NBTHK shinsa: 1 success and 1 disappointment

[Guest Simon R]

Got the results from the NBTHK's last fittings shinsa and scored 1 out of 2 - with the second being inconclusive.

 

The Aizu Shoami passed Hozon as ..... Aizu Shoami.

Alas, the suspected Akasaka tsuba remains suspected. It's the first time I've had one of the "we don't know" results

[Brian]

There should not be a charge for an unknown call.

[Guest Simon R]

4 minutes ago, Brian said:

There should not be a charge for an unknown call.

There isn't, Brian. 👍

[Brian]

Well, that's something. So no submission charge at all? No costs involved except for getting it to shinsa?

[Guest Simon R]

47 minutes ago, Brian said:

Well, that's something. So no submission charge at all? No costs involved except for getting it to shinsa?

Nothing whatsoever.

 

Although they've probably spent far more time mulling it over than a gimei or cast tsuba, they apparently seem honour-bound not to charge anything when it has them stumped. 

[Curran]

'Horyu'   is more and more common from the NBTHK.

I got two 'Horyu' the other year, and I just told the agent to hold onto them in Japan.  Resubmit in 1 year, and both came back with Tokubetsu Hozon papers.

One was a big name, and the other was sort of middleweight.

 

This last shinsa, I submitted 12 items plus the 2 previous 'Horyu'. The two Horyu passed TH, but I got 5 new Horyu back, which is fairly idiotic.

5 out of 12?  One of the 5 was a big name with a lot of evidence to support it..... but still Horyu. Chickenshits.

You still pay agent fees, shipping, and considerable time wait.

 

 

[Guest Simon R]

6 hours ago, Curran said:

'Horyu'   is more and more common from the NBTHK.

I got two 'Horyu' the other year, and I just told the agent to hold onto them in Japan.  Resubmit in 1 year, and both came back with Tokubetsu Hozon papers.

One was a big name, and the other was sort of middleweight.

 

This last shinsa, I submitted 12 items plus the 2 previous 'Horyu'. The two Horyu passed TH, but I got 5 new Horyu back, which is fairly idiotic.

5 out of 12?  One of the 5 was a big name with a lot of evidence to support it..... but still Horyu. Chickenshits.

You still pay agent fees, shipping, and considerable time wait.

 

 

5 out of 12, not including the 2 successes already having had to be resubmitted? That's absolutely ridiculous, Curren!

When it's really big names, I can imagine their paralysing terror at making the wrong call (it's a national malaise) - but for others......?

 

 

Because I live near Tokyo, I don't have your additional hassle of agents and shipping but it's still bloody frustrating. Having to wait for just the right 4 month window where all the judges are in a good enough mood to timidly throw the dice.

Edited September 7, 2023 by SRDRowson
I was labouring an unnecessary point.

[Curran]

10 hours ago, SRDRowson said:

 Having to wait for just the right 4 month window where all the judges are in a good enough mood to timidly throw the dice.

 

Bingo.

    This time around, [with exception of one big name piece] most of the Horyu were on mumei iron pieces.

They were difficult for me to decide which school they properly belonged in:  ex:  geez is this Kyo-sukashi or Akasaka....  they said "Horyu".

C'mon guys, it is a sub $1000 mumei tsuba.... just toss a coin. If it falls one way, I will keep it. If the other way, I will sell it.

 

Nope.... coin landed on its edge. 1,2,3,4,.....  how many times?

My statistics prof would scoff.

 

 

 

[Soshin]

On 9/6/2023 at 12:54 AM, SRDRowson said:

Got the results from the NBTHK's last fittings shinsa and scored 1 out of 2 - with the second being inconclusive.

 

The Aizu Shoami passed Hozon as ..... Aizu Shoami.

Alas, the suspected Akasaka tsuba remains suspected. It's the first time I've had one of the "we don't know" results

 

I agree with the NBTHK first call to Aizu Shoami for the first tsuba. The second guard if unsigned I would have given it a quick Hozon level attribution to Kodai Akasaka and left it at that. The signature does not look nice and neat in my opinion and requires additional research hence the Horyu call made by the NBTHK this year. My advice for @SRDRowson is to resubmit in a year or two later if he is planning to keep the tsuba long term since he lives in Tokyo. @Brian with any Horyu (reversed) call made by the NBTHK no fee is paid.