Shinsa

[YukouYukimura]

Ok, first of all I am sorry if this question has been answered in a different thread.. I was unable to find it.

 

My question would be about Shinsa, and how this happens:

To my knowledge, a sword with papers is guaranteed to be genuine? If so, who carries out Shinsa tests? I have been reading thread after thread and page after page, no one on this forum believes they know more than people that do Shinsa? How do the people that do Shinsa, acquire such knowledge.. how are they picked? who decides who has enough knowledge to carry out Shinsa? I know the NBTHK has meetings, programs, and workshops.. But what makes the teachers of the workshops, meetings and or programs more knowledgeable than the students?

(I really don't know how the system works yet, I have tried to do some research on the NBTHK but I just dead-end at their monthly fees and workshops.. I can't find any information on a per-say "advanced NBTHK" or "advanced any other group")

 

To be honest I only recently have done any studying about these groups, while watching swords sell on eBay trying to gain a lower end knowledge there, being unable to read Japanese and not understand the NBTHK and such kind of kept me out of the loop. But seeing as how I will be moving to Japan in a couple months and going to a school in Aichi to learn Japanese, I'd really like to learn more about the groups and swords in general.

 

Any help/advice would be appreciated. (I meant no disrespect to anyone on the forums or in the sword groups, I merely raise innocent questions)

 

Thank you all in advance,

Tyler Cloutier

[paulb]

Tyler,

this is a big question and a large topic. I will try and give a brief summary (as I understand it) and see if that helps.

Refering to the points you raised.

 

1. Appraisers were originally appointed by the Shogun (I believe Tokugawa Iyesu but it may have been another) to appraise and value swords. This was because quality swords were often given as rewards for service and there needed to be a monetary value assosiated with each piece offered.

 

2. The form of the papers were formalised and included the term "Gauranteed to be genuine".

3. This terminology still exists on some if not all papers, however I think it is generally accepted that in reality papers offer an opinion, albeit a very learned one, but they can and are wrong on occassion.

 

3. Shinsa judges sit as a panel. In the NTHK for example the head of the panel mr. Yoshikawa is a very high ranking polisher who's family have polished the Imperial collection. He is supported by other members of the NTHK who have a proven knowledge and long term experience in judging swords.

I do not know the composition of the NBTHK panel but assume it is chaired by Tanobe-San, the Director of the NBTHK and a worlds recogbnised authority. I think his team also includes polishers and other extremely experience scholars in the field.

 

I assume one becomes a member of an appraisal panel by invitation and after demonstrating sufficient knowledge and study (usually based on many years of exposure to top quality swords)

 

I hope those in more immediate and direct contact with the main appraisal bodies may be able to offer more detail for you if rquired or corrct any misconception on my part.

good luck with your time in Japan.

Regards

Paul

[Bazza]

Tyler,

1. Appraisers were originally appointed by the Shogun (I believe Tokugawa Iyesu but it may have been another) to appraise and value swords. This was because quality swords were often given as rewards for service and there needed to be a monetary value assosiated with each piece offered.

I recall reading that "Appraisers" began in the Koto period, possibly 200 years before Shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa. AS far as I'm aware, the Hon'ami family were the first group to formalise merely looking after visitors' swords into repairs, polishing and then judgement. I've seen this written up somewhere and hopefully someone else can remember where!!

 

Regards,

Barry Thomas.

[YukouYukimura]

Ah that makes sense. I should have figured something of that sort!

 

Also, one more question.. When I become a member of these certain prestigious sword groups, (pay the monthly/yearly fee) Can I bring my girlfriend/wife to the sword exhibitions and special sword viewings? Or would she have to pay the monthly fees as well?

 

Thank you!