Regards from Jon Bowhay

[Jon Bowhay]

Hello to all. I wish to send my best to all my old friends and to new friends as well. I am Jon Bowhay.

I am writing from my studio here in Denver. It is quite a change from Shimoshakuji in Nerima-Ku. The cultural shock is quite something for me here in the US. I suppose at my age one cannot expect to change so very much in a short time. At any rate, again, all my best to everyone and hope to enjoy the conversations concerning the subject dearest to our hearts, the nihonto. I welcome any questions about sword restoration.

 

Jon Bowhay

[Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini]

Have a good time here Jon.

[Chris Osborne]

Jon, glad to see you made it here my friend. :D

[Guido]

Hi Jon, I'm glad you finally decided to participate in the NihontÅ Message Board; it only took me - what, five or so years? - to convince you to join us.

 

Since Jon (when he was born the letter "h" wasn't inveted yet for given names ) can be a little shy on occasion, let me give you some background on him:

 

I met Jon L. Bowhay for the first time in 1990, shortly after he became an independent polisher, through the introduction of Fred Lohman. During one of his visits to Japan Fred asked me to do some interpreting for him in his negotiations with a Japanese supplier. Usually Jon Bowhay translated for him on such occasions, but was unavailable at that time. Fred later on told Jon about me and gave him my phone number. A few days later Jon called, we met, and soon became friends.

 

Jon spent almost his entire life in Japan, where he studied art, oriental history and sociology at Sophia University, TÅkyÅ. After getting interested in Japanese art swords, he spent about seven years looking for a polishing teacher, nearly giving up as he was turned down time and again due to his age and being a foreigner - in those days it was inconceivable for a Gaijin to even think about doing something traditionally Japanese like that.

 

Finally he was accepted as a student by a polisher in the Honami tradition, and completed a full ten years apprenticeship from 1979 to 1989. Due to his dedication and talent, Jon not only became an accomplished polisher, but also has the contacts to get any work concerning NihontÅ done, from Saya lacquering to Tsukamaki or custom fittings - whatever you can imagine, being it the restoration of an antique sword or a completely "new", traditional Koshirae.

 

In the Summer of 2000 Jon and I edited and updated three articles on polishing by him. These are "The World of the Togishi", followed by "Hada and Nugui" and "HadÅri and Sashikomi"; the first one was published originally in "The East" magazine, the second and third one in the JSS/US Newsletter. If Jon doesn't mind, I'll send those articles to Brian for the soon-to-come FAQ and articles section. I hope they will be both educating and entertaining for those interested in this craft/art, IMO giving a rare insiders view into certain aspects of Togi, the art of polishing.

[Gabriel L]

It's wonderful to have you here, Jon.

[AZPhil]

Do you have a website Sir?

[Jon Bowhay]

It's wonderful to have you here, Jon.

Dear Gabriel, Thank you very much. And best to you as well.

Jon

[Jon Bowhay]

Do you have a website Sir?

Dear Phil,

Alas, I do not. But I will be happy to answer any questions about restoration and soforth that you should have. It may be of use to others as well. It is embarrassing to be so computer-illiterate; though I do use my computer daily and find it absolutely indespensable to daily life and my work.

Very best,

Jon

[Jon Bowhay]

Hi Jon, I'm glad you finally decided to participate in the NihontÅ Message Board; it only took me - what, five or so years? - to convince you to join us.

 

Since Jon (when he was born the letter "h" wasn't inveted yet for given names ) can be a little shy on occasion, let me give you some background on him:

 

I met Jon L. Bowhay for the first time in 1990, shortly after he became an independent polisher, through the introduction of Fred Lohman. During one of his visits to Japan Fred asked me to do some interpreting for him in his negotiations with a Japanese supplier. Usually Jon Bowhay translated for him on such occasions, but was unavailable at that time. Fred later on told Jon about me and gave him my phone number. A few days later Jon called, we met, and soon became friends.

 

Jon spent almost his entire life in Japan, where he studied art, oriental history and sociology at Sophia University, TÅkyÅ. After getting interested in Japanese art swords, he spent about seven years looking for a polishing teacher, nearly giving up as he was turned down time and again due to his age and being a foreigner - in those days it was inconceivable for a Gaijin to even think about doing something traditionally Japanese like that.

 

Finally he was accepted as a student by a polisher in the Honami tradition, and completed a full ten years apprenticeship from 1979 to 1989. Due to his dedication and talent, Jon not only became an accomplished polisher, but also has the contacts to get any work concerning NihontÅ done, from Saya lacquering to Tsukamaki or custom fittings - whatever you can imagine, being it the restoration of an antique sword or a completely "new", traditional Koshirae.

 

In the Summer of 2000 Jon and I edited and updated three articles on polishing by him. These are "The World of the Togishi", followed by "Hada and Nugui" and "HadÅri and Sashikomi"; the first one was published originally in "The East" magazine, the second and third one in the JSS/US Newsletter. If Jon doesn't mind, I'll send those articles to Brian for the soon-to-come FAQ and articles section. I hope they will be both educating and entertaining for those interested in this craft/art, IMO giving a rare insiders view into certain aspects of Togi, the art of polishing.

Dear Guido,

My old and dear friend,

you most certainly may send these articles to Brian. I hope everyone enjoys them. Yes, it took only a few years for me to join. I am, I suppose...a.. little...conservative in making a decision to do something.

You always have alot of good questions that make me think, so I do look forward to spirited discussions about sword restoration and creation/restoration of koshirae.

Best to you,

Jon

[Jon Bowhay]

Have a good time here Jon.

Dear Carlos,

Your English is fine. I use Japanese, English and Spanish daily; sometimes I do not know what language will come out of my mouth. I was raised in Japanese, educated in English and use Spanish in my home daily. If you have any questions about Japanese swords you can ask me anything and I will try to answer you best I can.

Regards,

Jon

[Stephen]

Jon

 

Welcome aboard, don't know if you remember me I made the sword show for a few years a decade ago, always enjoyed talking to you and remembered your kind patience when asking newbie questions, funny your coming aboard as I'm about to leave. Anyway

[Jon Bowhay]

Jon

 

Welcome aboard, don't know if you remember me I made the sword show for a few years a decade ago, always enjoyed talking to you and remembered your kind patience when asking newbie questions, funny your coming aboard as I'm about to leave. Anyway

Dear Stephen,

Yes, time does pass doesn't it. Hope you do not leave collecting Japanese swords. It is such an interesting field. Do you still attend the shows from time to time?

Best,

Jon

[Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini]

If you have any questions about Japanese swords you can ask me anything and I will try to answer you best I can.

 

thanks for the kind words Jon. I'll surely ask.

[Brian]

Thanks guys, those articles sound woderful, and I'd love to add them to the new articles/faq page coming up. Taking some time, and it will still be a while yet, but I am making progress.

Looking forward to hearing more from Jon about his experiences and work over time.

A top recommendation from Guido is high praise indeed, especially since his bite is worse than his bark :lol:

 

Regards,

Brian

[Ted Tenold]

Bowhay-san! Yokoso! Good to see you here. Your insights and experiences will be a valuable asset to everyone.

 

I doubt Jon remembers, but I first met him at the last show held in Houston, I think, 1997 or 1998(?), where he did a demonstration of polishing. He was performing hadori on a sword.

 

I'm sure you're re-living some culture shock returning to Colorado after so long. Hope it's not too disturbing. Lord knows the service industries here could take some lessons from those in Japan.

 

Cheers,

[Jon Bowhay]

Bowhay-san! Yokoso! Good to see you here. Your insights and experiences will be a valuable asset to everyone.

 

I doubt Jon remembers, but I first met him at the last show held in Houston, I think, 1997 or 1998(?), where he did a demonstration of polishing. He was performing hadori on a sword.

 

I'm sure you're re-living some culture shock returning to Colorado after so long. Hope it's not too disturbing. Lord knows the service industries here could take some lessons from those in Japan.

 

Cheers,

Hi Ted,

Good to hear from you. At my age I think the culture shock will be ongoing. Never really lived here to any extent. Let's stay in touch. I wish you and your wife the very best.

Again soon,

Jon

[slavia631]

Mr. Bowhay, I have sent you a Private Message through the forum. Thanks.

[Jon Bowhay]

Mr. Bowhay, I have sent you a Private Message through the forum. Thanks.

Dear Andrew,

Thank you. I read your email yesterday and enjoyed it very much. Good to see new people interested in the Nihonto. I posted you a message back. Perhaps it got lost in the great cyberspace. You may write me at: I did explain some things and give my viewpoint on your blade. Please have a look at your private mail again. If you cannot access it, by all means write me at my yahoo and I will answer you back. On the other hand I wish to mention that I have polished the blades of many gendaito smiths. About 30 years ago I espcially had alot of work by Yasuoki who lived in Kunitachi and was an original Yasukuni Jinja smith. Of course he has passed away these many years. I recounted this in another area here on our website.

Best regards,

Jon