tokashikibob

Me likey likey! Christmas came early for you Bob!

Great deal, now go and find out more about your buddy's uncle. Make some copies of his WW2 photo's, find out who he was with and where he probably grabbed this sword came from. You will add a lot of value to the antique if you keep it's history together. Best Regards, Bob

Matt, Shitahara, Didn't think to look there, and I had one of those shitahara swirl tanto's a few years ago. Thanks for the tip! Best Regards, Bob

Greg, I am glad you like them! I did my probable last dive of the season last Friday and got a couple of nice 5's and some smaller ones. Let me know if your interested and I'll take some pictures. It's almost Xmas and you need to treat yourself!

For any Japanese history buffs, I was poking around a bit this afternoon for a bit of information on the koshirae of this wak. It seems the mon depicted on the flag is for Korenori Kamei who was a capable fighter and favored by Hideyoshi. Kamei was given Okinawa after Hideyoshi's 1587 campaign in Kyushu. Additionally he was given a golden battle fan as a reward which I think is depicted on the fuchi. Today this fan is missing somewhere between Seoul and Tokyo, so keep a look out, I need it to complete this set! Best regards, Bob http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2998322 In another case of obscured ownership of cultural assets, over four centuries ago, Korean Joseon-era naval commander Adm. Yi Sun-shin seized a golden fan of Hideyoshi Toyotomi, who ordered the Japanese invasions of Korea from 1592 to 1598. This fan was taken from a Japanese vessel following Korea’s victory in the 1592 Battle of Dangpo, a naval skirmish between the two countries. The fan had been a present from Toyotomi to Korenori Kamei, a naval official during the battle who fled once defeat was imminent, leaving behind the fan. The fan was stored in a secret Joseon royal family vault for centuries. But ahead of the 1910 annexation of Korea by Japan, the fan was transferred to the hands of a Japanese architect named Tadasu Sekino. Then it was reported to be passed onto the Japanese imperial family. A Japanese imperial household spokesperson responded to the JoongAng Ilbo’s recent question on the whereabouts of the golden fan: “The person in charge said that the golden fan in question cannot be found.” The Venerable Hyemoon, a Buddhist monk who heads the Committee for the Return of Korean Cultural Property, said, “The golden fan seized by Admiral Yi during the Japanese invasions is not only symbolic but is a great cultural asset that embodies the spirit of our people. At that time, the spoils of war belonged to the victor country, and furthermore, the fan was seized on Joseon soil, thus it should of course belong to Korea.” He added, “Regardless of whether it should be returned or not, it is the responsibility of the Korean government to check with the Japanese imperial household to check if the golden fan seized by Admiral Yi is in its possession.” Kamei Early lifeHis father, Kamei Hidetsuna, was killed in battle against the Mōri clan when the Mōri invaded and seized the Amago clan's lands, leaving no heir to the Kamei name. Korenori then took on this name, and in 1566, together with his brother-in-law, Yamanaka Shikanosuke, to whom he was related by virtue of marrying the younger sister of Shikanosuke's wife, he made efforts to reclaim these lands for the Amago, and to destroy Mōri Motonari and his army. However, the Amago clan fell in 1578, leaving Korenori without his lords; he then entered the service of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. DaimyoReceiving Shikano castle in Inaba province as a reward for his notable service in 1578, Korenori ascended to higher rank as he assisted in Hideyoshi's 1587 invasion of Kyūshū. Interested in earning further fortunes in foreign trade, he requested to obtain lands in the coastal domains of Izumo province, which possessed high quality harbors, in recognition of his past service against the Mōri and other clans of Kyūshū. However, his request was denied, as Izumo had already been given to the Mōri as a part of the truce agreements between the Mōri and Hideyoshi. Korenori then asked for the Ryukyu Islands instead; a paper fan inscribed with the date, Hideyoshi's signature, and the title "Kamei, Lord of Ryukyu" (亀井琉球の守, Kamei Ryūkyū no kami), found by Korean forces on a ship captured during Hideyoshi's invasions of Korea serves as evidence that Hideyoshi at least nominally offered the post to Korenori.[2] However, Hideyoshi had no rightful claim to the islands, which were at the time the independent Ryūkyū Kingdom. Korenori sent a small force to take control of the islands, but was blocked by the Shimazu clan of Satsuma province,[2] who jealously guarded a special relationship, including exclusive trading rights, with the kingdom. Korenori was thus unable to wield any actual claim or control over the islands, and following Hideyoshi's death in 1598, entered the service of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Following the Sekigahara Campaign of 1600, his income was raised from 13,000 to 43,000 koku as a reward for his service to the Tokugawa clan. Korenori died of natural causes in 1612. Korenori's descendants were eventually made daimyo (lords) of the Tsuwano Domain, which they ruled until the Meiji Restoration (1868).

Jeff, Check to see if there are any sword and Armour collections in any nearby Daimyo castles. Worth the trip and usually free. Best regards, Bob

Thanks George! I never would have figured that out on my own!

Thomas, I think they be a set on the samurai theme, not sure what to call the menuki, do you think it is a tobacco bag. The fuchi has a banner with for diamonds, and the other side what seems to be a fan. I did not look up the signature. I'll order some 7mm and rewrap it.

Gentlemen, I've come across a clean wakazashi here, mumei, excellent fittings, nice rich colour tsuba, gold over copper habaki and seppas, kiri yasurime. After some study this afternoon, late Muromachi Mino or maybe Shimada school piece. Am I again way out in left field as always? Best regards, Bob

Fellas, Thank you for the correction, my faulty memory of Japanese after a few days is always showing my Alzheimer's regards to the memory kanji translation. I did do some scouting of Nobukuni's in Markus's book and online before I went and looked at this in person, and thought that the mei had an excellent chance at authentic Oei. Thank you for the tip on the Philly club info I'll contact Mr. Watson to inquire about the binder. Best Regards, Bob

Ok Gents, Here is a oldie, mei looks promising as a OG Tadakuni from my reference books and online. Typical horimono & bohi too. Looks like the tsuka was part of a jindachi-zukuri mounting but the saya disappeared down the road. Very light, and thin, no openings however; good canidate for resto I would think. Best Regards, Bob

Gents, I was on the job this weekend and grabbed a couple of interesting tantos which I'll post later this week. However, one of the dealers came up and asked if I wanted to look at a knife he had in his vehicle and did not know anything about. It was in a Japanese bag and after he unwrapped it, he pulled a very diminutive tanto out which I told him was a women's tanto. Since I don't own a Iphone there are no pictures to share, however it was a marvoleous piece with silver early Edo fittings, silver hair pins, signed kogai, two sided mei signature and date and nice old polish blade. I gave him a generous offer but he must have read my face and decided to think about it for a bit. So I gave him my card and bit my lip. Question to you: Just how rare are women's tanto's? Desirablity in the collectors market? Best regards, Bob

Sal, Nice Wak, congrats on the polish, the hamon looks really wonderful. Anything going on in the hada? Tsuba is nice too!

Nice Sugata! The height of the mune machi shows that this blade may be able to take a good stone polish in the future. Before you lose interest in the project, if you bring it to a future Chicago show maybe you can get a window opened up if there is a polisher on hand and expert opinion on it's merits or lack thereof. Best Regards, Bob

I did see what looks to be fine Nugga Wagga if you magnify the photo.

Jean, I didn't take any pictures except for the hagire before sending it back to the seller, it was in a clean old polish with with lots of nie and sunagashi. It was a steal until the hagire reared it's head. Here a couple more low kb photo's from online. Best Regards, Bob

It was a great looking blade with much complex hataraki to look at... until I saw the hairline crack. Anyway I wound not be surprised to see it online again so save yourself some trouble and remember the pictures. Best Regards, Bob

Fellas, In case you see this relisted again, unfortunately it has a fine hagire. Best Regards, Bob

Bravo!

Gents, I want to pass along the great service and quality antiques I recently purchased from NMB member Mr. Nash purveyor of saltwood antiques. He provided a super nice shishi menuki (better than the one on the opposite side of the tsuka) and a shishi kozuka to finish out this probable Mino tanto. Best Regards, Bob http://saltwoodanitiques.wix

Very nice find Wouter! I enjoyed the story. There were many battles prior to WW2 were the Russians and Japanese went at it in the far east, he probably earned that sword at Port Arthur. I would name the sword "Shinda Buta" just like Blackthorne's "Oil Seller". Best Regards, Bob

I'd send it back to the shrine for a replacement, they stand behind their product like Ginsu.

Very nice Shamsy, It's my opinion you were probably very fortunate not to have sold it at the fair it looks like a keeper.

Gents, Reposting due to non-payer, in case anyone needs a police for the collection. Best Regards, Bob http://www.ebay.com/itm/WW2-Japanese-Police-Katana-Rare-Unique-and-hard-to-find-Imperial-era-sword-/191614893418?ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT

Gentlemen, I think I have this wrapped up, I'm going to send this for shinsa papers to N.T.L.S. (Nippon To Lance Shamsy). I came across a weblink that had the near exact same koshirae even down to the snap back, same as this Masterpiece has. It was written by Clive Sinclaire. And guess what? His theory was that Amahide's shop also made sword parts as his write up was on a Amahide blade and it's odd koshirae. Link provided. http://www.to-ken.com/full.php?article=sr000120&type=swordRegister Also, here is a another compare of a wild hada Amahide with no desernable nie. http://www.nihontoantiques.com/archive/fss188.htm I do think that this is so close to Lance's examples on page 1, other Amahide shop makes online, and the Clive Sinclaire's Amahide koshirae article about wraps it up. Plus as first mentioned the quality of the blade is too impressive in hand. Questions I think about are why did it not get signed? I would think if chinese made it would have had a fake mei. And how often are glued on tsukas encountered? Lance and Shamsy next show drinks are on me!