All Activity

My initial thought was the same as yours. But then I realized that there were two (or possibly three) cracks emanating from the same point on the edge. Normally I would expect that one crack would start, and the stress would then move to the end of the crack, resulting in the crack extending, but reducing the likelihood of another crack starting from the same place. That's what got me thinking about there having been some blow or transient force which started both cracks at the same time... but it is just a hypothesis.

Agree, and it can only be verified if the method of attachment would refer to the same era as the bowl.

mon is relevant, it could have been exchanged 100 times.

6200 * Nanbokucho daito, ubu nakago, two koshirae and Tokubetsu Hozon

Thanks Colin, it came back on the market so I was wondering where the market was for a piece like this. It is attractive in a rustic kind of way.

Hi Lewis I bought this (ie the original subject of the topic) from a Japanese dealer in April 2023 and with import tax it cost £378. I sold it at the Birmingham Arms fair but can’t remember who to or how much. In hand it was a lovely tsuba in far better condition than some thought. The distressing and apparent wear were all intentional. The iron was excellent.

Nothing for sure, so take it with a grain of salt. But my research so far: The mon is from the Watanabe clan. They were retainers of the Mori. To note specifically is that the helmet is dated, 8th month of Daiei 3, if the inscriptions can be considered as correct. Correctly calculated it seems that the 8th month in accordance with the Japanese way of calculating, would actually mean Oct. 1523. Anyway, 1523 was the year that Mori Motonari became Daimyo. More in particular, he became daimyo after a succession crisis when the jong daimyo Mōri Kōmatsumaru died in 1523 and because he was nominated/asked by 2 of his vazals, among whom a certain Watanabe (found different first names) in July of that year. The official nomination of Motonari was signed by 15 of his vazals. Motonari seems to have entered Koriyama-Jo somewhere at the end of September/beginning of October. After that there was a period of trouble, where some of his vazals seem to have rebelled against him (among which the former Watanabe, who was executed in 1523 as a consequence of a cleansing operation undertaken by Mori Motonari because of the rebellion -https://mouri.gozaru.jp/monogatari3.html - these are recounted stories which were written down at some point so the actually amount of truth is under debate) His son Toru was allowed to leave but was later pardonned and returned to the Mori Clan. He saved his lord during a battle somewhere in 1543 by posing as him and returning in the battle to allow Motonari to escape. Subsequently most Watanabe's received important posts in the Mori Clan and were remembered during the Mori Clan's New Year's Kachu Kaiki. However, Nobuie was in Eastern Japan while the Mori and Watanabe's were in Western Japan. The mon could be a later addition, who knows for sure. Don't know if new helmets would travel all over the country. So anything is conjecture at best at this point, but the coincidence in the dates is remarkable if you ask me. Theoretically it would have taken a helmet ca. 30-35 days to get from Nobuie to the Mori domain. So it is possible. Anyway I haven't overpaid it, so in the worst case I own a nice helmet with a fake signature but at a price which is acceptable even when it is not what it is supposed to be. I have asked the Mori museum if any records would exist about an exchange of important helmets which could have been given to the Watanabe's in relation to their initial support of Mori Motonari.

Was this for sale in the UK or USA? What was the price (PM me if you prefer)? Any further thoughts on the Mei and general condition?

I have to admit this one is a bit of a head scratcher. Jigane seems great, but the hamon ... is it mostly nioi and ko nie with strong nie only in couple of places? nioi-guchi which is bright and wide in some places and nearly gone in others? The price... because of Date association? All top Soshu have gained considerably compared to 20 years ago, and the spread between collector to collector and high end retail also increased. But... Anyways, I seriously considered this gentleman: https://www.aoijapan.com/katana-mumei-attributed-to-sa-sadayoshinbthk-tokubetsu-hozon-token/ Personal preference, I would probably like it more than "Go".

Yves: Bottom line is a very nice legit helmet. As I haven't started collecting katchu yet, I have a question. Is there any relationship between the family mon and Nobuie? I was thinking that a samurai would "buy locally" and was wondering if the location of the clan somehow relates to the area where Nobuie worked. John C.

Hi Barrie, Here is the pic of the back. Interesting. I guess they are what they are.... Can do a cheaper price for an Aussie delivery as much cheaper than an international delivery...

Posting photo for future when link goes dead:

Marcin, I concur. At the same time in the USA, interest rates are decreasing; 25 basis points this month. RayM

I know I’m very late to this thread, but I was looking through “The Beauty of Tsuba” (just bought it) and saw the same design listed as Higo. The one in the book looks very similar to one Dale posted, but there are some differences.

Thank you Ray. You were fast!

SOLD . Thank you NMB. Please leave this up a few days and I will add a contribution to the NMB pot. -Curran

I believe this can be read Gotō Shunjō. 後藤春乗 https://www.seiyudo.com/tu-030423.htm

Hi, Can you help me in decyphering this signature? Thank you

Hi Jean, Chatgpt does a briljant job translating. It says: "Daiei 3 + 8e month + a good day"

Yves, as mentioned before, this is better posted in the TRANSLATION section.

Guys dunno If I should mention it here but many sources predicts increasing interest rates on yen by another 0.25% this month. Dunno if it will end same way as in july 2024. But I expect that Usd/Jpy ratio will drop. Though usd is not my basic currency. I just want to notice this situation as many members want to make purchases in coming days.

backside dating

I think this is one case where the quality of the blade (very obviously top-level Soshu if Kanzan, Tanzan, the NBTHK *and* whichever appraisers the Date family had on the case all agreed with Go/den Go) trumps any concerns about attribution and level of certificate. If it gets reattributed to Hasebe Kunishige or Shizu then it's a Hasebe Kunishige or Shizu that's good enough to stand with Go and Masamune, and was treasured by the Date clan, and with TH you've got the NBTHK's double stamp of approval for school, quality and condition. Going to Juyo (or TokuJu) would just be adding a third stamp of approval to something that already has the thumbs up from some of the headiest authorities on what makes a blade good. And really, what can any given Juyo panel tell you that you won't find on an extensive sayagaki by Kanzan and Tanzan? One other possible reason for not sending it to shinsa is to keep alive the hope - for prospective buyers - that the "Den" attribution means it might go Juyo to Masamune instead, as he is also (obviously) in the same tier of mastery as Go and does have some work with tobiyaki and togari. But this is a long shot and realistically, the best-case outcome of a Juyo shinsa will be just telling you what you already know - lovely sword, probably Go, somewhat atypical. There's much more potential downside, and you can save yourself a few hundred thousand extra yen in shinsa and handling fees (and another two years of waiting, including when - not if - it passes next year's session) by just selling it as-is.

Incredible blade, incredible price .... for TH. Must be one of those instances where those who know, know.....This is one blade I would love to see in hand. But it must be capable of higher Shinsa pass, with all the plusses, such as big name Daimyo association, strong push by Kanzan and Tanzan for an attribution towards Go, excellent polish, so wouldn't this be the perfect candidate to send forward? Would the possible risk of reattribution to Hasebe Kunishige or Kaneuji or ? and a consequent desirability/financial hit be causing some hesitation?

Hi Mark, Normally Menuki are made 'Left and Right' or 'mirrored' with (normally) the head end facing the Fuchi, even if the animal - dragon for instance - is looking backwards towards the Kashira... I have heard (unsubstantiated) that in the case of plants or flowers, the roots face the Fuchi. Noting these both face the same way, can I please see a pic of the backs? Thanks. Barrie.