ROKUJURO

Maybe an agent such as Kelly Schmidt could help?

Chris, obviously, the KANJI are similar but the script is different in my eyes. By the way, YASUMITSU is not a rare name among swordsmiths. Also, the shape of the NAKAGO is completely different so very likely another YASUMITSU.

https://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/d1206571515 https://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/l1214130896 https://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/c1214142948 https://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/1214173253 EBIRA are for war shooting, so I guess you are practicing HEKI RYU INSAI-HA?

Steve, there are a few on YAHOO. From time to time, simple YAZUTSU are offered as quivers, which they are not. Sometimes there are SHIKO and UTSUBO, too. In the latter, the arrows are usually falsely oriented upside-down; the YAnoNE should be at the bottom in the little grid..

Unfortunately, Pierre Nadeau from Canada could not complete his apprenticeship in Japan. There are a number of inspiring videos by him under Soulsmithing:

John, you are of course correct! I did not think of men's OBI, which are definitively narrower. I only know those used in KYUDO which are indeed about 75 mm wide, if I remember correctly.

John, as far as I know, OBI were made by folding in two the fabric coming from the standard loom so that the width of OBI is usually close to one SHAKU. I can take measures later. (To be clear, I don't wear them, I use them for sword bags! )

Probably funny indeed - for those who hold the knives.....

I don't know this; probably funny?

The MEI starts with YAMATO no KAMI...but I can't identify much more on this photo, maybe my old eyes..... Try with light from the side, dark, non-reflecting background, nicely focused, and oriented always vertically tip-upwards.

TSUBA looks to have tea ceremony utensils as theme, NAKAGO looks o.k. in these not so good photos. MENUKI look like the handle shape of early KENUKI GATA TACHI. Please show the blade as well (tip-upwards, without HABAKI)

The second photo is upside-down, but even if it were correctly positioned, KANJI in etching technique are not seen on Japanese swords, as Chris stated above. The first photo is not nicely focused, and we should see the complete NAKAGO (= tang) without HABAKI, oriented vertically (tip-upwards), and with light from the side.

Yum, as you can see, it was posted for translation of the MEI, but you can contact Mark directly per PM and ask him.

Unlikely as the HAMON is still perfectly intact. But you are correct, the NAKAGO surface is deeply pitted from corrosion.

Richard, no SORI is MU ZORI, not UCHI ZORI. Otherwise a nice and elegant blade.

There is still Andrew Ickeringill in OZ.

Sam, that is exactly the way to deal (= live) with it! Others have other disabilities, and sometimes it is not even obvious.

Thanky Mike, the last photo is good! So Mauro saw it correctly!

Interesting! So what about writing FUCHI-GASHIRA vs. FUCHI-KASHIRA? I don't speak Japanese, but I always thought there were rules to it. And KOGATANA vs. KO-KATANA, KOZUKA vs. KO-TSUKA?

So how should we deal with it in your opinion? Everybody spells it as they like? No rules, no mistakes?

Hi Michael, I don't think correct spelling is based on a voting system, but yes, some people do it differently. SHIRO is white, but in my experience, most people (and books) use the term SHIRASAYA. Different spelling may also have to do with translating KANJI into ROMAJI which at times seems to be difficult for Japanese people. You sometimes see TUBA written instead of TSUBA, just as an example. Or look at the spelling of KATCHUSHI, KACHUSHI, KACCHUSHI. There is no sound like CCU or TCHU in the KANA system.

Buying (modern) Chinese stuff is always a loss (except for the Chinese....), but in your case the loss is small.

On the photos, I think I can see hints for it being cast in the first place and then reworked and finished with small brass inlay. But to be sure, one has to see the TSUBA in-hand.

Yes, I think I can read the same, but I am not sure it is a traditionally handmade TSUBA.

Kevin, to be blunt: I don't see it as pretty, and the SHIRASAYA looks clumsy and amateurish, at least on these phptos. If you compare this sword to authentic others in good condition, you will probably come to the same conclusion. Still, this discussion should not be posted here but under NIHONTO.