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Hi all, This is the first of what decided will be a semi-regular newsletter where I get to address issues, give current news, and generally make a few points. Apologies, but these will be mandatory reading as they will contain info and issues than need addressing. I promise to make them infrequent and informative if possible. Here are a few points I need to emphasize I am still seeing people replying to the notification emails they get when someone sends them a pm. In other words, you get a forum email saying "you have a private message from someone..please respond via the pm system" and then they hit reply and reply to the email. Folks, the recipient will NEVER get your reply. Email addresses are private here, so you can't email someone or reply to a notification. Go into your pm inbox and reply to them there. You CAN edit your posts for a certain time. I don't know why we get people posting, and then immediately replying to their post to correct something. Go to your post and click the 3 dots top right, and click edit. Then correct your post or spelling or layout or whatever and click save, bottom right. Layouts. Oh my goodness. When you attach pictures, they will automatically insert themselves at the bottom of your post. Please don't click "insert into post" unless you want the picture placed where the cursor is or specifically placed between sentences. Otherwise just click post. What we are seeing is that people type a sentence and leave the cursor in a random place. They then upload attachments and click "insert into post" which puts the image somewhere random at the cursor and has the text all over the place, or wrapping around the image. If you want to insert the picture somewhere, hit return after the sentence. THEN insert the pic. It will appear on the next line at least. And again...refer to the point above...if you see your layout is messed up, click edit. Go to the end of the sentence, hit return. This will fix the picture placement by adding a line down. Looks neater for everyone. Don't be lazy! Proof read your posts after placing them, and fix things that need fixing. Image sizing. There are file upload restrictions. Images don't have to be huge to be clear. But if you are uploading directly from your phone, they probably are. Find a free online image resizer. There are plenty. Resize down to less than 300kb...your image will be plenty big. No need for images that are 3 megs big. Also...please watch what format your phone uses. Don't upload Apple .HEIC files. Google how to take pics in regular jpeg. It's not difficult. If the uploader says your file is too big..it IS. Don't give up, this is 2023. Google image resizers, scale it down...upload again. Find a 10 year old to explain. They are good at this. Folks, this is not Facebook. And I am very glad about that. And unfortunately the reality is that everyone's opinion is NOT equal. That's life. If you are a beginner and you post a reply that says "X is definitely Y" then there will be other novices that take that as fact. Your statement does NOT hold as much water as the 40 year student of Nihonto that replies after you. So please bear that in mind when you make statements. Please remember to clarify it's a (novice) opinion. And consider that sometimes the person you are arguing with is 80 years old and knows a lot. It's funny to see people advising advanced tsuba collectors of 30 years what they have, when they are experts in the subject. Expect to be put in your place. Undoing the false info that is stated as fact takes time and energy and muddies the water. I'm not saying don't post opinions or challenge theories, I'm saying be careful how you do it. We have youngsters and ladies on the forum. Please watch the language and off-colour jokes. I'm as bad as the next guy, but I'd like this place to be a step above the usual bawdy bar. Let's all pretend we are more sophisticated than we are? Gold memberships: These greatly help the forum. Your $30 or $60 really helps to maintain this place, and allows everyone to get free info and to continue doing what we do. Please consider a membership. It's not a lot of money, and comes with decent benefits. You can find the options here: https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/subscriptions/ Your support really is hugely appreciated. There are donations links at the top for people who wish to contribute via either Paypal or credit card. You guys rock! If you need any help donating or buying a subscription, just pm me. And if you are a Gold Member, please consider renewing when it expires. Newcomers: At the top of the forum is a FAQ section. Please check it out. It will be of help. To the right is a section that will assist people to translate things. At least give a try before you ask for help. We all started knowing nothing. Its a great way to make progress. There is also a ton of info in the 'Nihonto Info' section. Browse! Those people in charge of societies dealing with Nihonto or related: I am considering offering private areas where these societies can allow their members to communicate or share info etc, that will only be available to their member list. Please contact me if you have any interest in having a private section where you can share info or discuss society business and can have your own moderators etc. These can be done in various ways, from password protection to only having certain people access it. The software here is set up for that and there are various advanced ways to have "clubs" Please guys...support our dealers. Most of them are here because they can be generally trusted, otherwise they would have been called out. Also, if you list something for sale, and mark it sold, it is nice if you would mention if you sold it here or to a member, or somewhere else. Just helps us gauge how far we reach. Same...if you buy something from an overseas dealer, mention you are a member here and heard about them here, and ask if they have a NMB discount. Something I intended to investigate further. I am attending the San Fran Sword Show for the first time ever, in August. Will have a table on behalf of a local collector. It would be great to meet as many of you as possible. Maybe arrange a dinner or gathering. I am really looking forward to it. If you are going, please post here: https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/44379-san-francisco-sword-show I will also be in New York for 3 days around the 9th...so if anyone is near Manhattan and wants to meet up, please let me know. First vacation in over 10 years. I'm putting a lot into this, and hoping to make it both a successful trip for that collector, and also a bit of a much needed vacation for myself and Nicky who is coming with. With the above in mind, and considering our local currency in South Africa is approaching toilet paper status, I am shamelessly asking anyone who is willing to contribute a few bucks towards making this trip a success, to please use the link in my signature, or use this one: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/japaneseswords if you are willing to assist with any expenses. Yes...I am really embarrassed to ask, but I want people to know that these funds will be used for the trip and not the forum expenses, for complete openness. Even 5 or 6 days free time is expensive on an SA budget. I really hate to ask, but asking is what I am doing. Anything is appreciated. I am also wondering if anyone would like to donate any items such as tsuba or fittings or similar that don't take up much space, that can be sold at the show and the funds used for the annual forum fundraising. This would be similar to the old days of a raffle, but instead they will be available at the SF Show. Please message me in private if you would consider this. Items can be shipped to a location in SF anytime from now, and held until the show. Happy to list the donors here with huge thanks. Please consider any items of reasonable value that would be worthwhile for NMB fundraising. I think we are going to need another mod or 2 to assist with this place. I hope John is doing ok, but there is a lot of work for Jean. I think I will appoint a mod or 2 that only handles their own specialty section. Like someone for the military section, someone for Katchu (is it possible to find someone impartial there??) and the translate section needs someone. There are obvious choices in each category, but need to check they are willing. It's a thankless job. Lastly (for now) I want to thank everyone here for their participation, patience (with me) and for all the help, support, information, uploads, kind words and everything else that we see here. Can't do any of this without you and there are a LOT of you that deserve far more than a simple thanks. Oneday I'll work through the list and properly thank you all. Remember that this is an online forum. It's all pixels on a screen. Don't let people stress you out. Treat people with respect, even if you disagree with them. Allow them their opinions. Use the report feature if something is grossly wrong. Let myself or the mods handle it. Let's keep on keeping on. - Brian -

1. Let me pose a question: We have doctors overburdened here, because nobody wants to go through med school. We have lawyers overburdened because of all the meaningless lawsuits and law school is hard to get through.... and be good at. How is it their additional burden and responsibility to teach "laymen" to do their jobs? So why would you suggest that it is the responsibility of the properly trained individuals to train hobbiests or the "demoized" lay crattsmen who wish to do inferior work for less?; In effect creating a cheaper and less professional competition? 2. The problem is the lack of understanding of the community of the arts. I'm on here with mountains of information and experience under my belt. As I see it, my responsibility is to inform the general public of the truth of the matter and provide them the knowledge required to make informed decisions and the best course of action. That I will do for free. But it is super offensive when I get people telling me that it is my responsibility to teach the community to do a job that has taken me years of my life to learn and perfect. I contain an intangible cultural property in my mind. Just as a lawyer or doctor's mind contains knowledge that took them many years of study and experience to obtain. 3. So.... You would pay a good doctor a high wage, to ensure you survive an operation? You would pay a good lawyer a high wage to ensure that you don't go to jail? So why would you not pay a good fee to a restorer to do a good job on your art if you really want to preserve and protect the item and preserve and protect the traditional arts that support the profession? 4. I have addressed this in a previous post, but Ill address it again. These are the reasons that there are so many short cutters, and so many people who dont want to go through with a proper training or evaluation before going out and setting to work. The community has gotten used to the bad work and cheap prices of the untrained, and because of this, the community at large has been dumbed down and the standards lowered. This is a result of the attitude of the community at large and the misinformation provided by people in it for their own purposes who have focused on being loud on social media rather than learning the respective art or finishing their projects. What the community needs is to be properly informed, and to respect the work of our ancestors and the arts and research of our predecessors. 5. Most of us do provide information basically "for free" to people who want to study the arts under us. BUT it means that we expect people to sacrifice by making a commitment such as studying under us so that we can ensure that 1. The standards of the art community are protected 2. the quality of the work is high 3. they are worthy of being introduced to and supported by the community 4. They understand loyalty and, debt, and respect. Without meaningful training and the gratitude to the people who have taught them a very valuable profession, the community is overrun by people with just enough information to be dangerous and the title of "studied in Japan". Just think about it: How much does law school cost? How much does Med school cost? Free? Most artisans just demand quality, loyalty, indemnity, and respect. I hope the community can understand this and put their money where their mouth is and prospective artisans can take the plunge of time, money, effort to achieve excellence. 5. I do think it is senseless to argue about who is best trained, because everybody checks the resume and references of the people that they ask to do work for them right? So there should be no arguments? My resume speaks for itself. I think there has been enough said on this subject at this point. And I think that people have been informed. The first role when you hire anybody for anything is to check their record. Im guilty of making that mistake in the past regarding the guy with the fake armor organization in England. I would not do that again.

You present good points that will find many who will agree with you. I am among that group. I collect mainly swords. Too often I see swords that were polished by inadequately trained people. Those who save money by using people who lack formal training may later learn that they wasted their money on inferior work.

Before and after. I got this tsuba from yahoo auction. It received some much needed TLC by way of methods I learned from experienced members here in NMB. Thank you to all who have contributed to tosogu restoration threads. 7.2x6.7x0.5cm Mei (according to the seller): Kofuzumi Akao Kichiji. I don’t pretend to know who that is or if it is legit or gimei. Comments and questions are welcome, of course.

When I write letters to people I use an inkwell. And yes. I still write letters to people. Now as a sign of respect, and to let them know they are worth the time of day.

about the transformation from deshi to shokunin, , I am sure Andy can tell much more about this than me but this is the philosophy. I think it comes from Piers, some years ago: The teacher is watching the temperament of his deshi, and waiting for him or her to mature in character and settle down, until he/she understands the required social obligations as second nature or breathing the air around. That, more than the skill, will surely take the years to achieve, and perhaps guarantee that this person will never leave the path in future. Then the risk of releasing him/her into society can be taken by the sensei, and the deshi can become a fully-fledged shokunin with knowledge and wisdom and humility, and the will to keep learning, and a resultant respect for and from others.

Hi Chris: I have been a collector for a long time. I guess that I am old-fashioned. I carry a fountain pen as well as a ballpoint pen. The ballpoint also has a built-in stylus and becomes a cell phone stand. So although old-fashioned, I like new things too.

I got a tsuba not too long ago with this chant on it. 南無妙法蓮華教, Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō I posted to FB. and in the sprit of passing along useful info, Tom helm was kind enough to translate the inscription to common kanji so I could make heads or tails of it, and David Stiles was kind enough to offer this information: " basically is the core chant or central mantra of the Nichiren Sect of Japanese Buddhism. When chanting it you are expressing faith in the teachings of Lotus Sutra and its interpretation by the Kamakura Period Monk Nichiren" Obligatory image: Best, rkg (Richard George

I can count the ones I know on one hand. there are guys that are good in odoshi. some are good with urushi or ironwork. but complete educated restorers... very, very few. Nishioka is training 3 young guys. They have to work 10-15 years for peanuts till they can do independent jobs. Much respect for those guys.

Jussi poses a critical question. In all fields of Japanese Art there simply are not enough trained/competent restorers and from what I have seen and heard over 40+ years that number is not exactly growing. There are many reasons for this…….the time it takes to learn……insufficient income in a very expensive world…..a lack of the basic ability to start with……disillusionment half way through…..insufficient teachers…it’s a long list. So, no matter how much we would like to see everything correctly conserved imo it is simply not realistic or even possible. If there is an answer to this dilemma I’d like to hear it. We do not live in the “ideal world”. We live in one full of harsh realities. It saddens me greatly and is extremely frustrating.

An important thing is this. Antique Dealers are often very well known for doing all sorts of mischief to make things sell. For example, if an Antique Dealer takes a nice old 19th century table, strips it down to bare wood, and refinishes it poorly with modern materials, is he now a carpenter? Of course not. The same goes for armor. The man in question is now and always has been an Antique Dealer. Nothing else. Go to professionals like Andy if you want restoration.

Hmmmm???… interesting statement located in a post that is pretty much one long screed of moralisms… I think ‘hypocrisy’ was the term you are looking for? I’m sure low-ball private offers had NOTHING to do with $$$? And to be smarmy about the whole thing says a lot…

Some exploratory blade shots.

Are you talking about this type?

I bought this some years ago from another NMB-member: Kyo Sukashi tsuba with design of three kiri mon. EUR 470.00 obo A nice and very big Kyo sukashi tsuba, nice iron, with a much sought-after design. You can find granular tekkotsu in the kaku mimi. Dimensions are: 8.6 cm x 8.57 cm x 0.52 cm

Piers san, Yes I'm fine thanks. Delayed by Mother's Day here and a slight attack of empty bottle plus granddaughter baby sitting today!! I'll be back on the PM 'ere long. I've also dug out some old files from my arrow head collecting mate's days of the UCHINE he made. He did the eggshell lacquer as well and polished the arrowhead. Photos below FYI. Also attached is a document with info from a search I made at the time. Best regards to all, Barry T. Classical Weaponry of Japan - UCHINE info.doc

I also like all these "monkey business" tsuba, very much! Description under The monochrome one: "The Monkey as an art critic." I think that motif has very deep meaning. I recall one satiric epigram by Russian fabulist Krilov. https://ruverses.com/ivan-krylov/monkey-and-the-glasses/3723/ But I don't know if in Japanese culture, image of the monkey has different meanings.

Personally, would let it soak in oil and gently go over it with a tooth brush a few times And as above.

This piece was listed as Omori western style dog...perhaps related? Damon

Since I’ve been looking around I really like mokko-gata shape. I like all shapes but that is my favorite. My taste is changing daily the more I read and see. I like the themes with flowers, the sea, animals and mostly nature themes. Every Tsuba I see I think is beautiful I enjoy looking at them and figuring out the meaning behind them. I really like Nanako and Tsuba that have a nice pattern in the metal. Sorry if I’m not using the words correctly this is a new interest to me and I’m learning daily. Especially since it’s another language that I don’t know it makes it harder to describe the word I’m trying to use but I am trying my best to remember the words and the meaning. Thank you.

For the military section I nominate Bruce because he's a constant there, that said there are many great translators and collectors there too....hard choice. Can i still do my naughty pic once a month grin grin wink say no more. I promise no more camel toe. 😎

A long term seller here....always making private offers to just about every newcommer who posts a sword here. Does MANY private deals over the years..always has plenty of items on sale. Posts SEVENTY tsuba for sale today. Not just one bulk pic....38 replies with pics of ALL of them over 2 pages. This combined with the 30+ other items already on offer. So when I hide the tsuba post and politely mention that maybe a Gold Membership would be appropriate for someone listing over 100 items here and who has never really supported the forum.... I get told that since none of the items sold, and that hosting fees over there in Europe are so cheap...it is implied that I am being greedy asking for at least some support? OVER 1000 Pm's going out regularly from this account. A second account already registered under a different name, already sending out hundreds of pm's. A fake name. A competing Nihonto forum in the works.... NO. I refuse to allow people to take advantage of this place and the people that participate here. From now on, people who take advantage and refuse to contribute....gone. And I WILL start to charge for abusing this place if it continues to be a drag on my finances. There is no reason I shouldn't gain some small benefit from the hours I spend here! Anyone who thinks I'm greedy for suggesting monetary support for what amounts to easy info and access to thousands of collectors and customers....you are welcome to try doing this yourself. Thank you to that German member who decided that listing over 100 items is not worth $60 a year. You're either very selfish, or a shit dealer. Either way, finish off your deals. Sorry for the outburst folks. But if I'm going to have to deal with stress like this, there has to be an upside. /rant

Old and corroded, but still usable and cheap. Momoyama to early Edo. A little bit of cleaning and it can be mounted on a long wakizashi or even short katana. Wabi sabi aesthetics. 7.3 x 7.1 x 0.4cm at rim, 0.25 at seppa dai $60 (€55) incl. shipping to EU/US

A few more photos

The above posted naginata naoshi wakizashi is part of a special order daiso made by Kiyomaro. I guess it is his famous tokubetsu juyo daisho. This image is also taken from the book „Kiyomaro celebrating the 200th anniversary of the artist’s birth“.

Yup. same as me. I have a wax seal as well that I carved myself from brass using my own Kamon. (the kanji for 3 三　= Mi for miura　三浦　)

If it is important, I seal the letter with wax and my signet ring with my coat of arms.

Another one recently sold: https://griffinmilitaria.com/product/wwii-Japanese-army-officer-shin-gunto-sword-in-leather-combat-cover/

Thanks for the links, Dale! Beautiful song indeed. I showed my wife the photo you posted and she said: “Well that’s a lovely little bird… Why do Japanese animals always look Japanese?” 😄

I can't find much in the way of other images, perhaps it was a particular workshop design that was taken on by several smiths? I did find this little Netsuke of a Tartar warrior - - and I thought tsuba could be expensive!!! The long eared dog reappears in this woodblock, his hands are full of weapons so no room for a trumpet or "Charumera"

Bazza, One more thing I have to mention, “ Hai, ganbarimasu!” I hope that is the correct response!

Hello Bazza, Thank you for that info. I took some time to read and it was very interesting. I really enjoy Tsuba and reading the history and since this is new to me a lot of the vocabulary I’m struggling with but I look up the words I don’t know. I’m waiting for a few books I ordered to get here so I can study them. I like the old iron Tsuba and I like that they have remained for many many years and have so much history. Some are simple and look strong and I like the fact that there’s more than meets the eye with them. I need to study more about the metal and the types of metals and aesthetics and the surface pattern. Kinko is what first caught my eyes though and the stories they tell the more I look at them. I personally think less is more but they are all beautiful. I’m tempted to purchase one that caught my attention (looks like old iron to me) but I’m going to wait for my books and do research first because I don’t want to make a unwise decision when I really don’t know much yet. I really do appreciate this forum and anyone who gives me advice or any information. This is all new to me. But it definitely opened up a door for me for knowledge and learning. Thank you!

Jeremy, the MEI might read KOFU no JU AKAO YOSHITSUGU.

Here is a picture from the above mentioned book showing another example of this nakago sugata. This blade is a tanto.

Chris, Yeah came across it on eBay. Blade is in kind of rough shape but the koshirae is in wonderful condition. The ridged wood and leather wrapped tsuka actually has a solidly good grip on it so it is definetly function over form.

Kyle , hello Well, what can we tell from these images….. It’s a lot older than WW2 It is a Samurai katana adapted and partially remounted to be carried in the war but has retained its lacquered Samurai saya (scabbard) which probably had a leather cover for war use It has retained its original double habaki (the collar between tang and blade) it has lost its hilt wrappings It is just about the worst condition I’ve ever seen and that’s saying something coming from the UK! but that does not mean it’s a write off. That depends on how deep the rust goes, how thick/heavy/chunky the blade is under the rust. It needs to be seen as Brian says by someone who knows. To my eyes it looks like it was once an interesting sword…..and maybe it still is. Dont be tempted to try and restore it yourself. It may be a bit late but just cover the blade in a light oil for now. Do not clean rust off the tang……leave it. It’s worth making the effort to meet up with someone who can have a better look. Good luck with it. Colin

Kirill, you give me a good laugh. But allow me to clarify some of your misconceptions. Firstly, NO admin of any forum has access to ANY pm's of a member. That would be insane. I know people are responding to the notification emails because I get the bounced email reports in the control panel that tell me people hit reply to them. Implying I monitor pm's is not only ludicrous, but offensive. I know people are making offers via pm because those people message me to ask why they are bombarded with lowball offers the second they ask for a translation or info on their sword. I have mentioned that this is not frowned upon or banned here, but some make their living doing that here and still refuse to contribute. Show me where I even hinted at free members exploiting anything? I have never even implied that..merely mentioned that people who feel they get good advice may feel like contributing. You seem to have a guilty conscience or are overly obsessed with people supporting a forum financially when they feel like it? So? Offer away. I never told people they shouldn't. The ritual is only for the "in-crowd" and unfortunately you don't seem to want to join the cult. Sorry. Money is always a factor. Everywhere. It makes the world work. I suspect you don't work for free. I suspect you don't donate your books for free. I'll continue to run a free forum but encourage contributions. What I get in a year is likely what you make in a week. I don't feel terrible asking for help. No, I don't delete people for having opinions. Hopefully I can change one or 2 of yours. But you are entitled to them.

Just went to see an exhibition of swords in Fukuyama Castle, still running. There were several swords by the Hokke, including Ichijo and Nichijo as I recall, lit up with spotlights inside thier individual glass cases.

チャルメラ https://www.google.co.jp/search?q=チャルメラ+楽器&client=safari&hl=ja-jp&prmd=ivsn&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwib-s_I7PP-AhUaUvUHHZPwAh8Q_AUoAXoECAIQAQ&biw=390&bih=664&dpr=3 Said to have originated in Western Asia and spread to Japan where it was called a charumera, and to France and Europe where it became the oboe.

Small thing I've learned on the photo resizing bit is if the picture is too big of a file size and it's on your phone then take a screenshot of it to decrease the file size. Quick easy and painless.

Hi Amber. A great and inexpensive book I was recently turned on to by another member here is “Lethal Elegance” by Joe Earle. It’s available on Amazon so it was very easy to obtain. It has wonderful large full color photos and covers many different styles and schools of tsuba and other fittings. Welcome to the hobby. It’s a fun one! -Jeremy

Hi Amber welcome to NMB! That is a popular design of butterflies and Peony. You might notice that even though the 'pattern' is the same each tsuba is ever so slightly different and are therefore "Utsushi". Not direct copies but 'emulations', also not cast but hand worked, produced almost on a production line to keep up with demand. I am not sure if I have seen any that were signed but just as a guess I would say Shoami school? There are two selling on ebay right now - they are described as a 'Daisho' but the sizes of the butterflies would suggest they were made as separate pieces and are really a 'cobbled' together pair. https://www.ebay.com/itm/144814259209 Another for sale ebay described as Aizu Shoami https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/285253214594 You might notice the direction of the top butterfly is upwards like the one on your guard. There is evidence that your guard was mounted on a sword at one time from the 'seppa shadow' and the tagane-ato - punch mark at the bottom of the nakago-ana [tang hole]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shachihoko Piers I don't know how the design could be confused with an Orca, the killer whale is a mammal and does not have scales. Not that these facts got in the way of early European explorers. I'll go with your second definition of a mythical creature. This 'Sea Pig' or 'Sea Swine' lived in the North Sea on Olaus Magnus’s 1539 'Carta Marina'. There are some striking similarities to the Shachi [or is it Shiachi?] I know of only one vertebrate that has more than two eyes [the Tuatara of N.Z.] I can't imagine what the three eyes on the animals flanks [both sides?] would be used for, or are they something 'different'?. Watch out this version can come out of the water!

I have collected several images of Shiachi 'dragon-fish' guards - there would appear to be two types of this design. 1. with pearl above the mouth. 2. pearl in the mouth. From what I have seen those with the pearl above the mouth are likely cast copies or modern fakes. There may be exceptions. Shiachi should not be confused with Shiachihoko, Shiachihoko have the head of a tiger not a dragon or dragon-fish.

The designs are found in Chōsen Gafu page 65. And this just turned up on Jauce auction. https://www.jauce.com/auction/s761390544

Dear Chris, Don't be ashamed of a love and appreciation of soft metal, and don't be persuaded to the "dark side" of old charcoal briquettes and manhole covers unless you really determine that you like them (I believe that there are far too many collectors who are admiring the Emperor's New Clothes...)

Paleeze -- Kaneie is overrated.