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Kanenaga

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Everything posted by Kanenaga

  1. Forgive my ignorance, but what is the theme of this tsuba?
  2. Has anyone done business with this Japanese online seller Taiseido? He's one of the NMB commercial links. Les
  3. Excellent video. I found it here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wBCprAinDyeiMeY75fDpawRX_4rZfqsM/view
  4. Well, Ken, you are correct, but you and DARPAnet were ahead of the curve. Wikipedia also says " The linking of commercial networks and enterprises by the early 1990s marked the beginning of the transition to the modern Internet." All I remember from the early 1990s is email, and not much else. But then, that could be my memory.
  5. It's hard to read a thread like this and not think about the Internet, which did not exist in 1995, and which has transformed all aspects of collecting, including Japanese swords. Peter couldn't possibly foresee this, no one could -- except maybe for a couple of engineering students at Stanford. We can do things today that were unimaginable 25 years ago: kick tires and shop on specialty auction sites and Japanese dealer websites, see hi-res images from museums, translate from Japanese in the click of a mouse, and participate on forums like this one. We even have discussions about whether sword shows are obsolete (I hope not). Has all this made nihonto collecting better or worse? Hard to say, but the comment about smaller collections still rings true.
  6. Try Mike Yamasaki. http://www.discovernikkei.org/en/journal/2009/5/22/mike-yamasaki/
  7. I'm looking at Barrie's photos -- could someone point out what features distinguish an Owari koshirae, or tsuka?
  8. Here's a link to the Sesko article. Sorting out legends around Ôhara Sanemori | Markus Sesko
  9. According to Markus Sesko, quoting from earlier sources, Ohara Sanemori (or the lineage of Ohara Sanemoris) worked in the Heian period (12th century) or possibly earlier. Wakizashi like this one were not made in any significant numbers until the Nanbokucho period ( mid-14th century).
  10. I'm interested to know if anyone has dealt with Tokyo dealer and online seller Ginza Seiyudo and is willing to share their experience? Please feel free to pm me if that's more comfortable. Thanks. Les
  11. This is a great topic. Since no one else has mentioned these, here are some things that can make my pulse race. Naturally, the many physical aspects of the sword as discussed are also very important to me, but these three can add a special frisson of excitement: 1. Signature 2. Date 3. Good horimono Some might say "elitist,' but I would disagree. Many fine Shinshinto and Gendaito blades have these features, and to my eye they add an extra dimension of interest.
  12. It's been my understanding that the kuyo mon, as depicted on this sword, is most strongly associated with the Hosokawa daimyo of Higo province. I can't think why this should appear on a sword purporting to be by an early generation Kunikane. However, I have noted that Kunikane blades, especially the early ones, command a high price at DTI, so perhaps are worthy of counterfeiting.
  13. I just received word that Paul Davidson has passed away. Paul was not active on this Board, but was a good friend and excellent colleague to many of us, and a leading figure in the world of nihonto study and collecting as President of the NBTHK-American Branch. His loss leaves a major void in our little community. Les
  14. Thanks to all for the education. Great to have so many knowledgeable people on this board.
  15. Hope I'm not violating a board policy. This is just a heads-up that I've listed a kai-gunto in the "for sale' section. Les
  16. Isn't this the same blade referred to as Taima in the previous post?
  17. Kanenaga

    Sendai Yasuri

    I was told these are called shigure yasuri, meaning like a rainshower.
  18. Christian, Once COVID-19 is over, visit Japan. Go to DTI. Also, visit Sokendo and introduce yourself politely to Kurokawa-san. You will see what you are seeking, because they do exist.
  19. The kozuka itself is also lacquerwork of flowers and a poem (can anyone read this?) and signed. I can't even tell if the poem is right-side up or not. Can anyone read the signatures? Apologies again for the photos, quickie phone-shots. Black-on-black is hard to photograph anyway.
  20. Not sure if this is what you are looking for, but here's a kozuka slot signed I believe by the lacquer artist who did the amazing black-on-black carved plants and flowers on the saya. Apologies for the poor photo. Tanto is by Arikoto.
  21. When I see a blade like this on a dealer website, I suspect it has already been submitted to Juyo shinsa and failed. The shinsa numbers indicate that there must be many such "near-miss Juyo" blades out there, that show up for sale as TH (which is a requirement for submission). Someone once recommended to me that this was a desirable category of blades for collecting -- near-Juyo quality at a much lower price.
  22. Mike, The sword looks fine, but I really envy you the koshirae. I've been collecting fittings with the peach theme -- not very common, and as you likely know an attribute of Seiobo, Queen Mother pf the West, in whose garden grew the peach tree of immortality. I have tsuba, kozuka, kogai, and menuki, but I've never seen a fuchi-kashira with this theme, until now. Very rare. Congratulations. Les
  23. If you find him, could you let me know? I think he may be the one who sent me down this rabbit hole many years ago. I'd like to say thanks. Les
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