art Is there a viewable online archive of the current National Treasure Nihonto?

[deadreconing11]

(Story details are a little fuzzy) Way before I was born, my grandfather had a beautiful early Kamakura period Ko-Aoe Tachi (either Juyo bunkazai or kokuho) during the early 70s-80s. Which ended up being returned/sold to Japan and now resides in one of the museums (not entirely sure which one). Is there an online archive with pictures of the current National treasure swords? Seeing how there’s only 112 that have received National treasure designation, I suspect it wouldn’t be too hard to find pictures of the one we once owned. Given the school, province, and period should also narrow it down to a few. I’d be ecstatic for any information of where I can find pictures of the current treasures, Thank you!! 

[Ray Singer]

Perhaps this one. 

 

https://swordsofjapan.com/masatsune/

[Ray Singer]

Here is an archive of Jim Kurrasch's articles. 

 

https://swordsofjapan.com/important-missing-nihonto/

[xiayang]

2 hours ago, Ray Singer said:

Perhaps this one. 

 

https://swordsofjapan.com/masatsune/

 

There are high-resolution images of many National Treasures and important Cultural Properties on the e-Museum website.

If it was the Masatsune tachi, you can find the pictures here.

Edited April 18, 2023 by xiayang
Edit: this is not the Kokuhō Masatsune, see below.  Thanks Jussi.

[Jussi Ekholm]

There are lots of highly designated tachi from Aoe smiths.

 

Here is the Masatsune that was featured in Rays linked story. It is back in the collection of Kumano Hayatama Shrine. It still has the itomaki tachi koshirae too (unfortunately I don't have a picture of that).

 

 

The Masatsune that Jan linked is another Jūyō Bunkazai that is owned by Tokyo National Museum. Unfortunately I don't think there is currently a public database of pictures that would feature all of the items. I think I should have pictures of all of Kokuhō and somewhere around 90-95% of Bunkazai and Bijutsuhin swords.

[deadreconing11]

Thank you everyone for the helpful resources! The only thing I can remember about this sword was that it was Mumei with a Suguha hamon that kind of looked like a fuzzy caterpillar 

[Jussi Ekholm]

I think it is possible that some of the information about the sword might have been incorrect. Out of the 48 (if I counted correctly) Jūyō Bunkazai swords by Aoe school only 1 is a mumei katana. It has been attributed towards Moritoshi.

 

 

You can find current information of the sword in this database (it has most up to date info on all Kokuhō and Bunkazai that I am aware of): https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/201/6338

 

The sword is currently listed as being in private collection in Aichi. However in a book from 1977 that I have the sword was at that point in the collection of Rendai Temple.

 

 

[deadreconing11]

Thank you! The details of this sword aren’t exactly all there, as I wasn’t alive when we still had it. I’m just going off of what stories he told me as a kid, and might remember it differently than how he told me (so National treasure may not be as accurate and may have been over exaggerated by childhood imagination). It may not even be in Japan right now for all I know. But the only details I do remember for certain thats factual is:

Juyo token papers

Suguha hamon (kind of like a fuzzy caterpillar)

Kamakura period Ko-Aoe Tachi

Mumei and in a shirasaya originally when we had it(someone could’ve had koshirae fitted since then as it’s been a long time)

Most likely was sold by us in either Hawaii or Japan. I’m mainly inquiring for pictures and information about it to try and spark some memories out of my grandfather and maybe gain a couple stories for sentimental value. Of a once beautiful piece of history and art, that eventually had to leave our hands.I hope it’s found it’s place in a good home. And god forbid a “I can do it cheaper myself” Texas WD-40 steel wire brush Togishi. Thank you all so much for all of these resources, it’s been really enlightening. I appreciate it dearly. 

[Ray Singer]

If the sword has Juyo token kanteisho then it was likely not a kokuho (and would not have been sent back overseas if it had that known status). If that is the case it would be one of around 50 mumei Ko-Aoe with Juyo status from the NBTHK and will be difficult to pinpoint without additional details.

 

[Ian B3HR2UH]

HI Jaykob , might I ask what is your  grandfathers name and where did he reside ?.Do you know how he acquired the sword ? There may be references to him and the sword in old sword society magazines or old collectors here may have met him , assuming he was  a collector .

Ian Brooks

[deadreconing11]

6 hours ago, Ian B3HR2UH said:

HI Jaykob , might I ask what is your  grandfathers name and where did he reside ?.Do you know how he acquired the sword ? There may be references to him and the sword in old sword society magazines or old collectors here may have met him , assuming he was  a collector .

Ian Brooks

I can’t say his name for privacy reasons, but he was selling/buying in the Honolulu area at the time. He mainly got into it because of a Japanese friend who didn’t want to collect by himself. Not exactly sure how he acquired it, but most of the people he knew that were into Nihonto at the time have long since passed away. 

[Brian]

This quote from Ray's article:
 

Quote

There is a fairly happy ending to this part of the story, and that is Sensei Yumoto found this sword, and Endo San bought it back for the Shrine in the early 1980’s (?). I was lucky enough to be one of the persons who was with Endo San and Sensei Yumoto on October 30th, 1985 when they visited this sword at the Shrine.

And the fact that you say your father sold it to go back to Japan late 70's/early 80's...make me think that is a big co-incidence and may very well be the same one.
Now properly polished, that active hamon could easily once have looked fuzzy like a caterpillar.
Worth investigating further imho.

[Ray Singer]

Jaykob, sorry if this is stating the obvious but I would suggest reaching out to Bob Benson to see if he knows more about this sword. He was in Honolulu, dealing with Japanese sword sales and restoration, at that time (and still lives there). I wouid be very surprised if he didn't know something about the story and identity of your father's former Ko-Aoe. I just left Honolulu a few days ago and would have asked him in person if I had seen your post earlier. Bob can be reached through his website at:

 

Togishi.com 

 

Best regards, 

Ray 

 

 

[deadreconing11]

1 hour ago, Ray Singer said:

Jaykob, sorry if this is stating the obvious but I would suggest reaching out to Bob Benson to see if he knows more about this sword. He was in Honolulu, dealing with Japanese sword sales and restoration, at that time (and still lives there). I wouid be very surprised if he didn't know something about the story and identity of our father's former Ko-Aoe. I just left Honolulu a few days ago and would have asked him in person if I had seen your post earlier. Bob can be reached through his website at:

 

Togishi.com 

 

Best regards, 

Ray 

 

 

Oh wow! Didn’t realize bob was still around. My grandfather used to do business with bushido antiques, very knowledgeable and good guy! He kept all of Bob’s magazines that he used to publish at the time, and had them bound into a book. Bobs magazines at the time were some of, if not the only Nihonto publications that were published in english. Out of all the people in the Nihonto community at the time. Bob was the most honest and commanded the highest expertise of Nihonto. Also he was an all around good guy! My grandfather still holds him in very high regard. I’ll shoot him an email! 
 

Also found out where that juyo token went, it’s currently in a private collection of a close family friend we knew but sadly passed away. Can’t say who for privacy reasons, but I can assure you guys it’s in good hands. Case solved.
 

Thank you for everything! Also thank you for putting us in touch with Bob again, we hope he’s doing well! 

[deadreconing11]

Also, here’s a picture of the book he had bound for his magazines. Probably one of the few books he kept for sentimental value after he stopped collecting.