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Yeap, the issue with hadori is hadori suffocation, common in Japan, problem with sashikomi there is no per se single standard and what you get in one place is considered unacceptable in another.

I recently picked up this lovely tsuba signed Tatsutoshi. Three Minogame are carved with beautiful detail, these are turtles from Japanese folklore that are said to live up to 10,000 years old and have long strands of algae growing from their shells, which resembles a straw raincoat—or mino—from which they get their name. Best, Tom

The seller says alongside ‘Nakago’: 付け足し茎 Tsuke-ashi Nakago = added-leg tang (Nothing otherwise)

One explanation I could think of would be that it was mounted as NAGAMAKI. As mentioned above by John, a very long TSUKA with a short NAKAGO is likely to break in battle.

Hi Roger, This is a noble goal, but it's very unlikely the original owner can be found. Even if your sword is signed, it would be signed by the swordsmith, and not the last person who carried it. There is no way to associate a swordsmith signature with most recent individual who carried it - UNLESS a surrender tag was included with that individuals family information. Long story short, don't give your sword away unless you're absolutely sure it's going to the right place. Nobody at the Japanese embassy in Colorado is qualified to make that determination, and they don't have some secret military personnel+sword list. Just, beware, because we've seen swords be "repatriated" and then end up on the auction sites months later. Best of luck, -Sam

JM (please sign all posts with a first name plus an initial so we could address you politely), the photo is completely out of focus so nothing can be seen.

Understood, thanks a bunch!

I think one of the problems with hadori is not the technique itself, but the patience of the togishi. I've seen so many blades where the hamon was completely obscured by a hadori polish, which could have been done much better if way more time (and money) had been spent on it. For that reason I'm a fan of sashikomi - it's usually more true to what's in the steel, good or bad.

You have sword signed with owner details?

Hoping that anyone new to Netsuke here may get some idea of the variety there really was out there, throughout the Edo period and across all social strata.

Its Tanobe speak for very important and valuable. Sometimes he uses chin cho, and other times the more emphatic chin chin cho cho. As Darcy Brockbank once quipped, it's the equivalent of, if there's a house fire, this is the blade to save first.

great pics, very profesionell Marius!

The differences are quite pronounced. Its clear one must choose carefully. Which style was the togishi championing?

Thanks Bruce! Glad to know there’s also someone in Colorado Springs working with this! Here are some photos you ask for. I like the sword but it’s in pretty bad shape as you can see. It is not signed on the tang. I have three other swords in a little better condition than this one. Only one of them is signed and I sent the information on it to the Japanese embassy and they are looking into repatriate it to its original family. have a great trip!

Thank you very much Piers ! You were fast! Happy to learn that it was made in Kyoto. I' ll make my research on the manufacturing company.

Thank you Piers!

大日本 Dai Nippon 吉田造 Yoshida zō/dzukuri 京都 Kyoto

Usually I see these on the Seppa Dai what could these be? Looks like “J9”

PM sent. Good Satsuma is difficult. Good luck kid... CCC_CPA

Hi, Does someone recognize the name of the manufacturing company which produced this bronze plant holder ? Thank you in advance

笠原哲司 Kasahara Tetsuji (?) (Not sure of the Tetsu Kanji…)

Wow, thank you very much! @Bugyotsuji Sashikomi definitely speaks to me..

This is the same blade but opposite sides. Hadori/Kesho to Sashikomi. PS Although Mumei, many have suggested this is a blade by Yosozaemon Sukesada. From To

Thank you

Very nice piece Marius!