Keichodo

Dai Token Ichi 2011 Special Events Yakatabune Tokyo Bay Cruise with dinner party (including the all-you-can -drink arrangement) Date: October 29th Saturday Time: approximately 6:30 - 9:00 p.m. Boat departure at 6:30. Meet at 6:20 Cost per participant: Japanese yen 10,500 Departure point: Near Shinagawa Station Attendance by advanced reservation only because the minimum number of guests to charter the cruise ship is 20! Please contact Robert Hughes (keichodo@yahoo.com). The number of participants must be confirmed 3 days in advance of event as this includes a fabulous seated meal of sashimi, tempura and other treats. A reservation is a full-commitment to attend i.e. payment required. Please make your reservation before October 26th. This is a great social opportunity to meet the who's who of sword fanatics. See website: http://www.funasei.com Kamakura Sword Study Session, Dinner Party, and Kamakura tour! Dates: October 26th Wednesday and 27th Thursday Location: Kamigo Mori No Ie (Japanese style inn) on the border of Yokohama and Kamakura Website: http://www.kamigou-morinoie.org/ Cost per participant: Yen 20,000 (including accommodation w/lunch/dinner/breakfast, sword study session, Kamakura tour). If interested in only the sword study and BBQ lunch (no accommodation or evening meal) yen 7,500 Participation by advanced reservation only, made in advance by contacting Robert Hughes (keichodo@yahoo.com) Deadline for reservation October 12th, 2011 Minimum number of participants: ten Sword Study with Nagamasa Ikeda, an expert sword polisher and sword researcher. His father was a famous sword authority with numerous book publications. Ikeda Sensei is a fun-loving guy with a high tolerance for alcoholic beverages. This study session will begin with an informal introductory level kantei session (with various levels of assistance if needed) to distinguish the five main schools and the related swordsmiths. Detailed lecture/discussion of the kantei pieces will follow. Lunch will be a Japanese-style BBQ at the outdoor BBQ site (weather permitting). The evening meal will be a beautifully arranged Japanese meal of assorted delicacies. Kamigo Mori No Ie is situated near the border of Kamakura and Yokohama. It has hotspring water baths (onsen) and is nestled in a forest (as the name in Japanese suggests). The basic plan is for participants to arrive on Wednesday morning at Kamakura Station at 9:30, proceed to the venue on a chartered bus and begin the sword study at 10:00 a.m.. On Thursday, a tour of selected sites in Kamakura will be given.

Greetings everyone, Here are additional details: The yakatabune event is organized through the company Funasei. Their web page has an English explanation but unfortunately, the map is on the Japanese version of the website only. It appears under the panel of the word "access" written in katakana. I will provide maps at the Dai Token Ichi with some English information so that no one gets lost (before the departure). What happens afterward, well, let's wait and see ........ Anyway, I will leave the DTI at 6:10 with anyone who needs a guide to the departure location which is near Shinagawa Station. Taikeido is offering an auction on November 3rd beginning at 1:00 p.m. A preview of the lots is possible on Saturday, October 30th and Sunday, October 31st from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. An exhibition party will be held on October 30th, Saturday from 7:00 p.m. (complimentary food and drinks). Auction catalogs and location maps can be picked up at the Taikedo stall at the DTI. You can leave your name with Taikedo if you intend to attend the party. The venue for the preview, party and auction is called Matsuya Annex Building, Ginza Conference Rooms, Ginza 3-7-10, Chuo-ku Tokyo. (Note: this is not at the Taikeido Sword Shop) The venue is not too far from the DTI. I am not sure what time the party will end but probably around 8:30 or so, which leaves plenty of time to get into mischief somewhere else ..... Regards, Robert

Hi there sword friends, The yakatabune event is shaping up nicely with 24 brave souls already on the list. This should almost be enough people to entice Guido to do one of his infamous burlesque dances, the kimono peeler. All in all, it promises to be good fun and just remember a clean fully functional liver is highly over-rated. I will be posting additionally information about the Saturday Taikeido auction viewing/reception as soon as the details are revealed to me. It might even be possible to hook up later with Pierre's group if they are in Ginza or Shimbashi. Sunday with Gordon and the NTHK looks very rewarding. Yes, you can have it all! Regards, Robert

Greetings NMB readers, Re: catalog tanslations The printing of the translation comes out much later than the actual catalog as the catalog takes priority. The translation is just a courtesy for foreign visitors who have yet to master kanji signatures. Generally, the translations are available at the show. The translation booklets are not intended to go with every catalog, but are available on request. Hisashi Saito and I share the translation workload. Having said this, I will see if I can make the electronic data available to forward by e-mail, in addition to requesting hard copies from our association to distribute to interested parties. Regards, Robert

Hi everyone, Those folks who do not imbibe but can tolerate the whimsical nonsense of those who do imbibe, are most welcome to attend. There will be plenty of non-alcoholic beverages as well. Regards, Robert Hughes

Greetings NMB users, Hope everyone is well in sword collector land! For those who will visit Japan for the DTI, I would like to give a quick uddate regarding the possibility of serious debauchery. Two events are currently in the works. 1. Friday, October 29th A Yakatabune dinner cruise on Tokyo Bay with a splendid meal of sashimi, tempura, and extras. Of course this includes the all-you-can drink option. Meeting time will be 6:40 at the Shinagawa pier with departure at 7:00 p.m. The boat will be a chartered arrangement (with a minimum of twenty guests). The cost is yen 10,500 per participant (the meal is superior quality and the booze never stops flowing). Guido will be dressed as a pirate and will be allowed to navigate the ship after he has consumed his nightly limit of eight litres of beer. If you would like to attend this event, I would ask that you send me an email at by October 25th. Payment should be made to me at my DTI stall prior to 1:00 p.m. on Friday, October 29th. Maps will be available at my stall. This is strictly reserved seating, so once you have given your name to attend, I will anticipate your payment. 2. Saturday night, October 30th. Auction viewing and reception. Mr. Aoki, the proprietor of Taikeido, a sword shop in Tokyo is holding a sword and fittings auction on Wednesday, November 3rd which is a national holiday in Japan. All overseas visitors are invited to attend the viewing of items and a reception on the 30th, as well as the auction on the 3rd. Additional details will be available later. After the reception, which is in Ginza, an opportunity will exist to go out and get further polluted. Regards, Robert Hughes