kunitaro

This is "Norinaga" It is called "Kinpun-mei (gold lacquered)" Honnami-family did "Shumei (red lacquer)" for Ubu-mumei sword. and "Kin-zogan (Gold inlay)" for o-suriage sword.

Eric san, Thank you for showing me old thread. Kurihara Nobuhide and Kurihara Akihide are no connection at all though. however, The Akihide Chin saku (Tsutsushinde tsukuru) with Akitada hori Tanto is very nice ! Very nice collectable item. the person who bought it has good eye.

Jacques san Thank you very much, I don't have the book. sorry, but, i will write about work of Akitada at "Kiyomaro school? later. And I think there is some very well made star stamp blade, maybe better than late koto-kazuuchimono. I think that Art of sword is Art of Function. I wish that the sword smith stays as a sword smith and the owner of the sword stay as a Samurai, not an artist and an art collectors.

George san, Yes, there is a lot of Gunto collectors, However, as soon as the item become valuable, someone start to make fake. Yasukuni-to, RJT and gendai(shinsaku)-to, etc. Jacques san, It is very good that you compare Cars and Swords. I think that they are very similar object of interest nowadays and Samurai time. we all can talk about cars with basic knowledge, but Japanese swords !?!? Also, it is good that you put up "Kazuuchimono". There is always Kazuuchimono (mass products) in all period. Koto through Shinto, Shinshinto time as well. I think that Star stamp were the stamp for separating from Kazuuchimono,( such as machine made mono-steel blades etc). and there is very well made sword and fair made pieces, because they are hand made. so, i am sure there is some super well made sword which will be appreciated and preserved next hundred years. we want to recognize them. I think that The purpose of studying is to recognize the quality of sword which is meaning to recognize a master piece, workshop piece and mass products. and recognize the quality of each pieces. BTW, you posted an oshigata (of Nobuhide) at "Kiyomaro school", What is the book you were reading ?? Best

Not at All. There is no incense smell in Shinto Shrine or Dojo. hope that we will be able to contribute to lore Legitimate Japanese Tradition through our NMB. Btw,

I think that those discussion has been going for a long time in Japan as well. A lot of sword lovers in Meiji period were loving Only Ko-to, They were talking Shinto (Ara-mi) as a weapon or toy. Only Ko-to were the object to love... and Others were treating as a functional weapon. Baron Murata Tsuneyoshi (Major General) and Inventor of Murata gun, were testing all kind of Mei-to. He listed Seki-Magoroku-Kanemoto, Nosada, Mihara-Masaie 4th, Bizen-Hidemitsu, Motoshige, Sendai-Kunikane and Kotetsu. He was trying to collect 100 Magoroku, but, after 65, he decided to spend his budget of last 35 for creating stronger (better) modern (Meiji) sword. That is the concept of Gun-to. I think that is same as all generation of sword making. Tokugawa was busy with importing and developing new material as well. When time goes, and value would change.... in Meiji period, Tatara-Nagayuki katana was 5 times more expensive than Kiyomaro katana.... And Now, Kiyomaro is 5-10 time more than Tatara-nagayuki(choko) !!! Maybe 15-20 years ago, Yasukuni-to was only a bit sepecial more than other Gunto, Japanese sword collectors were not recognizing as a Japanese sword. but, now !? Same as Start Stamp sword. The material (Tamahagane. Hocho-tetsu and charcoal) for Star stamp were providing from Army, and quality were also controlled. They were mentioning Ha-niku (hamaguri-ba) as well !! NBTHK issue Hozon paper for Hand forged traditional blade, after the smith passed away.... when you see Hada, and Nie in Hamon (no-nie in oil tempered hamon) is meaning Traditional Blade which could receive Hozon paper. They were Standard sword, but, still different in quality, which we(sword lover) want to judge by our own eye ( or by testing ! ).

Tom san had nice explanation. we are doing periodization for understanding sword, The sword has changed from Kamakura to Nanbokucho. from Oei(1394) to Onin(1467) .... However, We should not forget The GUN started around Tenbun 12 (1543) in Japan. That makes big change whole structure of everything, and the sword as well. This is the biggest point of Muromachi period. And Japan went to Edo (Tokugawa) Period. Very special time. and the sword as well..

BTW, Kuji-kiri, Kuji is meaning 9 letters, which is part of my signature 臨兵闘者皆陣列在 Those letters are written(cut) on The Nakago of the sword made by Izumi no Kami Kanesada (Nosada)Late Muromachi period. 兵ノ闘イニ臨ム者　皆　陣列ノ前二在レ Hei (no) Tatakai (ni) Nozo (mu) mono, Mina, Jinretsu (no) mae (ni) a (re) All(each) of the man who are facing to Battle, should be the most front !

Malcolm san, Thank you for the link, Text is saying that "If using an older sword whose history is unknown, the sword should be inspected by an expert" is meaning they were using old (Japanese) sword after inspection by expert. The article was written in 1978 in USA.. there was a lot of bad conditioned and mono-steel machine made swords in US which people were using. However, The owner of the sword should be expert... At least till ww2. The sword man were Experts. as Dai Nippon Butoku-kai, or Chuo-Token-kai. After 1951, Japanese sword became An Art object and Budo became a sport. And Shinto (神道) doesn't use Incense.... Use Shime-Nawa to separate Sacred and worldliness. but, not 神道(Shinto) but 新道(Shindo) !?!? I guess, a lot of myth has created in 60' and 70' what do you think ? And Could you give your opinion about relation between Tameshigiri and "The Catalpa Bow" ? because, i don't get it.

It is merely a small part of its ability.

Dear Malcolm san, Whom did you hear from ? unless, the meaning of "an old blade" is un-clear. Tameshigiri was get popular since early 17th century. I start to think that if i can find out When,Who and How this theory started... After Meiji period, perspective of sword has changed. and Since 1951 Register system for Japanese sword, The Japanese sword became recognized as an art object. And Budo becmae a sport. I have never read Dr.Carmen Blacker (sorry), however, Japanese culture, Shinto is full of Sharmanism. I think that Japanese sword is a spiritual tool, Budo is Spiritual act. Tameshigiri is a part of it as well.

Dear Hans san, When you are not using the sword (more than 1 month or so), You can make a shirasaya to keep the blade oiled. That is why it is called "Yasume(rest)-Zaya" or "Kura(storage)-Saya". However, as a samurai (an owner of the sword) to maintain your weapon 24/7 is very basic. My Kunimasa katana has never been oiled, because, it is always in Koshirae. and I am always taking care and been ready to use anymoment.

Dear Jacques san, I can not tell or judge from this oshigata. The Hamon is not typical.... What is the book ?

When you use your sword (cutting), you don't want your blade any oil.. as you know, water is good for cutting but not oil. when you put oiled blade into Saya. the oil will stick in Saya. when you put dried blade into oiled saya... and when you draw the sword, the sword is oiled.... Shirasaya can be opend to clean inside of Saya. that is the shirasaya for. Lacquered Saya can not open to clean... the oil will stay forever in Saya. in 10-20years time The old oil into (through) wood till Surface which covered by Lacquer, that will damage Saya. for the blade in Koshirae should keep it just DRY. Inside of Saya as well.

And i forgot to confirm that Sword Oil is only for Shirasaya. Never put oil on blade into Lacquered Saya of Koshirae.

Yes, They use to believe that Sama-Satetsu and high temperature (after Tenbin-Fuigo) makes Kera-Oshi method. but, swordsmith Kubo and Hitachi metal's new experiment found out that it was not right. They tried Masa-Satetsu collected Kanna-Nagashi method which contained more un-magnetic stuff(incl.Tio2) with Tenbin-fuigo(high temperature). it still could not make Kera-Oshi method. so, The Material by Kanna-Nagashi Method was important.... the un-maginetic material is the key. PS: Morita san corrected me "Akome-Satetsu" not Akoma.

Dear Morita san, Thank you very much for correction. I am learning a lot from this forum ! also,it is good for me to write, explaining in English. ご教授ありがとうございます。 それから、今度、モリタさんに読んで頂きたい資料がありますので、改めて連絡させていただきます。 今後ともよろしくよろしくお願いいたします。 聞くは一瞬の恥、知らずは一生の恥、

Thank you for your information of the Tanto with Yokomuki-Fudo. Signed : Kurihara Chikuzen no Kami Taira Asson Nobuhide. The Signature is very interesting. Nobuhide stopped (or Prohibited) to sign "Chikuzen no Kami" since Meiji 3 (1870) However, There is one sword signed "Chkuzen no Kami" and dated Meiji 9 (1876) And There is similar Tanto (Suguha) with Same Horimono (Yokomuki-Fudo). Signed "Taira Asson Nobuhide" and "Oite Hokuetsu" which is donated to Yahiko Jinja (no Mekugi-ana) at Sanjo city after Nobuhide returned to Sanjo from Edo. so, The Tanto (UK sword register No.121) could be made in between Meiji 7 and Meiji 9. I agree that the Horimono is Jishin-bori.

Sorry. Spelling mistake again. I meant "Zuku-oshi" Used "Akoma Satetsu" collected by gravity method contain 12.5% TiO2 and by Magnetic Method contain only 3.6% TiO2 According to report from Yoshihiro Kubo and Hitachi Metal co., They don't have English pages, Google translate is not very good. http://www.isij.or.jp/Bukai/Gakujutsu/S ... forumE.htm or http://www.hitachi-metals.co.jp/tatara/nnp0106.htm

Eric san, The Horimono makes Nobuhide sword very special. Good original horimono makes double its vlaue sometime. Ato-bori is for make value higer, so, the sword with Normal Hori is 20-50% higher tha without, But, if you know the Hori is not original, Nobuhide fan will not buy, so, with Ato-bori is leass than half of its value, I think. However, we must see the quality of the blade, and with good original Horimono. it will become Juyo Token !! What kind of Kiyomaro school sword do you have ? Kiyomaro school is very special... an Old Master polisher who is not interested in even Shinto, His voice changes when he start talk about Kiyomaro...

Plus. The Point of having Hozon paper is to Avoid Major faults which makes the sword NO-value. such as Hagire, re-tempered Hamon, no (or fake) hamon, tsugi (welded) nakago etc. Those major faults are difficult to see by Photo. when we buy a sword, we should confirm all of those point. However, we can always ASK to the seller "If the item will get Hozon paper?" especially the item with old paper or other papers, we should ask GUARANTEE the item will get new Hozon paper. then if it doesn't get new Hozon paper, you will get money back. If all of us doing this, bad papers will disappear in the future. and the swords which has some faults, should get fair judgement and treated with respect as well.

And He sad that There is less sword with Horimono in early time ( civil war period). After Meiji 3rd, Most of his sword has Horimono. We still have to exam his sword carefully one by one.

This is a bit different subject from Nashiji-hada, A secret of old Jitetsu Old Tamahagane, material/Satetsu was collected by Kanna-Nagashi method which is using river stream to choose Iron sand by　gravity. It contained 4 time more Titanium(IV) oxide (TiO2) than the material collected by magnet. and there is more un-magnetic material in it. Tatara with this material, a lot of sparks, and Slug with some Zuku come out, and some more Zuku stay in the oven. it is called "Zuku-oshi" method. Tio2 and some un-magnetc material makes different reaction in Tatara smelting process. This is a report of Experiment by a swordsmtih Yoshihiro Kubo (a student of Yoshihara Yoshindo) with Hitachi Metals Co., They are still discovering myth of Ancient Japanese sword.

Thank you for correcting my spelling mistake. about "Shimi-gokoro" "Shimi" meaning is Stain. for Hamon, some part (spot) less bright than other. some kind of weaker parts in Ha. "Shimi-gokoro" is meaning kind of Stainsh, weakish.... more sensitive. some parts hamon not perfect, if you see a few sword side by side. it is easier to compare than seeing one sword.

Dear Dan san, What I know is, Nashiji-hada (Pear Skin) which is small dot on fine surface. for the Japanese sword is Tight Fine Itame or Kokume hada with fine Ji-Nie. need good quality Tamahagane, need Forging (folding and welding) with lowest temperature without any borax stuff (Wakashi-zuke) to keep the steel sensitive for Yakiire. and Cray and Temperature of Yakiire makes Ji-Nie on Ji... Combination of tight hada with fine Ji-Nie makes Nashiji-Hada. Easy to say, Difficult to do....