kunitaro

To recognize Hataraki by only photo is difficult. Need to see real (good) blade with good light. BTW, I was looking at photo of this blade, and i see kind of Mizukage ?? start at Hamachi. mmm, you don't want to see this kind of shadow/mizukage/utsuri at Hamachi with Osuriage blade. What do you think ?

Also, it is for remaining Funbari as much as original. The Funbari of thickness. Good Funbari makes the blade much stronger.

Hi David san, I just translated what is written on the box, No need any acknowledgments on Newsletter.

Time is not money in this field. and Knowledge is nothing without understanding

石 (Ishi) and 定 (Sada) Ski no ju Ishihara Yoshisada saku

抜 (Batsu.Hatsu.Hai/Nuku,Nuki.Nuke) 凡 (Bon) 者 (Mono.Sya) 也 (Nari) It is meaning "Excellent work"

The list says that The Tsuba has been together with the blade "Nansen Ichimonji" since Toyotomo Hideyori owned. and there are 3 later Koshirae. is the Tsuba belong to one of those koshirae ? However, the tsuba has been staying in very best hands since late muromachi period. so, it is very interesting to study Nakago ana and sekigane, Hitsu ana and Shakudo plug. and shape of seppadai which is connected with shape of Saya.

Piers san, Thank you for info, i saw the list of exhibits. There is really WOW !! collection !! what attracted me is No.16 An Iron Tsuba which is owned by Toyotomi Hideyori, Tokugawa Ieyasu and Tokugawa Yoshinao. Meibutsu. What kind of tsuba is that !?!?! Are you going ?

I think the rule of size is only maximum length, no minimum length. and I think there was no "inspection" sometime we see a tanto in Wakizashi koshirae. if you are waring a sword longer than regulation, other people can see them. but, if you waring sword shorter than normal, no body can see it, and nobody makes problem. I think that Samurai don't show their sword(blade) each other in normal or official occasion. you could never ask "can i see your sword ? the nakago ? is Mei Good ?" etc. It is only with very closed friends, master and families.

I think this tsuba has been under fire. you see black parts on surface also some parts on Seppa-dai. and Shakludo parts also damaged by fire. if you see these on Nakago, it is burned blade which has no-hamon or re-tempered.

Hand writing part 脇差　銘　肥前国忠吉（四代目） Wakizashi Mei Hiden(no)kuni Tadayoshi (4th) 肥前国住　時代元禄 Hizen(no)Kuni Ju Genroku period 刃長　壱尺八寸０分有之 Hacho : 1 saku 8 sun 0 bu kore ari 表裏　掻き流し樋有之 Omote Ura Kakinagashi hi kore ari 平成十四年十月十七日 Heisei 14nen 10gatsu 17nichi 東京都中央区銀座五ノ六ノ八 Tokyo-to Cguo-ku, Ginza, 5-6-8 柴田光男 Shibata Mitsuo

甲府 Kofu is the name of city in Yamanashi province, near mt.Fuji. 東雲 Shinonome is person's name, probably the polisher.

鈴 木 春 信 画 Suzuki Harunobu

Agree with two both above. 800 Euro is very good price. The blade is probably Gendai(modern) for Iai. Total length 85.9cm which is meaning 60-65cm cutting edge ? so, maybe it is for female or boy's however, it is good orthodox Sugata, just like Hizen-to. I think it is a good sword. For western male, this is kind of Ideal for Katate-Uchi(One Hand Cutting) Katana. The signature is not cut by professional, no treatment of patina, etc, It is not even try to fake it. so no need to bother signature. If you don't like Gimei blade, you can pay 200 Euro extra to the JP dealer to take Mei off and make good patina before they send it out of Japan. You can have a good Mumei sword. maybe it is better than cheap Koto Wakaizashi.

Dear Cris san, You are right about Nakago. This sword has been through haｒsh environment in the past. But It is completely un-touched condition. Cleaning and take care by professional, it will be much nicer, ofcause, damaged parts such as corrosion and black holes will never recover however, Nakago is Ubu, the Mei and Yasurime is clear. so, If the blade itself has no flaw, I believe (or hope) this sword will get TH...

1. Choku-To (Jo-Koto) ~ 9th Century 2. Tachi/Taoyame-buri (Heian period) 11th ~12th Century 3. Tachi/Masurao-buri (Early Kamakura period) Late 12th Century 4. Tachi (Kamakura period) 13th century 5. Tachi/Nodachi (Nanbokucho period) Mid. 14th Century 6. Tachi (Oei period) late 14th ~ 15th Century 7. Katana (Sue-Koto) Late 16th Century 8. Katana (Keicho-Shinto) 1570-1600 9. Katana (Kanbun Shinto) around 1665 10. Katana (After Genroku) 　　 18th Century 11. Katana (Shinshinto) Bakumatsu/End of 19th Century PS: 7. 16th century is not one style. after "Gun (1545)" was introduced, the armour became thicker, then the sword became bigger. i would like to separate maybe 3 parts, Early-Mid-Late Muromachi period. 8. Keicho Shinto is the Shape of o-suriage no.5 Nodachi, Nanbokucho period. 9. Kanbun Shinto is the shape of o-suriage no.2 Tachi, Heian period.

Dear Marcello san, Always go back to Basic. need to see whole Sugata (shape) of the sword.

The blade looks good ! Hamon is called choji-midare mixed with Togariba, Sugata and Hamon is typical Naganobu's work. This sword needs very good master polish and Shirasaya. It is expensive, but it's worth it. will get Tokutsuhozon without problem. There is a Book "Takahashi Roshi Naganobu no Kenkyu" by Abe Yoshihiro. 556 pages. published in 1988, only 500 copies limited edition. It has really full information of Takahashi Naganobu.

貞光(Sadamitsu) ? and 貴照(Takateru) ?

Ayasugi, Nara, and 1937... 月山貞一（二代）　 Gassan Sadakazu/ichi 2nd

There are 157 different style of Mei in the book "Takahashi Naganobu no Kenkyu". Naganobu was born in Unshu, became a student of Unshu (Takahashi) Fuyuhiro. He was good, so He was adopted to Takahashi family, became 17th (Unshu 7th) Fuyuhiro. He went to Edo, became a student of Chounsai Tsunatoshi, Jo-Jo Saku, very famous for Good cutter. The sword is beautiful Choji, or Suguha. The Jitetsu of his Suguha blade is extra beautiful. If my memory is correct. the famous story "Japanese Solder cut Gun Barrel with Japanese sword in ww2", It was Takahashi Naganobu's blade.

Great news ! The Tanto will be Kokuho !?!?

He is Mr.Okamoto Katsuhiro Gifu provice. NBTHK Nagoya branch Zennippon-Toshokai Tokai branch http://www9.ocn.ne.jp/~touken08/jiman/jiman_12.html

七　7/Seven 生　(re)born 報　devote/reward 国　country Pronounced "Shichi sho ho koku" popular slogan at w2 war time. i believe that is from the word of Kusunoki Masashige, and Hagakure is also saying similar word.

and 昭和１８年３月 七生報国