Opportunities for study

[Toryu2020]

Perfect opportunity for members of the NMB to get in some more study - especially those new to nihonto and those who are geographically isolated. We encourage you to join us the more folks who participate the better our programs will become. Check it out!

 

NCJSC Kantei Program
In the past year the NCJSC has moved from a printed newsletter to an all electronic format, in that same time we have instituted a new kantei study program for the benefit of our members. This program has three components; Shijo Kantei, Zoom Kantei and in-person hands-on Kantei.
Our Shijo kantei or “paper kantei” program is otherwise known as “Hon’Ami Koji’s Kantei Kyoshitsu” this is because the program comes from Hon’Ami Koji Sensei of Kamakura, Japan. Hon’Ami Sensei being a 24th generation polisher in the family tradition and head of the local NBTHK branch. In the past year we have looked at mainline Soshu, Hasebe, Enju, Unji of Bizen, Nanki Shigekuni, Inoue Shinkai and others.
Zoom kantei – popular with our out of town members this is our online program that lets you join us for live study from the comfort of your own home. Though many covid restrictions have been lifted here, we intend to continue this class due in part to its popularity. In the past year we have looked at the schools of Ichimonji, mainline Osafune, Hasebe, Yoshii, and Oei Bizen among others.
In-person hands-on kantei at our regular monthly meetings. This is not a new program, in fact we have been providing this study opportunity for our members each month for over thirty years! In that time we have seen perhaps every major artist in the world of nihonto excepting perhaps Masamune himself.
Each of these programs stands on it’s own and provides incredible insight and value for the student of nihonto. However we would like to propose the following approach; Starting with the Kantei Kyoshitsu, you can see the Japanese descriptions in the original Japanese side by side with an English translation this allows you to start to learn the terms and apply them to known artists work, it can also be used as a tool for learning Japanese as it is applied in the world of nihonto, lastly in the case where the terms are not translated it is an opportunity to refer to your NTHK Novice course and the glossary there for more complete descriptions.
Next is the Zoom kantei. This is a full course of nihonto education designed to take you from the beginning to the stage where you have the tools for in-person kantei. There are no curve balls thrown here and as students we all learn together. The focus is on one or two artists each month with discussion of the subject artists work, what other artists may have done similar work, how to get to the correct answer and strategies for playing the kantei “game”. This is often supplemented with examples of the subject artists work from the Juyo To-Ken Nado Zufu and other sources. Very often we are joined by Professor Gordon Robson from Japan providing for an unprecedented level of instruction found nowhere else.
These first two may be seen as time on the “practice range” and at our monthly meetings we have the opportunity to play hard ball just as they do at kantei meetings in Japan. You may choose to bid individually or to work as a team, the rules are the same as in Japan and the swords we see are the same or better than one might encounter at a meeting there. Granted it may make for a long day but it is always worth it to remain until “the reveal”, and the setsumei (explanation) never fails to provide new insight into well-known artists. Join us.
Thomas C Helm @San Francisco in California

(note -  the NTHK Novice Course is sent free to new members)

[Toryu2020]

Bumping this for those interested in "Kantei for Beginners"

Our Zoom Kantei is specifically aimed at beginners, the only book you need is the Connoisseur's book and we do our best to explain all the Japanese terms used. We only do one sword a month so you have plenty of time to formulate an answer. If you haven't yet we encourage you to check us out!

-tch