Greetings from Japan

[Rich T]

Just thought I'd through this out there.

 

Today I went to Sano Art Museum in Mishima, what a hoot, we had a private viewing and I have attached a couple of pics. Yes, thats me holding a Juyo Bijutsuhin Masamune. There were several pices in this class ( I hope I have that right ), I believe all were Juyo at least. Among the swords we were aloud to look at were.

 

1. Yasutsuna ( Kamakura )

2. Toshitsune ( Kamakura )

3. Rai Kuniyuki ( the best I think of the lot )

4. Taima Tanto ( belongs to Watanabe sensei ) I loved this blade sooooo much

5. Masamune ( mumei osuriage )

6. Bizen Nagamitsu

7. Bizen no Kuni Kanemitsu (Kinmei)

8. Bizen no Kuni ju Osafune no Jo Sukesada ( Flawless )

 

I spent about an hour pouring over these. The lines were small but the

wait was long.

 

Then we moved into the tosogu room, I nearly skipped past the Goto as the

old iron gleemed at me, but I stopped, and took in the all matching ( in

theme anyway )Mitokoromono buy all the mainline Goto masters, all Dragons wrapped around the buhhdist sword, Either in Gold and Shakudo nanako or pure gold with gold nanako. Good lord, there were 17 sets of these things.

 

After that I moved onto the huge Kokatchushi tsuba, the georgous Kanakura tsuba, my god I loved these, and a could of not too shabby Kyo Sukashi and Owari amonst others. Shabby. it's all shabby.

 

I am sure sdome of you have seen this before, but for a first timer in the

level, wow.

 

So, that is a quick hello from the land of the gods.

 

Rich

[Bungo]

no holes in the sox.............

who's that babe ?

 

Milt THE ronin

[S.Haugtredet]

Oh...sounds like a really nice day to me

 

Thanks for sharing Rich :-)

[Mike]

Seems like very productive business trip :D

Mike

[Martin]

Wow - that must have been a really great experience Rich!

Truly enviable

 

cheers,

Martin

[Brian]

Wow..that is pretty mindblowing. I think I would probably have the shakes examining swords of that caliber. Surprised they didn't issue gloves when viewing the blades? I know they expect you to know the required etiquette, but would have thought they would have had them as a formality.

So I assume you had to have "contacts" to arrange a private viewing like that.

Look forward to a full report of the trip when you get back.

 

Brian

[Bungo]

Now that Kamakura tsuba pic is a gem..... so unlike the typical examples shown in books where the illustrations tend to make them appear " dry "

 

Did they let you fondle the tsuba ?

 

milt THE ronin

[Rich T]

Gloves were not requiered for the swords, just clean hands. I feel that the texture of a nakao is important to be able to study, just like in tsuba. And yes Milt, no rubbing or anything bet we could touch the tsuba, I had the most amazing KoKatchushi guard not two inches from my face, truely the most beautiflu Iron I have seen.

 

Milt, which Kamakura ?, I have seen those two and another this well all in that calibor. They are amazing. Guess what I am after next. There is a nice one, though no where as near as nice as thouse two in Ginza Choshuya at present for about 480,000 Yen.

 

Getting to see this stuff, there are sword tours arranged from time to time I have heard, I went with the Kokusai Tosogu Kai, it was an oportunity I didn't was to miss as I knew the tosogu was coming out. The swords were a complete surprise.

 

ok, over and out.

 

Rich

[Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini]

The swords were a complete surprise.

 

I'm near to tears.... a SURPRISE... what a luck...

[Rich T]

here's part of what 15 sets of Goto Mitokoromono looks like

 

Rich

[David Flynn]

Rich, I see Allan and Sue Morton in one of the pics. Did Allan drool over everything and was he coherent afterwards.

Great pics, exreme envy

[Bungo]

exreme envy

 

why extreme envy ?

15 sets of Goto Mitokoromono all at the same time..........

but you can't touch, if anyone " entertains " the thought they can see/remember the subtle differences among the different masters then they are full of sh$#@. , this is EXTREME torture, worse than water boarding !!

 

the info overload will blow any sane circuit !!

 

If I have my way, I think an example of one ( no more than two ) of each school ( not just Goto !! ) is better......... but it's just me all over the place not concentrating on one ( yeah, jack of all trades but master of none sort of thingie )

 

milt THE ronin

[David Flynn]

Milt your probably right. But, 15 sets of Goto Mitokoromono MMMMMMMM

[Rabro]

How was the gift shop?

 

Roger