Yoshimichi

I picked up this o-suriagi waki really cheap with another sword in a "package deal" at a local gun show this weekend. It is in a wooden katana gunto saya, with a few gunto mounts with it. It has a folded over "orikaeshi-mei." It appears to be signed: "Bishu Osafune Sukesada." The blade is in serious need of restoration, but I will likely not be the one to take on that project. I have read that blades with gakumei or orikaeshi-mei are often gimei, and that many blades signed simply "Bishu Osafune Sukesada" tend to be somewhat mass produced or "bundled" swords of lessor quality, but not always. However, before I just write this one off as a "metal tsunagi," or let a potentially decent "blade in the rough" become a beginning sword polisher's weekend practice piece, I would like to first get some input from the NMB members as to whether the mei looks genuine enough to warrant further study and/or even the expense of a stateside shinsa. I am fairly well out of my element when it comes to Bizen blades, and given that there appears to be a "herd" of Sukesada smiths, any input or thoughts the more knowlegable members have as to the potential genuiness of this mei is greatly appreciated. Regards, Bill E. Sheehan (Yoshimichi)

Dear Barry and Guido: Thanks so much for the great photos of the DTI, and the pictures of the usual fellow foreign collectors who converge on Japan every year for this exceptional nihonto show and memorable time for all. I have loaded up a few photos that I took. Les Dorfman seems to be the most photographed person at this year's show. It seems everyone has a psicture of Les. I too was a bit "sticker shocked" by the asking prices at this year's show. However, I was only in Japan for five days total this trip, and I had to leave Japan on the first day of the DTI (10/25), so I was only able to attend the show for about three hours (hardly enough) before I had to get ready to leave and head to the airport for the flight home. I suspect the dealers would have been a bit more willing to negotiate more on their prices had I been able to attend on Sunday, the last day of the show, when one would anticipate a bit more tendency on the part of the dealers to discount some of their unsold items. On Friday, I was only able to negotiate some minor disounts on the asking prices for the things I purchased, but I was very happy with all of the purchases. I was able to pick up a hambo style mempo for around $300 U.S., four (4) nice sized sukashi arrowheads for my collection (very pleased), and a nice fuchi/kashira set in shakudo, with nanako and tendril backgound, with gold coiled dragons to go with a similar design kogai/kozuka set I picked up at this year's S.F. Token Kai. The asking price on the F/K was around $850 U.S., and the dealer readily accepted my approimate $700 U.S. offer. The asking price on the arrowheads was around $750 U.S., and the dealer accepted about $700 U.S. As always, it was great fun again, a fantastic show, more than well worth it to be able to attend the DTI and spend time in Japan, even for the brief time I was there. It was great to see Robert Hughes, Fred Weissberg, Paul, Les, Dan Burns, Mike Yamazaki, and all of the others who attended this year's DTI. I was in a Kyoto sword shop the day before the DTI, and I met a U.S. beginning sword collector there. He was returning to Tokyo the next day, and I encouraged him to attend the DTI. I had an extra copy of the DTI address and show calendar with me that I was able to give him. Hopefully, he made it to the show. I hpe to attend this next years show. Thanks again for the photos, everyone.

It was another great time for all in S.F. at this year's Token Kai. The members of the NCJSC did another stellar job. Kudos to Fred Weissberg, Mike Krause, Mike Yamazaki, Tom Helm, and everyone else who worked so hard to make this one of the best Japanese sword shows outside of Japan. Tom Helm and the NTHK shinsa team ran a very smooth and top notch shinsa. By discussions with the folks running the shinsa, and polling people who submitted items for shinsa, it appears that there was a less than 50% pass rate. There were a lot of great items for sale, and the prices seemed very reasonable. I was able to pick up a couple of really nice items to add to my collection, and I sold almost everything I brought to the show to sell. Everyone seemed willing to cut deals on items for sale, so there were definitely some bargains to be had. Bravo to everyone who helped put on this year's show! Looking forward to next year's show. Regards, Bill E. Sheehan (Yoshimichi)

Dear John and Piers: Thanks so much for the translation help on this one. I will definitely check out Kunikata. I knew the members would come through. Best regards, Bill E. Sheehan (Yoshimichi)

Dear Piers and Moriyama san: I have attached a close up of the first two kanji in hopes that it makes it a little easier to translate and/or confirm Sashu (Satsuma) as the province. Thanks again for you help. Regards, Bill E. Sheehan (Yoshimichi)

Dear Moriyama san and Piers: Thanks for the replies. Moriyama san: I very much appreciate the province identification. Piers: I agree. It's wishful thinking to load one photo and expect to give anyone a reasonable shot at translating a mei. I was able to take a few more photos like you suggested, isolating the first two and last two kanji. I am hoping these make it easier to translate this mei. I have added a picture of the yari blade, which needs polishing. It came with a black, wooden flat yari saya. Any assistance you or the other members can provide in identfying the smith is greatly appreciated. Thanks again. Best Regards, Bill E. Sheehan (Yoshimichi)

I am having difficulty identifying the province name, and the last kanji in this small yari mei. I believe the mei might read: "(something [bishu?]) Fujiwara Kuni (something [Tomo? Kata? Tsugu?]" If it helps identify the smith or province where this may have been made, I purchased this in Kyoto. The yari blade is 4-3/4 inches long, 5/8ths inches wide at the base, and a three-sided triagular shape. The nakago is 15-5/8ths inches long, and the yari is 20-1/2 inches long from point to the end of the nakago. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Best regards, Bill E. Sheehan (Yoshimichi

I have both purchased from and sold items to Maruyama san over a number of years (since around 1978), and I have had only good experiences with him in those dealings. At one time in the recent past, he told me he had a small shop in Japan where he sells various collectable items, and he travels back and forth to Japan quite frequently. Whether that is still the case is unclear. However, if it is the case, I suspect his frequent travels back and forth to Japan, and his access and connections with sellers and dealers both in Japan and the U.S., afford him an opportunity to acquire the numerous items that he sells on Ebay. In my past dealings with him, I have always found him very forthcoming and accurate in his description of his items, and reasonable in his asking price for items he sells. I would not be hesitant or concerned about purchasing items from him myself. He usually attends the S.F. Token Kai one day each year, and this would be a good opportunity for other collectors who have not met him before to meet him, to introduce yourself, discuss Nihonto, and to get to know him first hand. Hope to see everyone at this year's S.F. Token Kai. Regards, Bill E. Sheehan (Yoshimichi)

Dear Brian: Here's a few more photos of the 2012 Dai Token Ichi festivities. Regards, Bill E. Sheehan

Dear Brian: My first attempt at loading up multiple photos failed miserably. We'll try this again. Regards, Bill E. Sheehan

Dear Brian: Attached are some photos of the DTI. As usual, it was incredible. I just wish the dollar was strong enough to make it easier to purchase some of the great stuff at the show. These are just a few photos of the show. Regards, Bill E. Sheehan

I have not yet had the pleasure of attending Robert's Yakatabune cruise event in the past, but I hope to attend this year's event. We have all seen the photographs of the previous cruises and revelry, courtesy of those members who attended in the past. It truly looks like the cruise has indeed become legendary and the highlight of everyone's trip to Japan. I am looking forward to it. Unfortunately, I will be arriving in Japan the afternoon of the 24th, and I will be unable to attend the Kamakura sword study session, which sounds like an incredible event! Hope to see everyone in Japan in October. Best Regards, Bill E. Sheehan

Mark I used to collect Yoshimichi blades, and during that time, I compiled every oshigata I could find on the various generations of Yoshimichi smiths (Osaka and Mishina) found in the taikans, and those that received papers. I looked at the oshigata collection book I have with the various oshigata in it, and your mei appears to me to be most similar to the shodai Osaka Yoshimichi examples that I have, rather than the 3rd generation smith. I have a copy of page 142 out of either the Shinto Taikan or the Osaka Shinto Taikan (not sure which one) in my oshigata collection, which shows oshigata examples listed as numbers 3 and 4. Look at number 4. If you have access to the Shinto or Osaka Shinto Taikan and that page number, you may want to take a look at page 142 and see what you think. Obviously, a picture of a oshigate/mei alone in a book is insufficient to make any real kantei assessment, but it is at least a starting point. Maybe one of the far more knowledgable members can comment on whether your mei could possibly be that of the shodai Osaka Yoshimichi. If you would like, I would be happy to scan you a copy of all the oshigata I have for the Shodai. Just send me an email at besheehan@aol.com. Good luck. Best regards Bill E. Sheehan

This year's S.F. Token Kai was indeed spectacular! There were an abundance of incredible fittings, koshirae and swords for the viewing and purchase. Some interesting pieces came in the door from the public, sparking a lot of interest among some of the dealers. As Grey mentioned, there were a number of interesting and rare books for sale, and overall, everyone was fairly willing to work with the buyers on the purchase price. The food was great, the interaction and learning opportunities stellar, and kudos to Fred and Mike for another great show, as always. It was especially nice to have Robert Hughes, and his artisan friends in attendance, along with Tsuruta-san. This show set the bar higher. I can't wait to attend next year's show. Bravo!!! Hope to see some of the same faces at this year's Dai token Ichi. Best regards, Bill E. Sheehan

Robert: Very pleased to hear you will be attending at this year's S.F. Token Kai. You always add to the fun and the learning opportunity for all of us. Look forward to seeing you at the S.F. show, and in Japan at this year's DTI. Bill E. Sheehan

A number of great photographs again, Guido! The Yakatabune dinner looks like it was a really great time. Wish I was there. Robert. Great job organizing the event. Hope you do it again next year. If so, I will definitely be there. Thanks for sharing the DT I with us.

Great DTI photographs, Guido! For those of us who could not make the trip this year, it is great to see Robert Hughes and Fred Weissberg and the regulars enjoying the show. Great armor photographs!I will definitely make sure to be there next year. Again, thanks for sharing the show with us.