Ian B3HR2UH

Thanks for posting Axel . I too could not believe that the seppa were so poorly fitted ..As Curran says the whole koshirae is probably put together ( as so many of Aoi's seem to be. ) Ian Brooks

Surely that is because the mounts are low quality rubbish ! It must be intended to be a Tokugawa mon even if they didn't get the details right . The tourists would never know the difference anyway. Ian brooks

There is an article on Saigo's swords in programme 126 of the Token Society of Great Britain . It is a translation of an article by Fukunaga Suiken .The Saigo families sword record book apparently lists 63 blades ranging from high to poor quality . Amongst the former are a Rai Kunitoshi , three Muramasa ( although only one is signed ) and an orikaeshi mei Nobukuni . The Nobukuni is described as the Gunto which Saigo Takamori used to wear during the Meiji revolution . I guess this is possibly some sort of kyu gunto mount .It interested me that even an apparently modest samurai family would have that many blades. Ian Brooks

Hi George , I checked my records and find that I have had two swords with mon on them and Showa blades . The first was a Kai gunto . Its handle had large same ,a beautiful flat wrapped ito and a mon on the kabuto gane . I expected something pretty good to be in it but when I pulled ithe blade out it was a showa piece signed Noshu seki ju takayama Yoshinao complete with a showa stamp ! The second piece was a shingunto with the owners name Yoshida on the kabuto gane . It came with a tag giving his details !st Lt Yoshida South East Artillery HQ . The blade by Kanekuni was dated 1941 and was complete with a Seki stamp . It seems to me that they are an unusual combination as if you had enough money to have a mon added you would probably want a better blade in your sword . There was a thread show us your top gunto or something to that effect . Davids example above looks to have some real quality about it and leaves many that were posted there way behind it . Regards Ian Brooks

Iit doesn't even look to be properly fitted , looks like someone has shoved part of an habaki in there . Ian Brooks

Dave , I think that the dragon menuki are of lower quality than the other pieces and will only detract from the piece if you put them on it . I agree with Grey that the fuchi and Kashira are mismatched . Ian Brooks

Neil , I am fairly sure that Evans was an English rather than a US corporal . The Brits were in Malaya not the Americans . Maj General Churcher was an English officer . The letters RASC after Evans's name indicate that he was in the Royal Army Service Corps The scratched Japanese characters on the brass fittings read Tatsuyama which is probably the surname of the swords actual owner . Soldiers who had a sword sometimes wanted to know what they had and approached English speaking Japanese for advice . Not wishing to admit ignorance about swords the Japanese told them a story . I have seen a few of these attributions and it is clear that at least some of the people giving the attribution didn't know much . I suspect that that is the case here . Still you are fortunate to have all of this paperwork For what it is worth I think that the blade is much younger than 350 years old. Ian Brooks

Michael , take the advice , do yourself a favour and buy the Kanemichi . Ian Brooks

Wow I bet this has taken off a few heads in its time ! With all that attitude perhaps it is a Muramasa . Be careful though as I remember reading that once taken out of the scabbard Muramasa blades have to taste blood before being sheathed again. Ian Brooks

Congratulations Grev , this sword illustrates the point that I keep banging on about . Genuine mainline Tadayoshi and Tadahiro pieces have beautifully finished Nakagos and well cut mei . Ian brooks

Do You have John Yumoto's book ? That will reveal all . Ian Brooks

A good exercise thanks Ed . I agree 5 and 8 are the same sword and think that this is the only genuine one in the group . Number one is a possibility but I suspect its gimei Ian brooks

I don't think these were special order for those with a bit of money but rather something purchased by those who couldn't afford anything better . They really are cheap and nasty . Ian Brooks

Great photos , I would leave them as they are . Ian Brooks

Yes lets get realistic here . I don't think this has got a hope in hell of being genuine . We still don't know if it is a wakizashi or a katana although it looks like the latter . If it is a katana then as others have pointed out it is signed on the wrong side . Now some of you I know will say that occasionally Hizen katana are signed Katana mei . True but really unusual . If this was genuine mainline then you would expect a well finished nakago and a beautifully cut mei . This piece has neither. There is also the problem that all of the katana length Tadahiro's that I have seen have Hizen kuni ju at the beginning of the mei. If it is a wakizashi then it would be common to be signed simply Musashi Daijo Fujiwara Tadahiro as this one is , however the mekugi ana would be in the area of the Dai character and not at the top of the mei as here . Can anyone point out a katana length piece signed Musashi Daijo Fujiwara Tadahiro where the mekugi ana is at the top of the mei like here ?? If you can I will eat my words Ian Brooks

Hi David , my gut feeling is that at 1600 euro the piece is overpriced . I think if you take your time and look around you will wind up with something much better for this sort of money . Ian Brooks

An American Army regulation bought in on 6th Dec 1948 prohibited the return to the United States of enemy equipment other than one sword and one pistol . A number of letters requesting permission to take more swords back to the States are contained in the file, Flags trophies and personal property which is amongst the digitized occupation force documents at the National Diet library . The amount of stuff that some men were returning with is staggering. For example Brig. Gen Beaslay sought permission to take back a sword and sabre formerly owned by Lt Gen Ito surrendered about Oct 1945 as well as approximately1000 small pieces of miscellaneous sword furniture from destroyed swords and knives. Major Slade sought to take back six modern swords , ten matchlock muskets , seventeen other guns, six mounted swords , four blades in shirasaya including a 600 year old blade by Bizen Morikage as well as a Kamakura era Ken sword . Captain Gaunt was returning with a sword some daggers and 140 Japanese sword guards the majority of which were obtained from ordinance collecting points for Japanese weapons as well as 100 assorted metal decorations used on old swords 85 % of which were obtained at ordinance points with the rest being purchased at Japanese shops . Lt Col Williamson had eight swords including a Kanemoto , Tadatsuna and a Yasutsuna . Captain Johnson was only taking back three swords but these included a Kunitoshi that was described as a class A sword . Perhaps the most interesting haul was that of Sgt Torazo Hikida . The sergeant said he was a member of the Society for Preservation of Art Swords National Museum Ueno Park . He was asking permission to take back eight swords including , a Rai Kunimitsu, kanemitsu , Tadahiro , Naotane katana , Naoe Shizu Kaneuji , a Norishige tanto and an Enju Kunisuke. Has anyone ever heard about what became of the Sergeants swords or indeed has anyone ever come across one of these large collections bought back from Japan after the war . Regrettably the largest group I have come across was only three Ian Brooks

There are a few documents around that I think explain what these swords are Among the fantastic documents that Stephen Thorpe kindly posted in the articles section is the report of a conference held at the Tenshozan Works Kamakura on the 9th of September 1946. Those present included the manager Shintaro Yao who said that he had a contract with the 8th Army PX to deliver for sale by them 8000 swords . He was worried because the PX had cancelled the contract. Among the downloadable documents in the National Diet library website is a letter from Capt Wall dated 22 July 1949 where he seeks permission to take home one Naval type Japanese sword presented to him by Mr Yao supervisor of the Japanese Naval sword Manufacturing Co Kamakura . There is a further letter dated 4 March 1950 requesting authorization to procure authentic samurai swords and hari kari knives for resale to the Exchange . I am not sure what the exchange is but the letter goes on to approve the recommendation that CPO be allowed to procure for sale to the exchange some 6000 souvenir swords . It was noted that the recommendation was based on the fact that an original purchase order had been placed with the manufacturer and had not been cancelled in time to prevent the manufacture of some 6000 swords. In order to prevent monetary loss to the Japanese concern procurement of the remainder of the purchase order was approved . I think these documents explain the origins of these swords Ian Brooks

Hi Grey , that is a nice book however Jim Kurrasch wrote of it " John Garcia lent me a set of Kokuho Token Zufu . This is a set of 163 photographs and oshigata of the kokuho nihonto, printed in 1939 .. I absolutely can not believe that none of those missing blades were found there . " Perhaps when he compiled the book Homma Junji didn't make it down to Kyushu to record the National treasure blades that were there .. Ian

Jim Kurrasch in his article on important missing nihonto wrote of his frustration at being unable to find photographs or oshigata of the missing national treasure swords . I came across this photograph of two of the missing swords and thought members might be interested in seeing them. It shows the Botan Zukuri tanto and the Nagamitsu tachi that were owned by the Aso shrine .These were turned over to the local police who handed them to the American occupation forces on the 21st December 1945. They have been missing since then. The tanto was made Kokuho on the 14th of April 1906 .Its mounts are described as being of a gold peony design . Christies New York in 2002 sold a silver and gilt copy of this sword that had been made in 1922 by Katsura Mitsuharu . This was inscribed "A copy of a designated national treasure peony design sword " The Ito maki no tachi mounted blade by Nagamitsu was designated Kokuho on the 22nd of September 1909. A third national treasure designated sword is also missing from the Aso Shrine . This is the 45 inch long Kunitoshi blade named Hotomaru that was designated on 14th December 1931. This appears in some lists of the missing swords and not others. Ian Brooks

John is right , stay away from whoever is offering you this crap

I wanted to give a thank you to the Japan Sword Company in Tokyo. Some years ago I visited Aoi Art ( without an appointment ). I was warmly welcomed and then left standing like a shag on a rock even though I was the only person in the shop . After a while I decided that I was wasting my time and left. What a contrast was my recent visit ( again without an appointment ) to the Japan Sword Company . I was again warmly welcomed . A young man who spoke good English talked to me about the swords on display and answered my questions. He then invited me to see the items in their second floor gallery. What a great place that was .The star of the show was probably a Rai Kunitoshi with gold Hon'ami attribution that had been a pre war Juyo Bijutsuhin . This came with a Juyo ito maki no tachi mounting . There were many other fine swords on display including a Juyo nagamitsu and a number of Juyo tachi mountings. As a non buyer I didn't ask to handle anything but you could get right next to any of the swords and see the details pretty clearly. My host was very happy to talk swords and didn't seem to be wanting to push me out the door. I bought a few small items and went on my way. It was a visit that was far more satisfying than my subsequent visit to the National Museum where everything is under glass and impossible to see any details . I would recommend anyone visiting Tokyo have a visit to the Tokyo Sword Company on their to do list. Ian Brooks

No Tassel that I can recall John . If you get down to Victoria we can arrange an inspection. Ian

In Answer to your original query John I have only handled one sword that came in military mounts and subsequently went Juyo . I believe that this is possibly the only sword found in Australia that has attained a Juyo rating . The blade came in a shingunto mount of good quality ( no mon though ) . What was unusual was that the blade was still in its old lacquered saya with a leather cover over it ie. it didn't have a metal saya. Ian Brooks

Field Marshal Festings collection was sold in 1993 and it was reviewed at the time by the late Han Bin Siong . He expressed no doubts as to the authenticity of the Kotetsu although he wasn't backward in pronouncing a lot of the other big name pieces to be wrong .. I think Mr Han was just about the leading western sword scholar of his era so if he thought it was right then I am pretty sure it would have been. Ian Brooks