Interesting Website For Gendaito/shinsakuto & Tsuba Etc

[Bazza]

I was trawling for tsuba information and websites and came across one a few years old that I had forgotten about.  It is the labour of love website of Malcolm and Sueko Cox.  Malcom is the author of the book MINO-TO.  The website is titled Nihonto-no-Bi - The Beauty of the Japanese Sword.

 

http://www.users.on.net/~coxm/

 

Tsuba collectors may be interested to read two pictorial essays on tsuba:

 

Tsuba: Yamashiro Tenpo / Tempo / Tembo 山城 天保　

http://www.users.on.net/~coxm/?page=TsubaII

 

and

 

Tsuba: Echizen Kinai

http://www.users.on.net/~coxm/?page=TsubaIII

 

I was particularly thrilled to find a lengthy writeup on a Kumamoto family of swordsmiths:

 

Kimura Akamatsu Taro Kumamoto / Kimura Token

http://www.users.on.net/~coxm/?page=Kimura

 

Kimura Token
Kimura Token is led by KIMURA KANETSUGU 兼嗣 and there are two generations of the Kimura family actively producing quality swords in Kumamoto Prefecture on Kyushu. They have a long history in this region, and family members consist of both swordsmiths and polishers. They have developed their own style based on well forged ko-itame hada, and using home produced tamahagane. Here we have attempted to summarise their work and recent history. The new generation is also displaying substantial talent. We especially thank the family for answering our many questions.

 

Best regards,

BaZZa.

 

PS - quick edit to say there is more to see than the above.

[eternal_newbie]

Interesting section about the Kimura / Akamatsu Taro family of smiths - I have an nice iai shinken by Kimura Kanemitsu in a vibrant choji midare. If I'm not mistaken the family (especially Kanetsugu) are particularly well-known for their works in the style of Kiyomaro...

[Rich S]

Really enjoyed the article on Tempo/Saotome tsuba. My favorites. Thanks.

Rich

[Alex A]

Found a video on the Akamatsu Taro smiths

[mecox]

Good video, and represents their tanrenjo and dedication well