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NBTHK meeting re Mito swords and Kinko work


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Yesterday there was a meeting at the Kibitsu Hiko Jinja for the local branch, with Mr Nakano visiting from Ibaragi to show us some stunning examples of Mito work, three swords and several superb examples of high quality Mito Tosogu work, including Kozuka, Kogai, Menuki and fuchi/kashira. (He had been instrumental in helping sort out the vast collection of Mito Hitotsubashi Tokugawa artefacts that form the backbone of one of the two museums there. Forgot the details, but made a mental note to go and visit one day.)

 

His informative lecture provided a background to the famous and influential Mito Han, but seemed equally to be an appeal for more understanding and appreciation of a relatively ignored or unknown area of workmanship.

 

The large shrine itself is beautiful at any time of year, but remember to avert your sinful gaze from the 巫女 shrine maidens. Recently the Shinto priests there have offered the use of their tatami mat rooms to hold our meetings, and this time they allowed us to admire some of the swords from among their 奉納刀 Honoto vault.

 

Lecture content.

 

Mito was relatively 'new', being established by the Tokugawa only after Sekigahara, thus having no previous 'culture' such as sword forging, etc. Everything had to be built from the base upwards, meaning that the oldest Mito swords found will be Shinto examples.

 

We were shown an early Naoe Sukemasa wakizashi made after he had returned from his studies under Ozaki Suketaka in Osaka. There was a top example of a Juyo Token 'Tokurin' wakizashi, with brilliant bright jihada that had everyone clucking in admiration. The third blade was a Mumei 'Rekko' Tachi with Aoi Mon stamp, (Ibaragi Prefecture Shitei Bunkazai), once presented to the 12th Shogun.

 

Along the white cloth tables were arranged the Tosogu. We were told that despite many forgeries out there, what he had brought in his briefcase to show us comprised about half of the known and recognized examples of Mito Kinko work. "look at these quail Menuki; even the other side of their heads, including eyes, have been reproduced in 3D...These menuki need to be looked at from above, from both sides!"

A scholar through and through, Mr Nakao constantly referred us to upcoming papers that he was in process of composing for the NBTHK etc.

 

Some sneaked photos to follow. 

 

PS We went to a coffee shop afterwards, and as we were walking away the master came running after us. "Someone forgot their briefcase!"

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