mywei

Could the second one be 侯 Edit: on second look agree with 保

At this level of nihonto, you have so many amazing works to choose from. If this is your first foray into nihonto it would be wise to take a breather and look around more broadly to determine why it is you want this particular blade and not others, lest getting buyer's remorse.

The internet does make the world seem much smaller...And the NMB certainly is the Nexus of the nihonto world online outside of Japan! I'm certainly no expert (far from it), but Ishido works are quite popular I think due to their style that is reminiscent of the Ichimonji schools. The proportion of shinto blades going Juyo are much smaller compared to koto. There are some resident experts on Juyo here that will be able to give you the numbers of Ishido that have passed Juyo. By the way, if the sword is still in Japan it may be worth asking Aoi to submit for NBTHK papers (I'm sure it will be fine)

Looks to be authentic nihonto Signed Kanenobu 兼延

It was one of the swords I recommended in another recent thread ("advice on some options please") to give you an idea of the price range of swords that was being discussed.

I thought it looked like Sukeie (助家), but only reference to this smith is Iwato, so more likely Sukemune

The Japanese description for both swords also has them in error both as Heian ~1180s

Ah you're right Jussi - should have read the text rather than take Aoi's word. Setsumei states - Bun'ei era ~1264 It will mean that the Toshitsune will be a slightly older but essentially contemporary blade - dated Bunryaku ~1234 according to the Hon'ami Nisshu sayagaki, even though Aoi stated that it is a Heian period blade again... Certainly sugata appear of similar period https://www.aoijapan.com/katana-mumei-kobizen-toshitsune-19th-nbthk-juyo-paper/

For those Bizen aficinados Was just browsing Aoi - they've listed an interesting ex-Daimyo heirloom Ko-Bizen Tochika from the Heian period https://www.aoijapan.com/katanato-chika-18th-nbthk-tokubetsu-juyo-token/ I havent that much exposure to Ko-Bizen previously. The sugata surprised me - for such an early smith, was expecting a kamasu boshi and a different sugata, but i guess it is suriage, and the kissaki could have been re-shaped at some point in time. of note - the other Ko-Bizen (Toshitsune) on Aoi that looks in better condition overall imo

I don't think there is really anything wrong to collect (apart from fakes ofc) depending on one's means and what makes people happy. I think when many of us started collecting we wanted 'the full package' with koshirae. Then we start to appreciate the blade for itself and go in one direction or another (koto, a particular Shinto or shinshinto school etc.) It's all part of the journey. I think Jon hasn't made a bad start to this journey! As for the argument that one should save for a better sword; I agree in principle but this commitment often comes when you have a direction of what you like and hence save for. Also, there's no limit to this argument, I.e two midrange shinto can buy you a decent koto, two decent koto could buy you a low mid range juyo, two low range juyo could buy a high end juyo or TJ, two kidneys may buy you half a signed Kiyomaro etc..😉

平成丁亥年九月吉日 Heisei Year of Boar (2007) auspicious day in September

Could possibly be Kanetsugu - Monju school (offshoot of Yamato Tegai) see reference https://www.samuraishokai.jp/sword/11308.html

Could be Bitchu _ ju Kunishige saku 備中__ 住国重作

If we are looking at shinto katana with koshirae. I would probably not buy the last two as not ubu, less desirable or re sellable imo I would suggest to keep looking! Just a couple that may interest you, similar price range to yours Shinto ichimonji style Ishido school. Has nthk papers but will prob paper Nbthk too I would assume https://www.aoijapan.com/katana-kii-kuni-touichi-yasuhiro/ 6th gen Hizen Tadayoshi with konuka hada and interesting koshirae imo. Nbthk TH https://www.samurai-nippon.net/SHOP/N-537.html

2nd generation (only signed Izumo no Kami, and not Izumo no Daijo)

This is the example for the 1st generation mei from the Toko Taikan

Fan of the pine needle lacquer on the saya

Dont be disheartened, plenty of others to choose from. keep looking and look broadly! That way you may also start to narrow down what it is in particular that you want to collect.

鎌浦 Kamaura Probably the owner's name

Hi John see this thread from several years back Shinshu Matsushiro Kanetora would be the smith name, the nephew of Kiyomaro...

Hi Steve Just a slight query - 勝曽 can it be pronounced Katsuzo? 次胴落 may mean 'bodies cut in succession' I think

Takehisa Auspicious day in October (year not shown in photo)

See this thread

Hi guys, the mei is signed 備中守橘當一康廣 - Bitchu (no) kami Tachibana Toichi Yasuhiro if shoshin will probably narrow it down to 1st generation Kii-Ishido Yasuhiro ~Kanbun era, who signed 紀伊國當一康廣 (Kii no Kuni Toichi Yasuhiro) before his title was bestowed and moved to Settsu See: https://www.juwelier-strebel.de/asian-art/Japan/567-katana, https://www.samuraishokai.jp/sword/15117.html

I guess in the end this is a service provided on a volunteer basis, and can even be an enjoyable process to translate something related to our hobby. Perhaps if it is a big translation like a setsumei or a difficult translation we can encourage a small donation to the board as a token of appreciation for services rendered? Of course if this becomes compulsory then it will prevent some people from bringing potentially interesting things to the board for translation, so a opt-in basis for donation?