John A Stuart

Papers look so authentic don't they and the price is so reasonable. :lol: John

Hi Reinier, I have some swords on the wall but most in tansu. A few Japanese adventurers that paddle down the Mackenzie River to the Beaufort Sea have seen it and has been a good way to break the ice. Thankfully, most visitors had a good grasp of English. What is strange to me is that for the most part they were not as enamoured of artifacts of their heritage as others appeared to be. I guess it is too commonplace when new experiences were being sought, they were more interested in my grizzly fur parka, Inuit art and walrus ivory. I have the window of that room covered with stainless steel expanded metal and the only door has four locks. When I leave for extended time I put the most valuable of my pieces in the gun safe. My collection of western swords I keep on display for the most part but my nihonto tucked away in shirasaya in bags and koshirae separately bagged. John

Thanks again Rich, I'm back at work so have no books. 7 months to go!! Kawaji makes sense. Kouchi meant only 'inner circle' to me and confusing. John

Certainly has similarities. The Masasada part of the mei seems fairly different but may be within normal changes over time. The use of sparse gold accents is close too. John

Hi Steve, I,ve seen a few roadshows Canadian and the American and British versions that have had Nihonto, Netsuke and various metalwork appraised that were valued very low. One sword in koshirae was evaluated by a lady from New York on the American show that skipped over the sword and evaluated the koshirae only, badly. It is still a small community. John

Yes, Kanenobu fits much better. Milt I left out the (no) in haste and to be grammatically correct should be included. John

Noshu ju Kanesada. John

I think you have nailed it. John

I thought I would add a pic to make this more interesting and provide more background. John

With great imagination I can picture lace knickers, I have been back to work a couple of weeks, but seriously the cut out below the nakago-ana looks like a representation of the trunk or large branch of the plum tree, which can be quite gnarly, with blossoms in varying degrees of maturity going up from it. John

Hi All, I have a Ji-sukashi tsuba signed Choshu ju Masasada that is supposed to be in the Kouchi school work. I have not run across this school before and wish to know a little about it, if some one is familiar with it. I will not be able to access my references for another 6 months or so, back to work, so bear with me, thanks. John

Hi, If you check the links section above you will find some gentlemen that will broker your swords fees, paperwork, etc. to Japan and back. ei. B Benson and M Beccera, others I am not omitting on purpose. John

I agree with Pete in this case that it is a naginata naoshi, due to its length. John

Malcolm's book is a great reference I use frequently and it is a great resource site as well. He and Sueko deserve kudos. John

Une bon mot Jean, 'mercy'. John

Great detective work Ludolf. That's what makes this fun. John

Hi Milt, Yes, it was the interlocked pattern that I liked. Celtic in a way. John

Ah, I see. Thanks, Rich

Sorry Milt, With the new system you can't tell who's toes you may be treading on. John

I guess so. You would think the hitsuana would be indicative although it seems maybe the kogaiana was altered. John

Hi All, I was wondering (again) if those who are going to the DTI wanted to pool resources and see if we could get group rates at say the Ginza Dai Ichi before they are all booked up. $200 a night. Most hotels in the Ginza Shimbashi area are around that and up. Unless you go to those business mens hotels. They are OK for a night or two but having guests is tough. I just informed work that when my current season's contract is up Oct 20 I will be gone. They gave me no argument so it's on. John

Hi All, I was wondering if anyone had seen a design repeated on both sides that had a difference in width of inlay like this. John

Hi Nigel, I just took that as a strange 'nen' kanji. John

Hi Koichi-san, Thanks for the pic. That seems familiar but never really noticed they were hakama. I must say I prefer kimono on women without them. John

Hi BD, I read Echigo ? Kanesada. The 3rd kanji looks like kami. Echigo no Kami Kanesada. It is in the database above. John Is that Tenwa 3rd year 1683, 2nd month ?