Juyo 25

[Guest Rayhan]

Hi all

 

Can anyone tell me how many swords passed in Juyo 25 and if there is any comparison to other Juyo sessions in the 22 to 30 range. I know I saw one from Darcy but I cannot seem to locate it again. If there is break up by schools / traditions this would be great!

 

Thank You!

 

Ray

[BIG]

Hi Ray, Darcy as usual gives advice...JINO

 

https://blog.yuhindo.com

 

Best

[Guest Rayhan]

Hi! Yes we communicated over email on this one, lots of details but i asked because i was looking at a Hosho blade and wanted more info. There were 2 tanto and one katana to pass in 25 from Hosho!!!

[Vermithrax16]

LOVE Hosho!

[Ray Singer]

Rereading that article makes me even more appreciative to have had a sword pass in session 57.

[Jean]

Session 25 is not worse than another, you must only know what to pick up among the juyo upgraded swords, just more laxist.

 

I have a juyo Ryokai of the 25th session with an arm long sayagaki by Tanobe san ending by chinchin chocho

[Guest Rayhan]

Agreed with Jean, and Darcy says the same. Its about the sword and in this case a single Hosho katana passing Juyo is a jewel in any crown.

[Jussi Ekholm]

As Hōshō seems to be quite popular in here lately, here are the Hōshō passes from 20 to 25. You probably discussed this with Darcy but I think it might be beneficial if others are interested in this subject.

 

20 - 2 Katana

21 - 1 Tanto (signed)

22 - 1 Katana, 1 Tanto

23 - 2 Katana, 2 Tanto

24 - 1 Tanto

25 - 1 Katana, 1 Wakizashi, 1 Tanto

 

In general Hōshō attribution seem to be quite rare. What is really blowing my mind regarding Yamato schools is how staggering record mumei Taima blades have at Jūyō.

[Guest Rayhan]

Thanks Jussi! Is the large proportion of Taima in the 20 to 27 sessions?

[Jussi Ekholm]

It was nice to have a day off and I spent the whole day with Jūyō 25 items. To me it looks like it was a great session. Some amazing items were featured as well as few not so great in my opinion. Of course this is just an opinion without seeing the actual items in person. There shouldn't be errors in this as I took care in writing this. The ? in Book 1 usually means a missing kanji. In Book 2 some of the later swords had really long and complicated signatures I skipped bit stuff there and ???'s are there to remind myself to return and complete them at another time.

 

Book 1

 

1. Katana – den Awataguchi Kunikiyo – Mumei

2. Tanto – Norikuni - 則国

3. Tanto – Norikuni - 則国

4. Katana – den Awataguchi Kuniyoshi – Mumei

5. Katana – den Awataguchi Kuniyoshi – Mumei

6. Tanto – Yoshimitsu - 吉光

7. Katana – Rai Kuniyuki – Mumei

8. Wakizashi – Niji Kunitoshi – Mumei

9. Tachi – Rai Kunitoshi - 来国俊

10. Katana – den Rai Kunitoshi – Mumei

11. Tanto – Rai Kunitoshi - 来国俊

12. Tanto – Rai Kunitoshi - 来国俊

13. Tanto – Rai Kunitoshi - 来国俊

14. Tanto – Rai Kunitoshi - 来国俊

15. Tachi – Rai Kunimitsu - 来国光

16. Katana – den Rai Kunimitsu – Mumei

17. Tanto – Rai Kunimitsu - 来国光

18. Tachi – Rai Kunitsugu - 来国次

19. Katana – den Rai Kunitsugu – Mumei

20. Yari – Rai Kunihide - 来国秀

21. Tachi – Ryokai - 了戒

22. Katana – den Ryokai – Mumei

23. Katana – den Ryokai – Mumei

24. Katana – Nakajima Rai – Mumei

25. Katana – Nakajima Rai – Mumei

26. Wakizashi – Nobukuni (1361) - 信国 / 康安元年二

27. Wakizashi – Nobukuni - 信国

28. Wakizashi – den Nobukuni – Mumei

29. Tachi – Nobukuni - 信国

30. Wakizashi – Nobukuni (1413) - 源左衛門尉信国 / 応永廿年八月日

31. Wakizashi – Nobukuni - 信国

32. Wakizashi – Nobukuni - 信国

33. Katana – den Hasebe – Mumei

34. Wakizashi – Hasebe Kuninobu - 長谷部国信

35. Wakizashi – Hasebe Kuninobu - 長谷部国信

36. Tanto – Hasebe Munenobu - 長谷部宗信

37. Ken – Senjuin – Mumei

38. Ken – Senjuin – Mumei

39. Tachi – Senjuin - 千手院

40. Kodachi – Senjuin Kunikiyo - 国清

41. Tachi – Senjuin – Mumei

42. Katana – Senjuin – Mumei

43. Katana & Koshirae – Senjuin – Mumei

44. Yari – Senjuin - 千手院

45. Katana – Kanenaga – Shumei

46. Katana – Tegai – Mumei

47. Katana – Tegai – Mumei

48. Katana – Tegai – Mumei

49. Katana – Tegai – Mumei

50. Katana – Tegai – Mumei

51. Katana – Tegai – Mumei

52. Katana – den Taima – Mumei

53. Katana – den Taima – Mumei

54. Naoshi – den Taima – Mumei

55. Tanto – Taima – Mumei

56. Katana – Cho Aritoshi – Mumei

57. Katana – den Cho Aritoshi – Mumei

58. Katana – Shikkake Norinaga – Mumei

59. Katana – Shikkake – Mumei

60. Katana – Shikkake – Mumei

61. Tanto – Norinaga – Kinzogan

62. Katana – Hosho – Mumei

63. Tanto – Hosho – Mumei

64. Wakizashi – Hosho – Mumei

65. Tachi – Sukemitsu (Yamato) – Mumei

66. Katana – Yamato Shizu – Mumei

67. Katana – Yamato Shizu – Mumei

68. Naginata – Kanabo Masatsugu - 南都住金房 兵衛尉政次

69. Wakizashi – den Takagi Sadamune – Mumei

70. Katana – Shizu – Mumei

71. Katana – den Shizu – Mumei

72. Katana – den Shizu – Mumei

73. Wakizashi – Shizu – Mumei

74. Tanto – Shizu – Mumei

75. Katana – Naoe Shizu – Mumei

76. Katana – Naoe Shizu – Mumei

77. Katana – Naoe Shizu – Mumei

78. Katana – Naoe Shizu – Mumei

79. Katana – Naoe Shizu – Mumei

80. Katana – Naoe Shizu – Mumei

81. Katana – Naoe Shizu – Mumei

82. Wakizashi – den Naoe Shizu – Mumei

83. Katana – den Kinju – Mumei

84. Wakizashi – Kinju (Nidai) – Mumei

85. Wakizashi – den Kaneyuki – Mumei

86. Katana – den Tametsugu – Mumei

87. Katana – den Tametsugu – Mumei

88. Naoshi – den Tametsugu – Mumei

89. Katana – den Tametsugu – Mumei

90. Tachi – Kanenaga (1399) - 濃州住人兼長作 / 応永六年五月日

91. Katana – Kanesada - 濃州関住兼定作

92. Katana – Kanemoto - 兼元

93. Katana – Ujifusa (1568) - 濃州関住兼房作 / 永禄十一年六月吉日

94. Yari – Hironaga & Hiroshige - 濃州住弘長 / 菅原弘重作

95. Katana – Sanekage – Mumei

96. Tanto – Sanekage – Mumei

97. Tachi & Koshirae – Nobunaga - 信長

98. Wakizashi – Fujishima - 藤嶋

99. Katana – Norishige – Mumei

100. Tanto – Norishige – Tomei 則重

101. Katana – Ko-Uda – Mumei

102. Katana – Ko-Uda – Mumei

103. Katana – Ko-Uda – Mumei

104. Katana – Ko-Uda – Mumei

105. Tanto – Uda Sanekuni - 宇多真国

106. Katana – Shintogo – Mumei

107. Tanto – Shintogo Kunimitsu - 国光

108. Katana – den Yukimitsu – Mumei

109. Katana – den Yukimitsu – Mumei

110. Wakizashi & Koshirae – den Yukimitsu – Mumei

111. Katana – den Masamune – Mumei

112. Tanto – Sadamune – Mumei

113. Wakizashi – Hiromitsu – Kinpun

114. Wakizashi – Akihiro - 秋広

115. Katana – Hiromasa - 相州住広正

116. Katana – Kunitsugu (1506) - 相州住国次作 / 永正三年二月日

117. Katana – Tsunaie - 相州住綱家作

118. Wakizashi – Yoshisuke - 義助

119. Wakizashi – Motosuke & Hirosuke - 駿州住元助広助作之

120. Katana – Muramasa - 村正

121. Tanto – Muramasa - 村正

122. Tachi – Tomonari - 備前国友成

123. Tachi – Masatsune - 正恒

124. Tachi – Masatsune - 正恒

125. Tachi – Toshitsune - 利恒

126. Tachi – Kanehira – Tomei 備前国包平作

127. Tachi – Nobufusa - 信房作

128. Tachi – Takakane - 高包

129. Tachi – Kunitsugu - 国継

130. Tachi – Kageyasu - 景安

131. Tanto – Kageyasu – Mumei

132. Katana – Ko-Ichimonji Yukikane – Orikaeshi 行包

133. Tachi – Sukeyoshi - 助吉

134. Ken – Yoshifusa - 吉房

135. Katana – Ichimonji Sukezane – Mumei

136. Tachi – Suketsuna - 助綱

137. Katana – Suketsuna (Kamakura Ichimonji) – Mumei

138. Tachi – Ichimonji - 一

139. Kodachi – Ichimonji - 一

140. Katana – Ichimonji – Mumei

141. Katana – Ichimonji – Kinzogan

142. Katana – Ichimonji – Mumei

143. Katana – den Ichimonji – Mumei

144. Katana – den Ichimonji – Mumei

145. Wakizashi – Ichimonji – Mumei

146. Wakizashi – Ichimonji – Mumei

147. Tachi – Yoshioka Ichimonji - 一

148. Katana – Yoshioka Ichimonji – Mumei

149. Katana – Yoshioka Ichimonji – Mumei

150. Wakizashi – Yoshioka Ichimonji – Mumei

151. Tachi – den Kagehide – Mumei

152. Wakizashi – Nagamitsu – Mumei

153. Katana – Sanemitsu – Mumei

154. Katana – Sanenaga – Mumei

155. Katana – Sanenaga – Mumei

156. Tachi – Kagemitsu - 備前長船住景光

157. Tanto – Kagemitsu (13XX) - 備州長船住景光 / 元?三年十月日

158. Tachi – Chikakage - 備前国長

159. Tachi – Bizen Sukenaga – Mumei

160. Tachi – Unsho - 雲生

161. Katana – den Unsho – Mumei

162. Katana – Unji – Mumei

163. Katana – Unji – Mumei

164. Katana – Unji – Mumei

165. Katana – den Unji – Mumei

166. Katana – den Unji – Mumei

167. Tachi – Nitta Masatsugu - 備前住左近将監正次

168. Katana – Ko-Yoshii – Mumei

169. Katana – Ko-Yoshii – Mumei

170. Naoshi – Ko-Yoshii – Mumei

171. Katana – den Kanemitsu – Mumei

172. Wakizashi – den Kanemitsu – Mumei

173. Tanto – Kanemitsu (1357) - 備州長船兼光 / 延文二年三月日

174. Tachi – Tomomitsu (1363) - 備??船 / 貞治二年三月日

175. Katana – Motomitsu – Mumei

176. Naoshi – Masamitsu – Orikaeshi 備州長船政光

177. Tanto – Motomasa (1371) - 備州長船基政 / 応安二二年二月日

178. Naoshi – den Yoshikage – Mumei

179. Wakizashi & Koshirae – Kanenaga – Mumei

180. Katana – den Nagamori – Mumei

181. Katana – den Nagamori – Mumei

182. Katana – den Nagamori – Mumei

183. Katana – Motoshige – Mumei

184. Wakizashi – Motoshige (1357) - 備州長船住元重 / 延文二年十月日

185. Katana – Shigezane – Mumei

186. Katana – Omiya Morikage (1375) - 備州長船盛景 / 永和元年十月日

187. Katana – Omiya Morikage – Mumei

188. Katana – den Omiya Morikage – Mumei

189. Tanto – Omiya Morikage (1362) - 備州長船盛景 / 康安二年六月日

190. Katana – Omiya – Mumei

191. Katana – Omiya – Mumei

192. Katana – Omiya – Mumei

193. Tachi – Iemori (1403) - 備州長船家守 / 応永十年八月日

194. Wakizashi – Iemori (1394) - 備州長船家守 / 応永元年十月日

195. Tachi – Moromitsu - 備州長船師光 / ???年八月日

196. Tachi – Moromitsu (1395) - 備州長船師光 / 応永二年二月日

197. Tanto – Moromitsu (1387) - 長船師光 / 至徳二二三月日

198. Ken – Moromitsu (1398) - 備州長船師光 / 応永五年三月日

199. Katana – Morimitsu (1406) - 備州長船盛光 / 応永十三年三月日

200. Tanto – Yasumitsu (1427) - 備州長船康光 / 応永三十二二年八月日

201. Wakizashi – Norimitsu (1500) - 備前国住長船四郎左衛門尉法光 / 明応九年八月日

202. Katana – Katsumitsu (1523) - 備前国住長船次郎左衛門尉勝光 / 大永三年八月吉日

203. Tachi – Suketsugu - 助次

204. Katana – Naotsugu – Orikaeshi 備中国住人直次作

205. Naoshi – Aoe – Mumei

206. Katana – Aoe – Mumei

207. Katana – den Aoe – Mumei

208. Katana – den Aoe – Mumei

209. Katana – den Aoe – Mumei

210. Naoshi – Aoe – Mumei

211. Tanto – Tsuguyoshi (Enbun) - 備中国住次吉作 / 延文?年七月日

212. Katana – Ko-Mihara – Mumei

213. Katana – Ko-Mihara – Mumei

214. Katana – Ko-Mihara – Mumei

215. Katana – Ko-Mihara – Mumei

216. Katana – Ko-Mihara – Mumei

217. Tachi – Kokubunji Sukekuni - 助国

218. Katana – Hokke Kaneyasu – Mumei

219. Tanto – Nio Kiyokage - 二王清景

220. Naoshi – Tanshu Kunimitsu – Mumei

221. Tachi – Kunimune (Hoki) - 国宗

222. Katana – Hoki Hiroyoshi (1565) - 伯耆国住見田五郎左衛門広賀作之 ???? / 永禄八年八月吉日

223. Katana – Hoki Hiroyoshi - 伯州住広賀作

224. Katana – Sekishu Naotsuna – Kiritsuke

225. Katana – den Sairen – Mumei

226. Tanto – Sa - 左

227. Tanto – Sa Yasuyoshi - 安吉

228. Wakizashi – Sa Yasuyoshi – Shumei

229. Katana – den Sa Yukihiro – Mumei

230. Katana – den Sa Yoshisada – Mumei

231. Katana – den Sa Sadayoshi – Mumei

232. Katana – den Sa Sadayoshi – Mumei

233. Wakizashi – Sa Kunihiro – Mumei

234. Wakizashi – den Sa Kunihiro – Mumei

235. Katana – den Reizen Sadamori – Mumei

236. Katana – Miike – Mumei

237. Katana – Miike – Mumei

238. Tachi & Koshirae – Bungo Yukihira - 豊後国行平作

239. Katana – Bungo Tomoyuki – Mumei

240. Katana – Enju Kunitoki – Kiritsuke

241. Katana – Enju Kunimura – Mumei

242. Wakizashi – Enju – Mumei

243. Katana – Enju – Mumei

244. Katana – Enju – Mumei

245. Katana – Enju – Mumei

246. Katana – Enju – Mumei

247. Tanto – Enju Kunisuke (1326-1329) - 国資 / 嘉暦??二月日

248. Katana – Ko-Naminohira – Mumei

249. Katana – Ko-Naminohira – Mumei

250. Tanto – Tomoyasu - 波平友安作 / 八月吉日

 

[Jussi Ekholm]

And here is the 2nd book. I admit as koshirae and fittings are not really my strong point I just listed them as items. Eventually when I get enough spark to do those I'll make good descriptions of them but they aren't a top priority for me...

 

Book 2

 

1. Tanto – Umetada (1588) - 城州住埋忠作 / 天正十六年九月日

2. Tanto – Umetada (1590) - 城州住埋忠作 / 天正十八年十一月日

3. Tanto – Umetada (1591) - 城州住埋忠作 / 天正十九年三月日

4. Tanto – Umetada Myoju (1617) - 山城国西陣住人埋忠明寿 / 元和三年八月日

5. Katana – Horikawa Kunihiro - 国広

6.  Tanto – Horikawa Kunihiro (1613) - 城州堀川住国広 / 慶長十八年三月日

7. Katana – Horikawa Kuniyasu - 国安

8. Wakizashi – Kunitomo - 越後守藤原国儔

9. Katana – Kunimichi - 出羽大掾 藤原国路

10. Wakizashi – Kunimichi - 出羽大掾 藤原国路

11. Naginata – Ariyoshi - 阿波守藤原在吉

12. Naginata – Iga no Kami Kinmichi - 伊賀守藤原金道

13. Katana – Tanba no Kami Yoshimichi - 丹波守吉道

14. Katana – Rai Kinmichi (1684) - 大法師法橋来栄泉 - 和泉守藤原来金道 / 貞享元年八月吉日

15. Katana – Kiju (1724) - 筒井越中守入道藤原紀充 / 享保九年正月吉日

16. Katana – Oya Kunisada - 和泉守藤原国貞

17. Naginata – Oya Kunisada - 和泉守藤原国貞

18. Katana – Shinkai Kunisada (1670) - 井上和泉守国貞 / 寛文十年八月日

19. Katana – Inoue Shinkai (1675) - 井上真改 / 延宝三年八月日

20. Wakizashi – Inoue Shinkai (1675) - 井上真改 / 延宝三年八月日

21. Katana – Inoue Shinkai (1678) - 井上真改 / 延宝六年八月日

22. Katana – Kunisuke (Shodai) - 河内守藤原国助

23. Katana – Kunisuke - 河内守国助

24. Katana – Kunihira (1679) - 摂州住国平 / 延宝七年二月日

25. Wakizashi – Tsuda Sukehiro (1669) - 津田越前守助広 / 寛文九年八月日

26. Katana –Tsuda Sukenao - 近江守助直 / 以南蛮鉄造之

27. Katana – Tsuda Sukenao (1679) - 近江守高木住助直 / 延宝七?年二月日???

28. Katana – Tsuda Sukenao (1680) - 近江守高木住助直 / 延宝八年二月吉日

29. Katana – Tsuda Sukenao (1686) - 津田近江守助直 / 貞享三年八月日

30. Katana – Tsuda Sukenao (1687) - 津田近江守助直 / 貞享二二年八月日

31. Katana – Tsuda Sukenao (1693) - 津田近江守助直 / 元禄六年二月日

32. Katana – Kanesada - 越後守包貞

33. Katana – Kanesada - 越後守包貞

34. Wakizashi – Kanesada - 越後守包貞

35. Katana – Ikkanshi Tadatsuna - 粟田口近江守忠綱 / 彫物同作

36. Katana – Tanba no Kami Kanemichi - 丹波守兼道

37. Katana – Kunikiyo - 山城守藤原国清 / ?南蛮鉄?之

38. Yari – Shimosaka - 肥後大掾下坂 / 越前住

39. Tanto – Sadakuni - 肥後大掾貞国

40. Tanto – Shigetaka - 播磨大掾藤原重高 / 越前住

41. Tanto – Shigetaka - 播磨大掾藤原重高

42. Naginata – Hirotaka - 越前住伯耆大掾汎隆

43. Katana – Takahira (1626) - 越中守藤原高平 / 寛永三年十一月日

44. Katana – Kaga Kanewaka - 加州住兼若造

45. Katana – Kaga Kanewaka (Nidai) (1661) - 越中守高平三男兼若造 / 寛文元年八月吉日

46. Katana – Hankei - 繁慶

47. Katana – Kaneshige - 和泉守兼重

48. Katana – Okimasa - 長曽祢

49. Katana – Yasusada (1657) - 大和守安定 / 明暦三年八月日

50. Katana – Tachibana Yoshitsugu - 肥後守法城寺橘吉次

51. Katana – Masateru - 越前守法城寺橘正照 / ???

52. Katana – Tachibana Tsunemitsu - 対馬守橘常光

53. Katana – Suishinshi Masahide & Sendai Kunikane & Masanaga (1782) - 秋元家臣川部儀八郎藤原正秀 - 天明二壬寅年二月日 / 奥州仙台住人本郷源之助藤原国包 - ?????? 源正永

54. Katana – Suishinshi Masahide (1815) - 水心子正秀 / 文化十二年???? 二月吉日造 ????

55. Katana – Koyama Munetsugu (1860) - 備前介藤原宗次 / 安政七年二月日

56. Katana – Unju Korekazu (1861) - 石堂運寿是一精鍛作之 / 万延二年二月日

57. Katana – Unju Korekazu - 石堂運寿是一精鍛作之

58. Katana – Minamoto Masayuki - 山浦環正行

59. Katana – Kiyomaro (1854) - 源清麿 / 嘉永七年正月日

60. Katana – Kiyomaro (1849) - 源清麿 / 嘉永二年二月日

61. Tanto – Kiyomaro - 清麿

62. Katana – Masao (Tenpo) - 天然子寿昌 / 天保??? 二月日

63. Katana – Nobuhide (1865) - 栗原筑前守平信秀??? / 慶応元年八月日

64. Katana – Kiyondo (1867) - 荘内住豊前守藤原清人 / 慶応三年八月吉日???

65. Wakizashi – Tegarayama Masashige - 奥州白川臣正繁彫同作 / ????

66. Katana – Sendai Kunikane (Shodai) (1633) - 山城大掾藤原国包 / 寛永十年十月日

67. Katana – Kaneshige - 奥州涌谷住包重

68. Katana – Tegarayama Ujishige (1657) - 播州住人大和大掾藤原氏重作 / 明暦三年五月吉日 ???

69. Katana – Shichibei Sukesada (1647) - 備前国長船住七兵衛祐定作 ???? / 正保四年二月吉日

70. Yari – Teruhiro - 肥後守輝広作

71. Yari – Teruhiro - 肥後守藤原輝広

72. Katana – Nanki Shigekuni - 於南紀重国造之

73. Naginata – Teruhiro - 播磨守藤原輝広

74. Wakizashi – Ujifusa - 飛騨守藤原氏房

75. Katana – Kunifusa - 国房

76. Katana – Nobukuni Shigekane - 筑州住源信国重包

77. Wakizashi – Tadayoshi (Shodai) - 肥前国忠吉 / ????

78. Katana – Tadahiro - 肥前国住近江大掾藤原忠広

79. Katana – Tadahiro - 肥前国住近江大掾藤原忠広

80. Wakizashi – Tadahiro & Tadayoshi - 近江大掾藤原忠広 / 肥前国陸奥守忠吉

81. Wakizashi – Yoshinobu - 肥前国住人吉信

82. Katana – Masahiro - 肥前国佐賀住正広

83. Katana – Masahiro (Shodai) (1627) - 肥前国佐賀住正広 / 寛永四年二月吉日

84. Katana – Tadakuni - 肥前住播摩大掾藤原忠国

85. Katana – Tadakuni - 肥前住播摩大掾藤原忠国

86. Katana – Tadakuni - 肥前住播摩大掾藤原忠国

87. Katana – Muneyasu - 肥前国住人源宗安

88. Katana – Mondo no Sho Masakiyo - 主水正藤原正清

89. Katana – Yasuyo (1803) - 主馬首藤原朝臣一平安代 / 享和拾三年八月吉日

90. Wakizashi – Yasuyo - 主馬首藤原朝臣一平安代

91. Katana – Motohira (1804) - 奥大和守朝臣元平 / 文化元???

92. Teppo -

93. Koshirae – Tanto Koshirae

94. Koshirae – Tachi Koshirae

95. Koshirae – Tachi Koshirae

96. Koshirae – Tachi Koshirae

97. Koshirae – Tachi Koshirae

98. Koshirae – Tachi Koshirae

99. Koshirae – Tachi Koshirae

100. Koshirae – Katana Koshirae

101. Koshirae – Tachi Koshirae

102. Koshirae – Tachi Koshirae

103. Koshirae – Tachi Koshirae

104. Koshirae – Tachi Koshirae

105. Koshirae – Tachi Koshirae

106. Koshirae – Tachi Koshirae

107. Koshirae – Tachi Koshirae

108. Koshirae – Tachi Koshirae

109. Koshirae – Tachi Koshirae

110. Koshirae – Katana Koshirae

111. Koshirae – Wakizashi Koshirae

112. Koshirae – Wakizashi Koshirae

113. Koshirae – Wakizashi Koshirae

114. Koshirae – Katana Koshirae

115. Koshirae – Wakizashi Koshirae

116. Koshirae – Daisho Koshirae

117. Koshirae - Daisho Koshirae

118. Koshirae – Katana Koshirae

119. Tsuba -

120. Tsuba -

121. Tsuba -

122. Tsuba -

123. Tsuba -

124. Tsuba -

125. Tsuba -

126. Tsuba -

127. Kogai -

128. Menuki -

129. Tsuba -

130. Tsuba -

131. Tsuba -

132. Menuki -

133. Menuki -

134. Menuki -

135. Kogai -

136. Kozuka -

137. Kozuka -

138. Kozuka -

139. Kozuka -

140. Fittings -

141. Futakoromono -

142. Kogai -

143. Menuki -

144. Fittings -

145. Kogai -

146. Kogai -

147. Kogai -

148. Kogai -

149. Kozuka -

150. Kozuka -

151. Tsuba -

152. Kozuka -

153. Fittings -

154. Tsuba -

155. Kozuka -

156. Kozuka -

157. Tsuba -

158. Tsuba -

159. Tsuba -

160. Tsuba -

161. Fuchi & Kashira -

162. Kozuka -

163. Futakoromono -

164. Mitokoromono -

165. Tsuba -

166. Daisho Tsuba -

167. Fuchi & Kashira -

168. Mitokoromono -

169. Fittings set -

170. Fuchi & Kashira -

171. Tsuba -

172. Fuchi & Kashira -

173. Daisho Tsuba -

174. Tsuba -

175. Daisho Tsuba -

[Guest Rayhan]

Jussi thank you for this incredibly insightful and inspiring post

[b.hennick]

Hi Jussi:

Are any of the Hosho blades signed?

[Valric]

Thank you Jussi. Once again, great and insightful work here.

 

What strikes me is the number of 'Den' at Juyo-level attributions in Session 25. I don't have hard data to compare with, but this could be another sign of liberal attributions / maker inflation / drop in standards, on top of the sheer volume. 

 

No less than FOUR 'Den Tametsugu' and not a single Tametsugu slam dunk. This is a statistical anomaly, and what I take this 'Den Tametsugu' to mean is mid-grade nambokucho soshu work. A lot of 'Den Shizu' and even a 'Den Masamune'. 2/3 of the AOE attribution are also 'Den'. There is the +/- 10% interpretation of Den, and these blades could be on the minus side. We also know that archetypes slam dunk get a far easier time at Juyo. 

 

Strange. 

[Jussi Ekholm]

I think NBTHK has been applying the den prefix quite lot at least in early shinsa. In the first 25 sessions there are lots of den prefixes on old mumei swords.

 

One of the den Awataguchi Kuniyoshi stayed with den prefix on Tokubetsu Jūyō 6. Same with den Awataguchi Kunikiyo on Tokubetsu Jūyō 7. Sukezane kept the straight attribution at session 6. Those are the 3 mumei blades so far from this session that I know passed also Tokujū. There can be (probably are) few more but I don't have most of the Tokujū books yet.

 

As for signed Hōshō, so far I have documented only 14 swords. 1 Kokuhō, 2 Jūyō Bunkazai, 2 Jūyō Bijutsuhin, 4 Tokubetsu Jūyō, 4 Jūyō and 1 Unknown status. I remembered that Darcy had done full statistics of signed Hōshō at Jūyō level and they seem to total 14 in number. So it seems like I'm still missing at least 6 signed Jūyō Hōshō.

[Gakusee]

I have noticed that really old papers (well before pre-sessions 20s...) used to insert “den” quite a lot and afterwards direct smith attributions crept in gradually. Recently it seems to me that it has probably morphed again, with a dosage of conservatism, i.e. smith +/- 5%. But this is a very, very complex area and one needs to look at the history of the term usage and so on.

 

In any case, Darcy explained it very well here: https://blog.yuhindo.com/den/.

 

There are blades who have retained “den”, gained “den” or lost “den” when transitioning from Juyo to TJ.

 

Interestingly, if there is a Honami kinzogan inscription or the blade has a solid daimyo provenance, or both of these, then den seems less likely.

[Jean]

Just for info, compared to Shinsa panel, Tanobe sensei is less timid and often omits the Den on his sayagaki when he has no doubt.

[Vermithrax16]

Thanks Jussi! Is the large proportion of Taima in the 20 to 27 sessions?

Member paulb sent me a spectacular article he penned (it's here in the articles section) in regard to Taima that's well worth the read:

http://www.militaria.co.za/articles/A%20Katana%20attributed%20to%20Yamato%20Taima.pdf

 

Great work as usual Jussi!!! Major tip of the hat.

 

That's a LOT of Tegai blades it seems to me.

[Valric]

This would need further studies and some hard number then. Maybe it's a simple chronological effect, with earlier sessions with more 'Den' compared to later sessions. That would be interesting and I wonder what it reflects: more conservative judgement, more certainty in judgement, submitted blades being more 'slamdunkish' compared to ambiguous early session submissions? (endogeneity?)

 

Early Shinsa: Den Tier 1

Late Shinsa: T2 

 

Or is it more something like:

 

Early Shina: Den T1

Late Shinsa: T1

 

I think we all agree it's not:

 

Early Shinsa: Den T2

Late Shinsa T1

 

Which would reflect the Den +5%

 

Darcy in his blog post draws attention to the Muromachi cloud during the bad sessions. Which is clearly for session 23 and 24 (the worst sessions) but not 25. My second hypothesis as to where to look for drop in standards during these high volume sessions lies with the sheer number of sub-Hosho Yamato blades. We have a lot such blades in there volume wise. Some are certainly great and worthy, but one has to wonder what the distribution of quality looks like here. As for anecdotal value, I remember Fred sold 'Juyo in name only' Yamato Wak with a sessions number close to number 25 which we can refer as the cheapest Juyo ever offered on the web. We also have a quite a few suspicious Enju on the low-value side, especially the Enju Wak is a strange

one. 

[Jussi Ekholm]

Michael is correct than in the first 10 sessions den was used very often. And also the recognized kinzogan is always (from what I've seen so far) a direct attribution.

 

Here are few remarks when comparing this to many other Shinsa before session 20.

- There are lots of non-blade items passing

- Lot of Nobukuni

- Lot of Naoe Shizu

- Multiple Uda

- Multiple Mihara

- Multiple Naminohira

- "Weaker" Bizen attributions are more numerous than earlier (Yoshii, Omiya, etc.)

- Top Osafune or Sōden-Bizen works are few in number

- Muromachi smiths got many passes

I am not really well versed in Shintō swords to say much about them but for example there are 6 Sukenao passing in single session here.

 

As for the den prefix, here are first 10. But I think also you'll have to consider to what attribution the den is given to.

 

S1 5 mumei blades, 2 kinzogan = direct, 3 den

S2 11 mumei blades, 1 kinzogan, 5 direct, 5 den

S3 7 mumei blades, 2 direct, 5 den

S4 15 mumei blades, 1 shumei = direct, 3 direct, 11 den

S5 21 mumei blades 1 kinzogan, 10 direct, 10 den

S6 33 mumei blades, 1, shuso = direct, 2 kinzogan, 15 direct, 15 den

S7 36 mumei blades, 3 kinzogan, 1 kinpun = direct, 8 direct, 24 den

S8 47 mumei blades, 1 shumei, 1 kinzogan, 2 kinpun, 19 direct, 24 den

S9 41 mumei blades, 1 shumei, 4 kinzogan, 1 kinpun, 19 direct, 16 den

S10 81 mumei blades, 2 shumei, 6 kinzogan, 30 direct, 43 den

[Valric]

Great to see those numbers, thank you Jussi. The Shinsa policy on Den has shifted over time, which is interesting. With these numbers I think we can safely rule out that 'Den' reflects weakness on a mumei blade for bad sessions.

 

It's likely that as you say, the usual suspects of third tier groups that began to creep in, which drove the devaluation. This means we need to be especially wary of these attributions during the weak sessions and apply very careful scrutiny to these items up for sale. 

[Rivkin]

My very personal and erroneous take.

20s Juyo sessions are suspect in a sense of quite a few genuinely old blades of somewhat boring nature making it there. 
Rather ordinary looking Mihara and similar others, not to argue that the schools are bad, but what was passed was not outstanding. 

 

Regarding judgement, I feel Tametsugu ones tend to come with Den since he is portrayed as a unique smith who was Kaga, Echizen and Mino. So something completely out of bounds for Norishige, like well defined periodic choji, will not disprove Tametsugu attribution (lets just call it his Mino phase?). Which in turn makes him a little bit of a vacuum since wtih Den he can collect as attributions the works with a very wide range of features - and also his attributions sometimes jump to others when resubmitted.

I don't think its really a downgrade, since because of sugata changes once its certain that the blade is circa 1350-1360 there are not that many available Soshu attributions. A lot of Tametsugu are Masamune and Norishige's from Edo period, that got caught into a big slide of scepticism, especially beginning with the 1990s.

 

The attribution from 1970s that I find very many issues with is Takagi Sadamune. Maybe I am wrong, but often these are unimpressive works which were known traditionally as Sadamune, but could be easily today going as lesser quality Nobukunis - but in 1960s, 1970s they made good papers as "Takagi Sadamune".

 

Don't have that many issues with Shinto blades. Sukehiro. Shinkai, Kotetsu will secure Juyo level prices without any advanced papers. 

 

Kirill R.