Nihonto Substack: The Falling Leaf Sadamune

[Hoshi]

Hello everyone, 

 

I miss everyday being able to go on Yuhindo.com to gaze at magnificent blades, it used to be a "Zen" website where one could just linger surrounded by beauty and knowledge. I memory of my friend Darcy, I started a Substack project where I plan to publish articles when time allows, with in-depth with high-quality research, with the help of friends such as Markus, Ted and others. In the long run, it'll form the basis of a book. My plan to focus on swords that "have stories to tell" and delve on often overlooked topics such as provenance and discussions on attributions. The content is aimed at intermediate-level enthusiasts, but with the help of AI tools it should be understandable by everyone, new or experienced, in the hobby. 

 

Here is the first article of the series: 

 

https://hoshido.substack.com/p/the-falling-leaf?r=bw6e8

 

I hope you enjoy. 

 

Best,

 

Hoshi

[Scogg]

Wow, that sounds like a really worthwhile, and helpful project. 

I haven't had the opportunity to read your first article yet, but just scrolling through and seeing the photography has me very excited! 

Thank you so much for putting this together; and please extend our thanks to Ted and Markus if the opportunity arrises.
Cheers,
-Sam

[nulldevice]

Wishing you all the best on this Hoshi! I've really enjoyed your input on topics and comments of mine here on NMB in the past. Your knowledge has been incredibly insightful and has taught me a lot. The photography is amazing. Was this done with a scanner or with a DSLR type camera?

[Hoshi]

Thank you! 

 

The photography is the work of Ted Tenold (and the copyright owner, photos reused with permission). The photos are from Darcy's original post on Yuhindo.com. 

[Schneeds]

This is absolutely fantastic and a real pleasure to read, thank you for creating it.  As someone interested in Tametsugu and Sankage, I found it especially interesting and that Naginata Naoshi is marvelous. 

 

If you are taking requests for the next one, something from the Shizu line would be great

[Lewis B]

I too miss the wealth of knowledge and insightful opinion that could be found on Yuhindo. Many of the articles are available on the Wayback site but without the images it's not so rewarding.

Tametsugu (his pre Mino work) and Sanekage are two of my favourite smiths from the Nanbokucho era. In fact I almost bought a Sanekage Naginata Naoshi blade from a dealer in Japan. Unfortunately the ura side was not as accomplished as the omote with its clear kaeri boshi, which was the only image shown on the site. 

I look forward to reading your article over the weekend.

 

[Rivkin]

That's as close to Darcy's writing style as I've seen.

Apologies, personally I could never relate to it. It carries an aura of certainty, branding and a signal that the blade being described is superior because kantei is estimation of quality rather than specific features. 

I am no alien to partisanship in this matter since I own quite a few Tametsugu. The problem at the core is Tametsugu in Edo period oshigata was a rather specific person - a minor Mino smith, very similar but maybe lesser compared to Kinju, with Mino togari and at times specifically Mino jigane with masame in shinogi ji. There are no oshigata of signed Tametsugu blade from his northern pre-Mino times, nor is there is a known signed example. Its Mino period. There was not much reason to attribute blades to him since Kinju and Mino Kanenobu were better recognized and left a number of signed blades.

 

Then little by little these attributions to Tametsugu and Sanekage kept expanding and what was at first minor now became a huge chunk of circa 1330-1380 Soshu. Sanekage remained strictly Uda-ish Norishige, but Tametsugu became almost everything. One of my blades is ex-Norishige and is the only Tametsugu tanto known (mumei, what are the chances). It has too sharp a gunome to be fully comfortable its Norishige or Sanekage and too matsukawa hada to be Kamakura lineage.

Is it Tametsugu really? Without any signed period examples its a conjecture. But what other name one could use? There are simply non available or recognized.

[Brano]

9 minutes ago, Rivkin said:

One of my blades is ex-Norishige and is the only Tametsugu tanto known (mumei, what are the chances).

Tametsugu has zaimei Tanto (Juyo 31)
Also JuBi Ko-wakizashi zaimei

[Lewis B]

There is mumei sunnobi tanto attributed to Tametsugu (TH papered) in Sesko's Swords from the Nihonto Club Germany p52-53. Dated 1368-75.

 

But I get what you're saying about attributions with Tametsugu being the default if it's less than Norishige but better than Uda. Bit of a safe bet.

 

I would suggest an earlier work from his Etchu period would be readily distinguished by the colour of the steel which tends to be darker (bluish).

[Rivkin]

28 minutes ago, Brano said:

Tametsugu has zaimei Tanto (Juyo 31)
Also JuBi Ko-wakizashi zaimei

 

Thanks a lot, see this one.  we had a discussion recently whether Sanekage, Go or Tametsugu can be applied to tanto, shame on me, should have checked instead of assuming! 

[Hoshi]

 

Quote

This is absolutely fantastic and a real pleasure to read, thank you for creating it.  As someone interested in Tametsugu and Sankage, I found it especially interesting and that Naginata Naoshi is marvelous. 

 

If you are taking requests for the next one, something from the Shizu line would be great 

 

Happy to hear! Positive feedback is encouraging. If there are enough interested people that follow the substack, it'll keep me motivated to post more research! The Shizu line is fascinating. Did you know a new zaimei Shizu daito was uncovered and passed Juyo Shinsa this year? I'd love to do a writeup on that blade, but the odds to get in-hand and do photography aren't on our side. 

 

Quote

That's as close to Darcy's writing style as I've seen.

Apologies, personally I could never relate to it. It carries an aura of certainty, branding and a signal that the blade being described is superior because kantei is estimation of quality rather than specific features. 

 

To each his own. I'm basing my research on the NBHTK's tradition of attribution, and belong firmly into the "Tanobian" school of thought, which is itself extension of Honma Junji's approach. As you know, appraisals on mumei blades are partly specific features, partly quality gradients, depends on the case. For those interested, the best way to dive into it is to buy Markus Sesko's excellent (and ongoing!) translation of the Kanto Hibisho. I can't recommend it enough, it's a rare glimpse into his stream of consciousness. Get it here. 

 

Beautiful photos, great write-ups, and in-depth research, this is what I miss most. Hopefully, we can re-create some of the magic of Yuhindo. 

 

Best,

 

Hoshi

[Alex A]

There is a massive hole in what is known for sure and regurgitating what has been written already.

 

People look at all the examples they have in books, its nothing.

 

That's Japanese swords.

 

A reality for some and an illusion for others,

 

We will all realise that eventually.

[Matsunoki]

1 hour ago, Alex A said:

We will all realise that eventually.

Welcome back Alex. Good to hear from you. C.

[Alex A]

The hobby with no end, Colin

 

Hence why we are still here.

 

No closed brackets.

 

Very rarely anything to go gung ho off on a tangent.

 

Nice read from OP , thanks

[Tohagi]

Hello,

 

Just finish reading and ... very found of this approach! Instructive, funny, really catching ! You are a fantastic story teller and teacher. I will enjoy reading more.

 

Thank you very much, 

Eric 

[atm]

Wonderful, @Hoshi. I enjoyed reading it, and I look forward to more!

[Benjamin]

Very interesting, It's the right balance between keeping enough basic knowledge, not to let the neophyte behind, and enough details to tell an unheard story even for big readers. I also look forward for more.

 

[nihon]

Excellent article, quite a insight to the works of kashu sanekage and tametsugu. I am fortunate enough to own a high quality work by sanekage myself.