Shugyosha

Dear all, I opted for the paperback version and my copy arrived this morning so here goes with my first impressions - apologies if it's a bit rambling. As regards the size of the book, it is actually a little shorter and a little wider than A4 size. This isn't a gripe as the size enables (in most cases) four good-sized photographs and a description of each tsuba to fit on each page (though some contain two or three where where Grev has picked out particular tsuba for a particular attention). The tsuba are not to scale, but dimensions are provided and photographs are all in colour and are very clear and detailed. In most cases they are of the omote of the tsuba alone, though some of the more interesting tsuba are shown both front and back, though I suspect also that this may be linked to the number of examples of a particular school in the museum's collection - for example there are lots of Namban tsuba (omote only) but only six Tanaka tsuba (ura and omote). The book is well indexed: schools are shown in alphabetical order from Akao to Yanagawa and in ascending date order within each school. Grev has included some commentary on the history and style of each school at the start of the relevant section. There are additional sections that deal with tsuba in the museum's collection that do not fit into the headings of a particular school such as those that are utsushi, shiiremono, modern tsuba (the sharp-eyed among you will spot a couple of shodai Hallam ryu examples) or tsuba "in the style of" certain schools or artists. In the case of signed tsuba, (with the exception of those that are gimei), the artists are linked to the index in Haynes and there is a useful section with enlarged photographs of the mei and this is cross-referenced to the full pictures of the tsuba. All in all I feel that it is a very well thought out and presented book with sufficient breadth to appeal to those who are at the start of their tsuba collecting, or who dabble occasionally like myself, but also some depth to attract the more experienced collector in terms of good pictures of tsuba from well-respected schools that have been hidden away until now and sample signatures of their makers. Again, congratulations to Grev on bringing this work to fruition and for bringing the museum's collection to light, which I do feel is a very worthy endeavour. :clap: :beer:

左近将監 Sakon Shōgen is an honorary title according to Markus Sesko's book so Matt nailed it. Apparently it was a court rank: "Lieutenant of the Left Division of Inner Palace Guards".

Hi Matt, This is as far as I got. I'm not sure it makes any sense and I'm not looking to contradict you, but I'll post it in case there is anything you can do with it... 金房化近將? 正重

Hi Ed, Maybe Kanabo Masashige. The first two characters may be Kanabo (金房), but I'm not convinced that I've identified the first one correctly. I can't make anything sensible from the remainder, though some clearer photographs might take things further. Being honest, I think you're going to have to wait for the heavy hitters to contribute. Best, John

I think it's a typo - whoever put the web page together missed a digit in the price, probably a "2" from the front...it'll be an interesting one to watch.

Hi Robert, Sorry, I somehow missed that it was a wakizashi... In other news, there's a Sengo Masashige here: http://nihonto.com/1.4.15.html And Aoi sold one within the last six months (I think): https://www.aoijapan.net/tanto-masashige-saku-sengo/ I'm not sure if the logic stacks up, but to my thinking a Muramasa tanto should go for more than one by his student so the Masashige prices might start to point you towards a low-end price for the Muramasa. But I might be talking crap... Best, John

Looks like Aoi will have one for sale presently... https://www.aoijapan.com/appraisal-quiz-445

There are other possibilities in Markus Sesko's book beginning with the 大 kanji, but again (for me) they don't quite tie up in terms of relating these kanji to what remains of the shapes on the tang: 大脇毛 - O Wakige - "armpit hair". 大雁骨 – O Karigane - a cut across the shoulder blades. 大毛ナシ - O Kenashi - large no hair cut. Yep, that's what it says in the book. However, I think it is heading in the right direction to assume that the first three kanji relate to the type of cut. Also the combination 切 手"kirite" is one that appears in a number of the inscriptions in Markus's book meaning "cut through" which might link in to what Ray has already. Unfortunately, that's all I can offer apart from apologies if I'm going over stuff that's obvious. Best, John

Thanks for posting Michael, it's been fun trying to work out an answer. I'm backing Thomas: I found a thread on here posted by PaulB on the Aoe school and the hada was the best match I've found so far...in fact I'll go (way, way, way) out on a limb and say Chu Aoe as there isn't much by way of sumegane in Michael's picture.

Hi John, I got 望 - bou - wish, hope, desire, aspiration, expectation. So maybe "in response to Mr Akiyama's wishes" might work as a translation - but it's the sort of thing that really gives me a headache and I wouldn't argue the toss if someone said something different. Best, John

Hi Dennis, I just "liked" your post. Did that help improve your rating? Hi Paul, I hope the edit takes care of it. Best, John

Maybe Akiyama?? 秋山 Best, John

Thanks Jean - I've got to learn to look harder.

I'll take a punt at the kissaki again: it looks a lot more healthy in Aoi's oshigata when compared to that in the Juyo papers but for me the light/ dark photograph that highlights the nioi guchi isn't sufficiently clear in this area for me to tell if it's hadori or something more.

Order placed!! Well done Grev. Really looking forward to a good read - I'll give it a review on here once I get it.

Hi Erick, No harm done - welcome to the forum and to the weird and wacky world of Nihonto. Apologies to you - I didn't mean to sound harsh. I just saw your swords on the other thread and I hope that you enjoy them - you've done pretty well for starters IHMO. I certainly did far worse. Kind regards, John

Hi, I still don't know your name. I wasn't being "passive aggressive" or even aggressive, I did after all provide the information that you requested and some thanks would have been polite. How about re-posting your thread in the Izakaya as there are a number if Iai practitioners on the forum and you will perhaps get the information you want there.

Hi, Sorry to seem unwelcoming but: 1. We are interested in traditionally made Japanese swords on here rather than martial arts swords; and 2. we require a name as well as a handle. As regards your shinken, you have all the information already - the tang reads Noshu Kane Sada saku - made in the province of Mino by Kanesada. Best, John

Is Aoi still in Ginza? I thought I read that he was moving to a new property...

Hi Kubur, Marcus Sesko's Swordsmiths of Japan lists three makers signing in this way so it may be one of them: MORITSUNE (盛常), Eishō (永正, 1504-1521), Kaga – “Moritsune” (盛常) MORITSUNE (盛常), Kyōroku (享禄, 1528-1532), Bungo – “Moritsune” (盛常), “Hōshū-jū Takada Moritsune saku” (豊州住高田盛常作), “Moritsune saku” (盛常作), Taira-Takada school MORITSUNE (盛常), Eiroku (永禄, 1558-1570), Bungo – “Hōshū Takada-jū Taira Moritsune” (豊州高田住平盛常), “Taira Moritsune” (平盛常), Taira-Takada school, itame mixed with masame and shirake, gunome-midare in ko-nie-deki with a compact nioiguchi. That said, my initial feeling was that the blade was later than this but if you want to post some better pictures of the blade itself including any activity in the edge and tip then you might get some better views than mine. Best, John

Suriage kanbun shinto??

Thanks Matt. Best, John

Brass tsuba: 鶴鳴 街 Tsuruga machi 改次 Masatsugu I think this is correct but I'd be grateful for any correction if I'm mistaken.

東都住貞恒 Toto Ju Sadatsune (I believe).

章孝 Aki taka + Kao There's only one in Haynes: "H00073.0. Died 1854; NTS: iron tsuba carved and inlaid with blooming lotus plants".