george trotter Posted August 12, 2011 Report Posted August 12, 2011 Just thought you'd like to see what a real polishing job looks like! This old pic shows a group at work at the Futarayama (reading?) Jinja in Nikko in Tochigi. The Daito is mumei and is 7 shaku 1 sun 1 bu (215.3cm - 10kg). Included are 2nd from left: Fujishiro Matsuo and next to him is Sword Lovers House (the late?) Saito Ichiro and on the right is fellow student Kawabata Hiroaki (readings?). I can remember seeing a sword in a shrine in Okayama that must have come close to this in length...amazing to think a sword like this can not only be made without flaws, but polished in the usual manner (unless it took one man on each end)...even more remarkable that they could keep the polishing "correct"...a tribute to Japanese craftsmen's dedication and skill...I'd insist on sashikomi of course! :lol: Quote
sanjuro Posted August 12, 2011 Report Posted August 12, 2011 Just out of curiosity, does anyone know how a blade this size would be polished? Just speculation on my part, but I would have thought that contrary to the normal procedure, in this case it would be easier to apply the stone to the steel as opposed to the steel being applied to the stone. Chris........ your opinion is needed here. Quote
cabowen Posted August 12, 2011 Report Posted August 12, 2011 I was at Fujishiro Okisato's place once when they had recently finished a similar monster (by Norimitsu as I recall) and indeed he told me they had to move the stones over the blade. I would bet he learned that from his father who polished the blade in the above photo. I remember he said the amazing thing about the blade was that it was flawless....I think there may be a video of the process out there... Quote
george trotter Posted August 12, 2011 Author Report Posted August 12, 2011 Yes, it must be stone on blade for sure...I was only tongue in cheek about one man on each end...!! :lol: Not joking about the sashikomi though...if my memory serves, the long sword in Okayama (I think actually Kurashiki) was a fantastic Yokoyama blade with the kobushigata (fist clusters?) type choji...it was in sashikomi...had to be IMHO. There was also a very long sword in Hiroshimajo last Christmas...one of the Akabane swords I think...as yet unpolished...it would take some skill to do also. Quote
sanjuro Posted August 12, 2011 Report Posted August 12, 2011 When you think about it, imagine the skill it must take to impart an even polish, stone applied to steel along such a length of blade. One must stand in awe of the hand-eye coordination required, not to mention the experience it must demand of the togishi. I never cease to be amazed at the skill of a togishi, working with zero technology on a purely physical and experience based level. These guys are amazing! Quite apart from the knowledge of nihonto they need, the control they have of the medium and the blade is astounding. Quote
Guido Posted August 13, 2011 Report Posted August 13, 2011 Ten or so years ago I posted a photo of a high-rankig polisher (Ôno Kôkei?) who polished a similar sword. I think it was the old Bugei forum, but I could be wrong - in any case, I can't find neither the original post nor the picture itself anymore. Anyhow, the sword was polished using kind of a double-swing suspended from the ceiling; at the ceiling the cords went through a pulley and had counter-weights so the sword could be drawn down. This way a more or less "regular" polish is possible without the awkwardness of moving stones on the blade. Quote
k morita Posted August 13, 2011 Report Posted August 13, 2011 Hi, George san, O-Dachi of your pic is the Futarasan-shrine's one of treasure swords,and was called "Nenekiri-maru".祢々切丸 It is important cultural property now. A little bit length is different. Quote
george trotter Posted August 13, 2011 Author Report Posted August 13, 2011 Thanks for that great picture Kiyoshi san. From the pic, it looks like the sword was used before it was presented to the shrine...amazing....this is probably how the sword got its name...what is the meaning of NENEKIRI? (I cannot find the kanji for NE) Regards Quote
drdata Posted August 13, 2011 Report Posted August 13, 2011 Hey George, Rikaichan says "ancestral shrine". Not clear what the repetition means. Both ancestors perhaps? Interesting thread and great pic. I assumed such large blades never left a shrine. Regards Quote
george trotter Posted August 14, 2011 Author Report Posted August 14, 2011 Yes, I had another look...ancestral shrine looks right for "Ne" Harry, can't figure out what is meant by Nenekiri though... Quote
Nobody Posted August 14, 2011 Report Posted August 14, 2011 Nene (祢々) is the name of a monster, which was said to be cut (切) by the O-dachi. Quote
george trotter Posted August 14, 2011 Author Report Posted August 14, 2011 Ah, that makes sense now, like the mountain hag cutter sword...thanks Moriyama san. Quote
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