

70. Naginata-naoshi-wakizashi (mumei) Ichimonji

71. Katana (kinzogan-mei) Yoshioka Ichimonji

72. Katana (mumei) Yoshioka Ichimonji

73. Naginata-naoshi-katana (mumei) Katayama Ichimonji

74. Naginata-naoshi-wakizashi (mumei) Katayama Ichimonji

75. Katana (mumei) den Iwato Ichimonji

76. Katana (mumei) Mitsutada

77. Katana (mumei) Sanenaga

78. Tachi (mei) Kagemitsu

79. Tachi (mei) Chikakage

80. Wakizashi (mumei) Chikakage

81. Tachi (mumei) Moriie

82. Wakizashi (mumei) Sanemori

83. Katana (mumei) den Unsho

84. Tachi (mumei) Wake Shigesuke

85. Wakizashi (mumei) Masamitsu

86. Tachi (mei & date) Moromitsu

87. Tachi (mei) Yasumoto (Nanbokucho – Oei)

88. Katana (shuso fumei) Chogi

89. Katana (mumei) den Chogi

90. Katana (mumei) Kanenaga

91. Katana (mumei) Kanenaga

92. Katana (mumei) Nagamori

93. Wakizashi (mei & date) Morikage

94. Naginata (mei & date) Katsumitsu & Sadamitsu

95. Wakizashi (mei & date) Munemitsu

96. Katana (mei & date) Harumitsu

97. Tachi (mei) Sukezane (Bitchu Senoo)

98. Tanto (mei & date) Sadatsugu

99. Katana (mumei) Aoe

100. Naginata-naoshi-katana (mumei) Aoe

101. Katana (mumei) Ko-Mihara

102. Katana (mumei) Ko-Mihara

103. Katana (mumei) Nio

104. Katana (mumei) Jitsua

105. Naginata-naoshi-katana (mumei) Jitsua

106. Katana (mumei) Sa Sadayoshi

107. Katana (mumei) Sa Hiroyasu

108. Katana (mumei) Sa Hiroyuki

109. Katana (mumei) Sa Hiroyuki

110. Katana (mumei) Sa Hiroyuki

111. Katana (mumei) Sue-Sa

112. Katana (mumei) Miike

113. Katana (mumei) Enju Kunimura

114. Katana (kinpun-mei) Enju Kunisuke

115. Katana (mumei) Enju

116. Katana (mumei) Enju

117. Katana (mumei) Enju

118. Tachi (mumei) Naminohira Yukiyasu (Kamakura – Nanbokucho)

 

Late swords

 

119. Katana (mei) Kunitomo

120. Wakizashi (mei) Kunisada

121. Wakizashi (mei) Sukehiro (nidai)

122. Katana (mei & date) Sukenao

123. Wakizashi (mei & date) Ikkanshi Tadatsuna

124. Wakizashi (mei) Masatsune

125. Wakizashi (mei) Kotetsu

126. Wakizashi (mei) Kotetsu

127. Katana (mei) Kunimasa

128. Daisho (mei & date) Suishinshi Masahide

129. Katana (mei & date) Taikei Naotane

130. Katana (mei & date) Koyama Munetsugu

131. Katana (mei & date) Minamoto Masayuki

132. Katana (mei & date) Nobuhide

133. Katana (mei & date) Nobuhide

134. Katana (mei & date) Nobuhide

135. Katana (mei) Tadakuni

[Vermithrax16]

Thanks Jussi!!!! Great work.

 

I will take #33 and/or #34

[PNSSHOGUN]

Another clean sweep by the Rai school, thank you Jussi.

[Brian]

Thanks for your efforts Jussi!

[Guest Rayhan]

Lets have fun grouping them into Kamakura, Nanbokucho, etc and by old provinces!

 

So nice to see Rai Kunizane finally have a few wins! Certainly deserves to be there.

 

Thanks Jussi!

[Gakusee]

Jussi - very, very impressive! Well done and I am envious of your kanji reading skills )

 

A few observations - not too many swords have passed and it seems a more normalised session (there have been sessions with 150+). Koto as expected predominates. Around 39 are Bizen (from Hoki/ko-Bizen to Aoe and Soden Bizen), which is around 30% (I seem to think historically Bizen has been more around 40% but it might be a figment of my mind).

 

Good showing from Kyomono/ Yamashiro and as expected - only a scintilla of Soshu, since as we know they are rare.

I am a bit surprised by the number of “alternative” or not-glorified-Koto ( ie. non Yamashiro /Bizen/Soshu) blades. Those other ones must be very good specimens and would undoubtedly be interesting to study.

[Darcy]

The "fumei" Chogi is Shu-so Chogi fumei. Shumei is an older red lacquer attribution that (I think) follows rules about the piece being ubu and unsiged and shuso is later red lacquer attribution. I think Markus wrote about it somewhere. Fumei means it's rubbed off but they can still make it out in this case. 

 

Ryumon is a fairly new attribution, in the past these may have been den Ryumon Nobuyoshi. Last two years are the first times they used Rymon like a school. 

 

Last two years has also been a "surge" in Nakajima Rai and some of those I have a feeling are more conservative readings that might have had some leeway to individual Rai smiths in the past. 

 

We are seeing Awataguchi slightly more often as a school attribution recently (as many in the past 20 years as the 40 years before that). Those usually went to Awataguchi Kuniyoshi in the past, but an Awataguchi school attribution does not necessarily equate with Kuniyoshi as they can be older. The one I sent in is older. 

 

Bizen has been about 30% of all Juyo in the past and about 40% of koto Juyo.

 

The comment about Rai Kunizane, it is the backwards thing again. Rai Kunizane as an attribution has a second meaning as a second tier or third tier Rai work that doesn't match first tier Rai properties. If his work matched first tier Rai properties then he would have a 650 year old reputation as a first ranked Rai smith, which he doesn't. So his reputation sets the expectation for the blades. If the unsigned blade was outstanding quality past the reputation then it would make it very difficult to attribute it to him because the quality of the work is the primary factor in the kantei. 

 

There are no Tokuju, no Jubi, no Jubun, no Kokuho and very few signed works (only one that passed Juyo) though probably older oshigata exist and certainly he didn't pass down a history. He's thought to be a son of Rai Kunitoshi and he probably worked under Kunitoshi and then under Kunimitsu and as a result just didn't put through a lot of blades in his name. 

 

He's a backup singer.

[Gakusee]

By the way, spent a bit of time this afternoon looking at the list and Jussi’s list. Have not looked at most of the entries but did a sense check. Impressive accuracy so far and I found only a few little niggles worthwhile putting right

- item 5 is Sadatsugu (Darcy - you would know it well...)

- item 58 I think is den Go

- the overall list is 135 items

- up to item 104 it seems right, then it omits one Jitsua and goes to Sa Sadayoshi (in Jussi’s list item 105 but I think item 106)

 

Darcy - impressive outturn with your name attached to 4 items I could identify on the list. Rayhan is also featured there and Mike Y, Fred W, Hans E, Robert B. Of course, the list would omit items attributable to individuals but submitted via dealers or agents.

[Jussi Ekholm]

Thanks for corrections Michael & Darcy. I corrected them in the list. That Sadatsugu was a brain skip like the missing naginata-naoshi-katana for Jitsua. I needed to check the Gō as I was expecting to see 郷 but when reading up more, it is often replaced by 江. I wasn't aware of this type of red lacquer attribution that was the case here, thanks for explaining it.

 

In general going through NBTHK listings is somewhat easy as they follow general format. For Kotō swords I kinda know the order of provinces they list them in so it should ease up the reading (aside from missing the Gō ).

 

As I have interests in these both schools I found two exciting swords that made it. Hōjū tachi with mei and mumei tachi attributed to Naminohira Yukiyasu. And being the small packrat information collector that I am, I have NBTHK magazines back to 1996 with Jūyō results up to this date. I decided to check how Hōjū and Naminohira have been since Jūyō 42.

 

Hōjū has had 9 swords pass since 1996.

 

64 Tachi (mei)

62 Tachi (mumei)

62 Tantō (mei & date)

58 Naginata-naoshi-katana (mei)

49 Katana (mei)

46 Wakizashi (mei & date)

45 Wakizashi (mei & date)

44 Katana (kinpun)

44 Tachi (mei)

 

Naminohira has had 10 swords pass since 1996.

 

64 Tachi (mumei) Yukiyasu

59 Tachi (mei) Yukiyasu

58 Tachi (mei) Yasutsugu

57 Katana (mumei) Ko-Naminohira

51 Tachi (mei) Yukiyasu

47 Tachi (mumei) Ko-Naminohira

46 Tachi (mumei) Ko-Naminohira

42 Tachi (mumei) Ko-Naminohira

42 Katana (mumei) Ko-Naminohira

42 Tantō (mei) Yoshiyasu (Muromachi)

[Guest Rayhan]

 

The comment about Rai Kunizane, it is the backwards thing again. Rai Kunizane as an attribution has a second meaning as a second tier or third tier Rai work that doesn't match first tier Rai properties. If his work matched first tier Rai properties then he would have a 650 year old reputation as a first ranked Rai smith, which he doesn't. So his reputation sets the expectation for the blades. If the unsigned blade was outstanding quality past the reputation then it would make it very difficult to attribute it to him because the quality of the work is the primary factor in the kantei.

 

There are no Tokuju, no Jubi, no Jubun, no Kokuho and very few signed works (only one that passed Juyo) though probably older oshigata exist and certainly he didn't pass down a history. He's thought to be a son of Rai Kunitoshi and he probably worked under Kunitoshi and then under Kunimitsu and as a result just didn't put through a lot of blades in his name.

 

He's a backup singer.

The one that passed Juyo (past session) is sitting in front of me now and there is no denying its beauty or quality. I think the answer to why there aren't more is as Darcy says "worked under Kunitoshi and then under Kunimitsu and as a result just didn't put through a lot of blades in his name. " so you can't really call a smith a second tier based on scarcity or shall we (heaven forbid) call Go Yoshihiro a backup singer for scarcity? (Not to compare late koto Yamashiro to Shoshu kings)

[Blazeaglory]

Thanks for corrections Michael & Darcy. I corrected them in the list. That Sadatsugu was a brain skip like the missing naginata-naoshi-katana for Jitsua. I needed to check the Gō as I was expecting to see 郷 but when reading up more, it is often replaced by 江. I wasn't aware of this type of red lacquer attribution that was the case here, thanks for explaining it.

 

In general going through NBTHK listings is somewhat easy as they follow general format. For Kotō swords I kinda know the order of provinces they list them in so it should ease up the reading (aside from missing the Gō ).

 

As I have interests in these both schools I found two exciting swords that made it. Hōjū tachi with mei and mumei tachi attributed to Naminohira Yukiyasu. And being the small packrat information collector that I am, I have NBTHK magazines back to 1996 with Jūyō results up to this date. I decided to check how Hōjū and Naminohira have been since Jūyō 42.

 

Hōjū has had 9 swords pass since 1996.

 

64 Tachi (mei)

62 Tachi (mumei)

62 Tantō (mei & date)

58 Naginata-naoshi-katana (mei)

49 Katana (mei)

46 Wakizashi (mei & date)

45 Wakizashi (mei & date)

44 Katana (kinpun)

44 Tachi (mei)

 

Naminohira has had 10 swords pass since 1996.

 

64 Tachi (mumei) Yukiyasu

59 Tachi (mei) Yukiyasu

58 Tachi (mei) Yasutsugu

57 Katana (mumei) Ko-Naminohira

51 Tachi (mei) Yukiyasu

47 Tachi (mumei) Ko-Naminohira

46 Tachi (mumei) Ko-Naminohira

42 Tachi (mumei) Ko-Naminohira

42 Katana (mumei) Ko-Naminohira

42 Tantō (mei) Yoshiyasu (Muromachi)

 

 

Good job on the research and posts Juss! Thanks

[Gakusee]

I am always surprised that some great blade or another makes its way through unnoticed or appears from under wraps through legacy issues (eg old owner does not have successors).

I would have assumed that the great old blades would have been identified, dug out of their hiding places and papered in the last 70 years or so, but not - they are still emerging and making their way through the system (Hozon - TH - J - TJ).

 

So, it is worthwhile for people to analyse these results which Jussi kindly transcribed.

 

The highlights in this Juyo session to me are undoubtedly: the signed Fukuoka Ichimonji Yoshifusa at 71 cm (one of the 3-4 greatest Ichimonji smiths), the Ikeda family heirloom Masamune, the Ohoridashi (meibutsu) Sadamune. Great smith plus great condition plus renowned family history normally means a straight shoo-in for TJ (and as we know some of the great TJ are on par with JuBu).

[Darcy]

Meant to delete this before I went to sleep.

[Darcy]

The reason I get pulled in is because I see damage being done by conclusions without the experience or facts that should lie behind them, and that this board can be an echo chamber and it can affect newbies coming in. 

 

Like uchiko. Still trying to get good old Jim K's generation's sin of uchiko off of us. 

 

But I don't want to fight here and intend to stick to my blog. 

 

My request to people should be less concluding and more question asking. Because I get more conclusions on NMB than I do when talking to Tanobe sensei. His answers are often, "that's a good question" and "more research is necessary" and "I would like to know that myself" and "isn't it interesting?" 

 

I brought him a great sword and asked him to make a pronouncement on it. Everyone here would do so including me.

 

He said, "I'd like to study it before I say anything. Can I have some time?" My answer was "take years if you want." 

 

Because it's critical and I want him to go through whatever process is necessary. 

 

Try to not be so bold about what you think you know and try to keep the cup somewhat empty so new stuff can flow in. 

 

Now, back to my exile, for good this time. 

 

Brian if it's possible to lock or ban my account please do so so a late night half asleep state doesn't tempt me into these discussions again.

 

Good luck gentlemen.

[b.hennick]

I very much like the last two posts by Darcy - except for the last two sentences. I'll miss your thoughts and inspirations on NMB. 

[Guest Rayhan]

As a custodian of a Rai Kunizane I am obviously happy to see the acceptance of more Kunizane into the Juyo tier, this would be the same for anyone. I have spent a good few hours with this sword today looking at the details and all I am saying is that it is beautiful sword. And I agree that if we are looking at Rai as a whole then there are better ranked swords from other masters but the fact that Rai had a good few many more smiths than the ones generally mentioned as the superstars means any smith from the Rai branches getting named mentions is not a bad thing. 

 

We cannot compare Awatguchi Yoshimitsu to Rai Kunizane as you said and my logic would indeed be flawed if I though that was possible. That is not what I am saying, as a collector who sees Rai Kunizane I asked myself why there weren't more in Juyo and simply, it was a matter of time, that was all I had implied. That and, It is a good sword. And, have fun, why not have fun there must be a point to it all. Did I not mention Suguha is my favorite Hamon? It is! 

 

Darcy, your inputs like this is what gets people thinking and asking the best of people is not wrong, I am sure everyone would want to own a sword selected by  you, there is no doubt.  So, do not leave the discussions here or on the NMB please and you're right, constant study is required rather than a firm conclusion. 

[Greg F]

Darcy Nmb is at a loss with out your posts, I really hope you reconsider but if not I wish you the best and thank you the great posts over the years.

 

All the best.

 

Greg

[Stephen]

Soooo... who pissed in his Wheaties?

[Darcy]

Stephen, I'm not mad, I just don't think what I am doing and saying is not constructive nor is it going to change any opinions.

[BIG]

Darcy is radio silence not enough..and once in a while clear the terrain...

 

Best

[Brian]

Seems like you are completely ignoring my comments about this written in the other thread.
Or ignoring the thousands who get value out of your posts in favour of a few that maybe have valid questions or contrary opinions.
If it's all the same...I'll leave your account as is. You know the part about not burning your bridges.

All the best,

Brian