Drago

Hi, well, the title says it all. Is it possible to buy originals found in Japan. Or is trade in them forbidden for cultural/historical protection reasons? If it is possible to buy, can you give me some sources?

Ah, sorry about this, but... Could you please fill me in on what "okashi-to" are and perhaps post some pics? Thanks.

Hi, what material should a fukusa used for holding a blade be made from? Cotton, pure silk, artificial silk? And can Tea Ceremony fukusa be used? I'd like to get a fukusa from Japan but need help for the material first. BEFORE you say anything: I know that perhaps an old clean cloth handkerchief and other things can be used, but for some things I'd like be g o with the traditional stuff. It is hard to use acetone on my blade for cleaning sometimes, but I won't go any further. Thanks

Take a look at this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/161095075979 What do you make of the signature? Did the smith screw up and abandon it, failed attempt at gimei, what?

Hi, Every since I bought my first Katana, I have been looking for a nice bag. I have a rough cotton or linnen storage bag, but nothing representative. Well, so I thought perhaps I could make one myself. Thing is, I have no idea how they are made. So it'd be nice if anyone could answer these questions: 1. usual size for a katana (or how much usually longer than overall katana length) 2. location of the seams 3. padding/single layer cloth/double leyer cloth 4. average location of the loop for the string to tie it Perhaps some photos inside out would help too if anyone finds the time... Thank you very very much.

I had never heard of that before until I saw a tea cup on eBay that was fixed in this matter a couple of weeks ago. It certainly is an interesting practice. You know, I dropped my favorite sake cup recently. It was only worth 2 or three bucks but still, if I could fix it like that I might do it.

The larger symbols read 平和の光 (heiwa no hikari) "The Light of Peace" The upper (right) line - 富士山頂上x破記念 "Mount Fuji summit xx memorial" (there is one missing, I recognize 沓 but I can't figure out the radical...) The lower (left) line - 海拔三七七六米 "altitude 3776 meters"

Hi, This is the third time (I think) the seller listed this. Ever since the first time I've been wondering what the sukashi symbol means. Is it a mon? http://www.ebay.com/itm/161105901407 Thanks.

I noticed that blade as well. The signature is interesting! It is signed "Bizen Nagamitsu" - Rich Stein has no oshigata or even mention of this. Perhaps he could add this one to his site if the seller doesn't mind. Sig looks genuine from the strokes. Hamon seems a bit simple, but isn't it possible this is just from the photos?

Isn't this done in accordance with Japanese sword laws? If people find a sword they do not wish to register or if a non-traditional sword is found they have to be destroyed, i.e. cut down to a certain blade length. I think that's what happened here.

Just to be sure I get what you mean. You're talking about the forked tail? Never seen something like that but the idea seems very interedsting.

@Adam: Yes, something like that. @Malcolm: Oh, never heard of that.

Hi, I'm sorry I do not have any pictures. But I hope my description is clear enough. I've seen some katana that have very small tsuba, almost tanto sized tsuba. They are only a little larger than the fuchi and koiguchi. I'm not talking about aikuchi koshirae. Only example that comes to mind right now: If anyone watches the "Yae no Sakura" Drama, Saigo's katana is like that I think. What is this koshirae style called (if it is one) and does it have a special purpose? Thanks.

So... Does this mean that you should fight bravely so your cowardice doesn't bring dishonor on you family?

Isn't Abe here the clan's name (like a family name)? "Bungo no kami" is a title. Denyaku however might really be a title.

Hi, Is there something like this. I know that in Europe and America there are sources that can tell you that in 1920 a loaf of bread cost a certain amount of dollars/mark/pound... Could you please point me to websites that tell me what product in Japan cost a long time ago? For example something like (I made this one up): in 1860 you could buy 1 masu of sake for 100 mon and a mid-sized tansu for 5 bu.

After doing something like this before: 1. The end cap has a nail in the middle of the flower, remove that and the cap will slide off. 2. The hanger: Take a piece of wood and a hammer, put it at the hanger from the mouth side of the saya and start hammering away. It will take a lot of time. Be careful not to hammer at the ring or ring-holder, otherwise these will become loose or even fall off. BUT: DON'T do this if you just want to do a new paintjob! It's almost impossible to put the hanger back on without scratching the paint!

Hmm... My idea would be this: He made a small hole in the flower areas and started filing. When he was done, he covered the holes by inlaying the flowers or "hammering" material over the holes...

I mailed him a few times over the last months and always added the @. No reply.

So this is what, some sort of mono no aware heroism thing?

EDIT: Found it: http://www.nihonto.com.au/html/tsu371_skull_tsuba.html Awesome, isn't it? There also is this, but if really looks strange: http://www.nihonto.com.au/html/tsu448_skull_tsuba.html Anyway, what is that skull motive about? Is that something like the European Baroque "memento mori" or is this purely decorative?

I have the same problem as well, he never replied. The mail didn't bounce back though.

I've "seen" a few Nagamitsu blades and my impression is that the longer the mei is, the higher the quality is.

Awesome! So we know of three dated blades, from Dec 1943 and Jan+Oct 1944 (or Dec 44 if there was a mistake). EDIT: This is odd: I don't doubt your signature, but did you notice the difference in writing the dates? In the Slough example he uses the formal kanji of the numbers and SAI for year, but on your blade he uses the simple form. I wonder if there is any meaning behind that.

Rich is here (but I can't remember his username ) As for what the castle mention in the mei might mean: It doesn't just say "jo", but it says "jo no shita" (in your your first pic that kanji in the middle where there seems to be s small space) which can be interpreted as "under the castle" or "in the castle's shadow" The Bizen sig (and considering that yours doesn't have number) is probably his "private signature", in other words used not for gunto made for the military but for private purchase blades. I know yours is in Gunto mounts, but it could still have been privately purchased, not made for the military. I think his workshop might have been near the castle, that's why he used that signature. The sword on Rich's site is dated Dec 43, yours Oct 43. Unfortunately, Rich didn't include the date in his pictures. EDIT: Show 19 is 1944, not 1943 If anyone has Slough or other reference books: I know that an oshigata of a dated blade was printed there. But this is just my opinion. There is hardly any information available on Nagamitsu besides what Rich already wrote on his site.