Barrie B

Ken, Would it be possible to see some photos please..? Thank you. Barrie B.

Well, to those that see Christmas first (the Kiwis); merry Christmas… - and may the cheer roll on through to all the Aussies, (especially the Bombers supporters), then the South Africans (thanks especially to Brian), the Europeans, the POM's (don't mention the Ashes…!) and lastly the Canadians and Americans. Is Hawaii the last place to celebrate..? Hope you all have a good time with your families and loved ones, and I also hope you are thinking of your (Nihonto) friends, that you cannot be with - as I am… Best wishes to all.. Barrie.

Hi Robert, So Edo..? thanks Haynes has this artist (H 08386) working in Edo, so that is good.. I have not seen Edo written like that before. Only 江府住 Kofu Ju.. Thank you.. Barrie B.

Hello all, I understand Nara Shigenaga Saku, but I can't work out the place/province.. Take ??(gou?) Ju, but even if I am correct, I cannot figure it out? If someone can assist me with the correct translation please, then I may be able to work out the place.. Thanks in advance, Barrie B.

Henk-Jan, Thanks for the reply and I can understand what you are saying; maybe that is the problem. Thanks. Barrie.

Hi all, Has anyone else had any success with Buyee on Yahoo Japan? Several times I have made what were accepted (and should have been) winning bids, but somehow 'Buyee' does not transfer my winning bid, or the 'Buyee' (bidding service) website crashes and I am unable to place a winning bid. Is it just bad luck, or has someone else had the same problems..? Thanks. Barrie.

Hi all, Has anyone else had any success with Buyee on Yahoo Japan? Several times I have made what were accepted (and should have been) winning bids, but somehow 'Buyee' does not transfer my winning bid, or the 'Buyee' (bidding service) website crashes and I am unable to place a winning bid. Is it just bad luck, or has someone else had the same problems..? Thanks. Barrie.

Again, thank you. It is much appreciated. barrie B.

Wow.. that was quick. Thank you! Very much appreciated. Barrie B.

Hi all, I was wondering if someone would be kind enough to translate the following for me please, from Tosho Kinko Jiten by Wakayama (p.547). A very kind gentleman generously translated it for me today; however, (he) has suggested that I post it on the NMB to confirm his translation. He has stated that it roughly says: He is of the school of Yasunori. Yasumasa (kao-mark) and signature Omori Hikoshichi was his early mark? (not sure if I am reading correct meaning). Lived in Hitachi Province in Mito. End of the Edo period. Thank you in advance. Barrie B.

Ludolf, Thanks for your input, but I am confused... I can't see your scanned Mei and Kao, but believe you when you say they are the same. Do you think Haynes has the same artist recorded twice...? Are we saying that Yasumasa (H 11174) and Yasunobu (H 11218) are in fact the same artist..? Both are from Mito in Hitachi province ca.1800... Barrie.

Amazing... Very interesting. Thanks for posting Ford. Barrie.

Nice Habaki... Now that you are 'tooled up' you go into business :lol: Barrie.

Hi Ludolf, I do not think it is Yasumasa, unless he used diffent kanji to sign throughout his career; not unheard of.. Is the Kao the same? From the unusual Kanji combo, Yasunobu (H 11218.0) seems to be the best match in Haynes.. My reference books are limited. Barrie.

I have now attached some better photos. Thanks. Barrie.

Hi John, Yes, sorry.. its a brand new computer (Mac) and I am still taming it.. has a mind of its own at the moment.. Not sure why all the photos reduced in size... ?? Thanks for that though... Yasunobu H 11218.0 does seem to be the most likely.. If I can sort the photos out, I will repost again - tomorrow night probably.. Thank you. Barrie.

Hi, I recently purchased a kogai that I believe to be Yoshioka School, but I do not know how the mei is read and none of these match any of the mei in Haynes. Does anyone know please? I think these kanji can be read as: 保 Hou, Mori, Tamotsu, Yasu; and 誠 Aki, Makoto, Masa, Moto and Shige. IS it Yasushige, Yasumasa or Morimoto?? Does anyone know please? Any assistance would be appreciated. Thank you. Barrie.

See you there, Gentlemen... Looking forward to it...! Barrie.

Jeremy, In answer to your question; I wrote that it was an antique blade etc.. but I also wrote what the buyer wanted (very important), because at the end of the day, it is they who have to deal with their Customs Services and taxes laws.. If you fine a better system, please let us know. I am not a dealer and very infrequently sell/ send swords overseas, so each time is an effort.. Barrie

Hi mate, I recently (only a few months ago) sent a Wak to the UK through Australia Post with no problems. The Wak had to be labelled properly (for UK Customs) and the recipient was a licenced Martial Arts instructor. I know he received the sword in good time and (to the best of my knowledge), there were no problems from UK Customs. The only concern I had was the lack of ‘Tracking’ with Aust Post services but it was sent 'Registered Post', otherwise all was good. Barrie. Perth, W.A.

Very nice...! Definitely a dying art.... Barrie.

Hi All, I have two Saotome Tsuba that were purchased (at different times) from different dealers in Japan, yet the Hitsu ana on both Tsuba have the same (elegant) elongated elliptical shape – quite a bit different to most Hitsu ana on other tsuba. Nihon To Koza (Vol VI, Pg 120) states that Saotome Hitsu ana resemble Shoami (style), but we have all seen various other shaped Hitsu ana or just Kozuka ana on (this type of) Saotome Tsuba, so I am interested to know if there are papered Saotome that do have different Hitsu ana, or is this irrelevant as a Kantei point for Saotome? I know there must be many Tsuba influenced by this design that perhaps aren’t Saotome, but get an attribution because of the design? Does anyone else have any (64 petal) Kiku Saotome Tsuba that have similar Hitsu ana, or perhaps even vary greatly from this, so that we can learn more about these type of Saotome Tsuba.. I did a quick search through previous threads to see if this has been discussed previously, but could not find anything.. I am happy to be pointed in that direction if it has, and I have missed it. Both Tsuba are un-papered BTW. Thanks in advance, Barrie B.

Mark, We can all clearly see the additional damage on the leather cover, post removal... So definitely not a full refund..! Good luck with it. Barrie.

Thank you...! I looked on the internet for a little while, but could not find a name for this type, so incorrectly made the assumption that Yazatsu was what it was called... This is what I was after. Additionally, I assumed the quivers were’ up' and the Yanone went into the grill... but thank you for confirming it. Barrie.

Thanks Chris and Ian, Mine does have a metal ring 3/4 inch or so in Dia (on a swivel with a 'typical fancy metal Japanese style washer' under it) in the middle of the Yazatsu - just out of the first and second picture unfortunately.. I should have taken an 'overall' photo, but in my haste, I didn't sorry.. There is no strap though... Perhaps the cord around the waist just 'fixed' to this. The strap holding the cover though is exactly as you describe it; a leather strap ending in a metal ring. This is fixed to the side of the Yazatsu, and then goes over the lid and the ring hooks over a stud on the other side. These two rings and studs are exactly the same as the one for fixing the waist - with a sort of cross hatching or Knurling on top of the stud... All matching. Very many thanks to both of you.. Barrie.