Sydney Shinsa/show

[David Flynn]

Well, the Sydney Shinsa/show has come and gone. What a wonderful weekend. I can't comment too much on the Shinsa aspect, however, Yoshikawa sensei was very happy. As for the Show, although it was smaller this time (not so many dealers) it was in itself a success. Talks were given on Koshirae from Kamakura to Gendai by Gordon Robson. There was a show and tell, hands on talk on Tsuba with Jim Gilbert. A talk on Gendai by myself. A talk on being an apprentice polisher by Andrew Ickeringill as well as a class on making Oshigata. Gordon Robson, also gave a talk on best in Show swords.

Thank you all our overseas and interstate visitors. I hope you all enjoyed the show as much as I did.

[Jim P]

Hi David, And all that came to the show. I also had a great time and to all who missed it, We shot some video Adrian will let you know when it's up. It’s the highpoint's of the show and how to draw Oshigata by Dr Gordon Robson from the Shinsa and a Bushu ju Hiroshige a sue koto peace that's the very one from Fujishiro's book and was in his family. from john. Oh, Dave I was watching your oshigata skills :D also have some photos of the display Important Edo Era koshirae and some of the excellent displayed koshirae from Alan's amazing collection :clap:so will let you know soon :D

[khorat-2007]

I do not much about Japanese swords,but I got very stimulated,and came away from Shinsa wanting more,we aquired most of our pieces by way of a bad Buisness Deal,but the Cancer has set in "I WANT MORE".My thanks go to the team,on the Entry and Clerical part of the Shinsa Team-I did know nothing,I still know nothing,but now i want to know !!.THANKS a lot Guys - if any of you come to Melbourne,it will be my Shout,and you can have a look at the Rest of our hord.--THANKS YOU WHERE FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[george trotter]

May I speak my thanks to David Flynn and all involved...a great and well run weekend of swords with like minded enthusiasts . I was pleased to be part of the West Australian contingent. Thoroughly enjoyed all aspects of the events and also the stroll up to the Art Gallery to see the sword exhibition...first class.

Regards to all,

[Bruno]

Does someone took a lot of pictures that one can see?

[Jean]

(Sorry, it's for Keith, I could not resist). This is the only one I got

[Kam]

Hi Guys,

Shinsa was an expensive but worthwhile experience and Tina and I had a great time. I didn't have a chance to experience everything but I did catch your talk Dave. . . but you already know that , and despite the distraction from that guy up the back you did well, was very informative. Was great to meet a lot of faces I know only from phone calls and emails (that inc you Jim) as well as catching up with old friends. I have a few pics up on the blog http://jigokustudios.com/blog for those that wish to have a look. For those of you that did not know the "Sydney 2011 Taikai" book will be available within the month so if you want a copy please pm me as there will only be a run of a 100 copies for the first edition and most likely wont be a second. Details will be posted soon.

Kam

[Jean]

Thanks Kam, for the follow up

[Alan Morton]

HELLO TO ALL,

well what a great weekend we had. Surrounded by swords and old and new friend collectors.

I have 56 photo's from over the weekend so as soon as I can figure how to post these I will.

We had some great nights out with people from W.A. Melbourne and Japan and of course the

mandatory red wine.

Cheers to all

Alan. :D

[Rich T]

Hi all, yes we had a blast and thank you so very much to all the volunteers who helped out with the Shinsa room, and to Adrian for yet another sterling effort. I know first hand the boys in Japan were very happy with the efforts put in. Special thanks to Andy G, Rich T(V2) and Mike Smith for their tireless efforts.

 

For those that attended, it was Kamakawi san that ran the excellent oshigata class, with Gordon translating and assisting. For anyone who has had the privilege of watching Kamakawi san under the pump with endless blades passing through the room for oshigata, you will know what I am saying when I say it is truly an amazing feat to behold.

 

I have a couple of pics I have been sent as sadly all I got were the fittings that passed Shinsa so I will post a couple here.

[Rich T]

a few more

[falconj]

Gidday All,

yes, I just wish to add my thanks to the shinsa team, organiser's etc and all those who gave talks and displays and help create a great friendly atmosphere for the weekend. loved the very popular oshigata school!! ( sensei said I excelled )

some of the very late night shinsa's in hotel rooms left a bit of suffering the following morning, but somehow it all seemed worth it.

good location, set in the China Town area of Sydney, great meals and pubs etc,

it was also great catching up with friends and meeting new people, all sharing their thought's and collection's with you, great display at the Sydney Art Gallery also, have attached a few photo's

It seemed to end all to quick and we were heading back home on the plane, seemed like it was all a dream, :?

regards

John F

[Jean]

Great Pictures

[Brian]

Thanks for the info and pics Rich, John etc..

Looks like everyone had a great time. So who is willing to let us know what they submitted, and how they did? Rich...I am sure you had some good tsuba submitted? Who had a sword or 2 pass, and were there any results that stood out?

 

Brian

[Kam]

I was talking to couple of people last night that attended the show and they pointed out that a lot of people behind the scenes went unnoticed so I thought I would make mention of a few that come to mind sorry if I forget anybody.

Firstly Issac Currie who traveled up with me and spent the Thursday and Friday night helping Adrian set up the Taikai room, worked as Security at the door for the duration of the event and slept in the Taikai room (Scary as Adrian also slept in the Taikai room). Midori, Michelle and Sue who had the exciting task of collecting tickets. Andrew Gee and Richard Thomas (who almost lost a finger when packing up) both of these Gentlemen worked hard at looking Busy in the Shinsa room. Andrew Ickeringill who was kind enough to donate his time to attend the Shinsa and do a talk instead of spending time in Melbourne with his family (he is lucky to get any time off). Tina my wife who helped set up the Taikai room on Thursday night and set up the computers (also loaned her own) in the Shinsa room as well as scanning the results. Richard Thomas's girlfriend (sorry I forgot your name) for taking over Tina's job in the shinsa room. And finally I guess we should thank Adrian for organising the event and paying the bill up front. If i have forgot anyone once again I am sorry, I will probably remember later tonight.

 

Kam

[David Flynn]

Brian, I only submitted two swords. Both Gendai, Bungo (no) kuni Hidenaga, dated Meiji 37 (1904) and (Taguchi) Hizen (no) Kuni Masatsugu dated 1941. Both passed. :D

[David Flynn]

Kam, thanks very much for your support at this and the last Shinsa. Thank you to Tina also to Isaac and Craig.

[Kam]

Thanks Dave, truth be told I did very little this time round I just volunteered everyone else's help. And yep I had forgotten someone - Craig, thank you for reminding me.

You didn't tell me your blades passed. . . is it because of my Emura (seems that a few people think that it still is, I have even been sent a couple of oshigata with the same nakagojiri. but thats for a different discussion).

Did you check out Craigs Ishido Terahide that passed?

 

Kam

[David Flynn]

Kam, I didn't get to see it (wasn't told it was there). Also, about that Emura, It was the file marks I believe, more than the signature and the Nakago jiri.

[Kam]

Will post some pics of the Terahide once I work out how to do it Forgot to mention Terry Lau and Phil (not sure of his last name) who made sure no one touched the displays. Probably will remember more. Will also post some pics of the shinsakuto with the amazing hitatsura hamon that the shinsa team could not find any details on.

 

Kam

[Brian]

Tell us more about this Emura? (for us owners of such blades)

Was it judged to be an outright gimei, or made by a student or....?

 

Brian

[Kam]

I submitted an Emura that I had purchased a while ago in old military mounts. I have seen a few Emura both gimei and legit and felt this one to be legit enough so much so that I had even gone to the effort of doing a Wakasanuri job on the saya (very long and difficult process). The Shinsa team failed it based mostly on the file marks as Dave pointed out but there was also mention of the Nakagojiri. I was very surprised as everything else was spot on inc the mei.

After some discussion I let it go and accepted the decision but a number of people inc some whom I consider very knowledgeable in this field felt otherwise. I had a few drop by to have another look and discuss it further and have received a number of emails with oshigata or links to oshigata. Funnily enough its been a good advertisement if I wanted to sell it as I have had some very reasonable offers. I am hoping to be in Japan early next year for further study so I may consider submitting it to the nbthk for a second opinion. This is not for any other reason than to increase my own knowledge of this smith and his workers and the huge variations that have come out of his forge.

I will try to get some pics of the Nakago up . . . am I able to copy and paste or do I need to use a function to do it?

 

Kam

[Ed]

I recently sold the following Katana to a gentleman in Australia. He informed me that it had passed the shinsa, Kanteisho 70 pts.

 

http://yakiba.com/Kat_Tsunahiro.htm

[Alan Morton]

Hi Ed,

yes it did and Gordon Robson came out and gave a further written translation varying slightly of the

cutting test saying "cut right through the arm pits and into the mound" so Jim was very happy indeed

 

Alan.

[Rich T]

Ed, I handled that sword in the shinsa room it was quite nice.

 

Rich

[Jim P]

Hi all, some of the fittings from the show sorry for the low quality pics

[Jim P]

And some more, and have more if you want to see it ?

[NihontoEurope]

  Ed said:

I recently sold the following Katana to a gentleman in Australia. He informed me that it had passed the shinsa, Kanteisho 70 pts.

 

http://yakiba.com/Kat_Tsunahiro.htm

 

Ed,

 

Just a quick one on the Tsunahiro part.

 

According to the Lot Notes of the auction the Tsunahiro only lasted for three generations. According to Nihontoclub it is 14 generations. The reason for me asking is that I have a Tsunahiro blade, but I do not know which one of the 14 smiths...or 3 or what?

 

Do you have any information to share?

 

"Lot Notes

Yamamura Masahiro of the Sue-Soshu school (cf. Lot 431) was summoned to Odawara sometime around the 1530's by Hojo Ujitsuna, and was re-named Tsunahiro having been granted the use of the character Tsuna from the lord's name. Two generations followed, of whom the third named So'uemon no jo is famously said to have been commissioned by the lord of Tsugaru to make three hundred daisho blades. He returned to his home province in 1606, and died in 1638 aged ninety one. All three generations made swords with midare-ba or hitatsura like this blade."

 

/Martin

[Jean]

Search Big Mo site, in the gallery Koto, there is information on Tsunahiro:

 

 

Fujishiro:

 

~ The papers attribute this sword to 16th century TSUNAHIRO.  There are three generations of  TSUNAHIRO that worked in the 16th century. ~

 

1st generation;

TSUNAHIRO SHODAI [TENMON 1532 SAGAMI] SUEKOTÔ JÔSAKU

His family name is Yamamura, and in the beginning his mei was Masahiro.  He was later beckoned by Hôjô Ujitsuna of Odawara, was granted the use of one kanji, and changed his signature to Tsunahiro.  His legal name was the Gô of Tsuramuki and is said to have been granted the title of Taima no Kami, but this is not clear.  His works have horimono of kenmakiryû, bonji, suken nado, hamon is midare ha or hitatsura ha.  (Ryôwazamono)

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

2nd generation;

TSUNAHIRO SÔSHÛ NIDAI [EIROKU 1558 SAGAMI] SUEKOTÔ JÔSAKU

 

                His family name is Yamamura, he is called Taima, legal name was the Gô of Munemoto.  His works are predominantly wakizashi, hamon has midareba, hitatsura, suguba nado, and has horimono of kenmakiryû and kusa no kurikara.

 

                According to a genealogy chart of the house of Yamamura and old documents, a change of ownership between the first and second generations can be seen between Tenmon 7 to 10 and there is a theory that these old documents are not accurate, and that the first and second generation are the same person, but they are written according to an outline of Yamamura family documents.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

3rd generation

TSUNAHIRO SÔSHÛ SANDAI [bUNROKU 1592 SAGAMI] SUEKOTÔ JÔSAKU

 

                He is called Yamamura Souemonnojô, and lived in Kamakura Ôgigaya.  Later, at the beckoning of the Lord of the Tsugaru Han he moved, and made three hundred daishô katana.  He finished this enterprise in Keichô 11 and returned to his home kuni.  His works are many, hamon is midare ha, hitatsura and suguba ko-midare ha, and there are also horimono.  He died on the 27th day of the second month of 9th year of Kan'ei, at the age of 91.

 

               

[NihontoEurope]

Jean,

 

Thanks.

 

So...if my papers on the Tsunahiro states "Koudai TSunahiro".

 

What does that mean?

 

/Martin