Brian

Never mind the knot..you gotta love that lacquer job Brian

I thought your work involved politics anyways? Good luck with the move Guido. I wouldn't wish that stress on anybody. Just don't show the good stuff to too many of your new countrymen, or you might find identical replicas hitting the streets minutes later. Brian

http://swordsofshi-han.com/about_us Based on what they are selling and their lack of credentials as far as antiques go, I wouldn't bring an antique sword near the place. Modern wallhangers maybe...but not genuine swords. Brian

Hi Bob, Save the donation for a ticket or 2 for the next NMB raffle we usually have towards the end of the year. It covers costs and there are usually some nice prizes on offer. Tickets will probably be $10 each again. I need to start thinking of prizes this year, last time members really went out of their way to help and we had lots on offer. The year is speeding by again I see... Brian

Josh, Nice enough sword (bearing in mind these older papers should often be resubmitted) but i expect at that price level, many buyers have the money and resources to travel, and would prefer to be able to handle a sword like that in person. I wouldn't be comfortable dropping $20K on an online sword, since there are many others in that price range that can be handled first. But it does look like a very fine blade indeed, even without the mei. Brian

Joakim, Kanetoyo is a member here from Japan. Sells mainly Mino-to of varying quality. You will find him if you search the forum for Kanetoyo. Js-musashi is a new seller that I have noticed, but not dealt with. Brian

Bob, I am sure Todd meant no offense. I think it just comes from everyone knowing your eBay id quite well, you buy and sell a lot of swords, so it is easy to assume that the info is for a future listing. Of course we do translations for people who do plan on selling, but many members like to know if their efforts are going to be used to make money for someone, or if they are just looking for more info on something they own. Sites like this are fairly unique where info is given usually fast and freely, and the info is not always easy to come by elsewhere, so I guess people want to know where the info is being used. Usually not a problem at all, but I guess your eBay name pops up a lot However I am happy if you say that you will let us know if the info is for commercial reasons. The same goes for all members, and I hope you don't take offense as it is good to remind everyone occasionally. It doesn't mean that commercial requests won't be answered either..that is up to the helpful members. I would like to think that those who do plan on using the info might post a big thanks and maybe even a small discount or something to NMB members if the info was helpful. (not required of course, just thinking aloud so-to-speak) We shouldn't jump to confusions either when judging whether or not a request is commercial or not, but that is always the risk when working on the "honour system" Anyways, back to the sword, and please do show us more. Those fittings really do appeal to me. Regards, Brian

Been there, done that It was lovely, and I am hoping there are other areas that are similar. The antiques shops (there were plenty) were great. Every one has some fittings and lots of old stuff, and top to bottom with old collectibles at some good prices. Is that a lost thing nowdays? I would go back, but I think I have done that now. Even Hiroshima had an old area with 5-6 old antiques shops that didn't look too commercial and had various fittings and stuff. So I guess I expected every town/city to have something similar. Ian, Nagoya sounds good, and you say there are some shops too? It's on the way back from Kyoto, so do-able. Brian

Bob, Nice fittings! Brian

The sugata doesn't remind me of a WW2 period blade though. Kanbun Shinto maybe? Looks like a nice blade, possibly antique, and you need to stabilise that rust asap Hit it with lots of oil and wipe off as much rust as possible. Not sure how much pitting there is, but it won't be good. Hmm...it belongs somewhere else besides being neglected in a basement. Brian

Well, I guess that depends on what the asking price was? Brian

Rich, Ah yes, but once they find out my budget, and realise that all I can do is help them clear out some of the junk they are happy to see leave the country..not only will they allow me in, but they will assign me a free guide to help me remove these items. I am sure they love the Westerners who help them rid the place of all the low class stuff, and leave them with the valuable good stuff :lol: Last time, they almost didn't give me a visa from SA, saying "not enough money going with" Still have to tackle that one this time. Ford...aww gee....and i thought you are supposed to smear the wasabi on the sashimi Thanks for the ideas folks. Keep em coming, they are very helpful. Will definitely do some of the ideas here. Kyoto will be in the middle of the month, so will miss the market there. Will have 2 weekends in Tokyo though, and really want to do one or 2 antiques markets. I LOVED Yasukuni shrine one last time. But it is really difficult researching them, as one website will say X is on every Sunday, and the next page will say it is on only the first and last weekend etc. Does anyone know which shrine markets are every Sunday? Is Yasukuni every Sunday, or only the first/last Sunday? And what about the Togo shrine one? Also, does anyone know exactly what happens at the Taikai. Is it just lectures, a show, and/or ? Lots of questions.... Brian

I don't have any very good swords yet, but I do have some that I love. However many I would part with if I had the chance to upgrade to something significant that I could learn a lot from. However I have a few that aren't all that fantastic that I don't think I would part with due to sentimental or other reasons. This includes my first decent piece that started my collecting interests, and another that I bought with a huge lot of related paperwork and WW2 documents that I promised the owner I would cherish (from his father) and never sell for a profit. Sometimes sentimentality is more important than profit or upgrading. As for the others, I expect most collectors recognise the fact that if you are going to constantly improve your collection, you are going to have to trade up sometimes, and lose items you love. Just as long as you love the new item more, and it is not just about money. You could sell 3 blades you love, and get one top end item that is a good investment and top quality..but just doesn't "do it for you" at all. The way I see it, we are only holding and preserving these swords for X amount of years anyways, so sometimes some have to go prematurely. But there will always be those items that have a special place in our hearts that would be very difficult to part with. Brian

Hi (name?) Haven't even checked any shoshin mei yet on this one, but at first overall impression it looks very hesitant and not confident. Mei should be flowing like you are signing your own signature, and this doesn't give that impression. Maybe I am wrong, but this one doesn't look like someone was fluent..most like they did it slowly while copying a mei. Am I way off base? Brian

Rough guess, but looks Mino to me, maybe Shinto or later. Brian

I haven't traveled very much at all, but can't say that I felt wiped out the last time I went to Japan. No doubt jetlag affects many people badly, but since I am tired most of the time anyways, I guess I didn't notice the effects too much :lol: From the USA it must be quite enhanced though. Definitely recommend a day or 2 of chilling before jumping into an major activities though, and leaving a whole day to relax and take it easy. Reinhard's suggestion sounds perfect to me. You planning on doing Japan soon Pete? Brian

Thanks Steve, that is definitely one that I am seriously considering. Do you think it is worth spending 3 days in, or would it be best to do it as a single day trip from Tokyo one of the days I am there? While I am at it, does anyone know of any old area in Tokyo that would be good to walk through to find old antiques shops? (You know the type...wall to wall old relics and brick-a-brack...usually some fittings and such hidden away) Most antiques shops I saw there are modern classy sparse places with only top end ceramics and art) Brian

Can anyone assist with some advice? I may be going to Japan over November, and am trying to plan my trip. So far everything except 3 days is planned. I am looking for somewhere to go for 3 days, inbetween Kyoto and Tokyo and surrounds. However I am not necessarily looking for somewhere that is all shrines and temples. That is fairly well taken care of. And it doesn't have to be filled with architecture or hot baths. Basically we love to browse old areas that have lots of dingy little antiques stores that I can spend my days in. I didn't think it existed until last time I found an area of Takayama filled with antiques stores and interesting little shops. So I am hoping there are towns or cities that have old areas with shops like this worth spending a few days in. I don't mind large cities with areas like this, or smaller towns. Something that will keep us occupied for 3 days. Anyone know any places worth visiting? I am considering checking out cities like Kobe, Nagoya, Yokohama or Shizuoka.....but don't know the smaller places worth looking at. Tokyo/Kyoto/Osaka are taken care of. I have thought about Nara, but that might be not worth 3 whole days? Izu area is expensive and will be on a tight budget. Would have to be easy to reach from the shinkansen line btwn Tokyo/Kyoto. So..what advice does anyone have? What is out there for antiques hunting and might be interesting with a little (but not too much) castle/temple vibe? I'm flying blind here, so any info would be appreciated. Brian

Hehe. We aim to please Bob, I am sure someone will assist with a translations shortly, but since learning is the aim of the game, we always encourage members (everyone watching too) to have an attempt at them, no matter how wrong or how much of the translation is attempted. It encourages kanji recognition and learning a bit, and before you know it, many of the symbols will become familiar to you. Not a requirement of course..just a general suggestion to everyone. Rich's page is very helpful at http://www.nihontokanjipages.com ...And of course mention if the info is to be used for commercial sale as some prefer to know in advance. Regards, Brian

So far so good..keep 'em coming. Looks like I may make it too. Busy making arrangements and selling a kidney :lol: Brian

Mumon or mumei, and is there a difference in meaning? Brian

Guido is traveling a bit and heading soon for China, he'll be back shortly Reinhard is being diplomatic I think. The honest answer is that yes, those swords exported with the torokusho attached are exported illegally. If they ever go back to Japan, I doubt they will make the connection to the old license unless it accompanies it, but I wouldn't want to chance it. I wouldn't be happy with a sword that wasn't exported legally. Check that what you have is the original license, as some sellers make a photocopy for the buyer..which may be confused with the original? The original should never leave Japan afaik. Brian

I see Suke/Taka Masa x, but that doesn't make much sense? Brian

Hi. I was just wondering who will be in Tokyo this year for the DTI/Taikai week? Brian

Kevin, Nope, I still don't load the pics, neither from work nor from home. Something very odd with your hosts, yours is the only site that does this. Brian