kyushukairu

Great tsuba for a great price! The cost of having a plain shakudo fukurin added to a tsuba would cost more than that

Thanks Jean, I saw that one, but from the surface damage, it appears to have been in a fire. Such a shame as there is an identical design by Denbei (the Akita Shoami founder) in the Akita swords and tsuba book. Thanks Curran. I'll take a look. They had a very large and gaudy (派手) shinchu Akita Shoami tsuba at DTI at 750,000円, which seemed like an insane price. Next to it was something which I think you'd quite appreciate (a set of etched sakura, Nishigaki fk)

bump

I’m looking to add an Akita Shoami tsuba to my collection (though also interested in other Akita tosogu). Must be in good condition. Preferably signed and papered. If you have something you’re willing to part with, please let me know

Thank you for the purchase, Peter. I’m glad it arrived safely.

*Hirado tsuba sold*

*Signed Mino tsuba now sold*

That’s a lovely example, Piers. If Giles doesn’t take it, I would be interested. This one is NFS, but I thought I you might like to see it, Giles - solid silver in the shape of a gunto tsuba

The NTHK attribution states ‘scroll in bamboo grass’ [sasa no makimono no zu 笹に卷物の図], and I think that’s all the design is supposed to be. The Gion mamori [祇園守り] (amulet) is a very specific design, of two scrolls in the centre of two gingko leaves. It’s a nice kogai with an interesting addition though.

Thank you for the referral Dale. Unfortunately, I’m now permanently located in Japan, otherwise I would be more than happy to meet and discuss any tosogu (or swords). Vitaly, you should visit our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/tokensocietyireland and speak with Peter McCafftery (located in Belfast) who will reply if you send a message to the page.

Grev, I think the kanji for the word you are looking for is 阿波 and should be read as ‘Awa’, though google translate may incorrectly render it as ‘Awaho’. Listings for these koshirae and fittings seem to include Matsushiro (松代), Awa (阿波), and Sendai (仙台) in the title. For example: https://aucfree.com/items/l470576566 However, Matsushiro (松代), Awa (阿波), and Sendai (仙台) are all distinct domains, and are spatially fairly distant: Awa is in Shikoku, which is a separate island in the west of Japan, Matsushiro is in central Honshu (the main island), and Sendai is in Northern Japan. So there may be some uncertainty or disagreement over where these fittings originated (Matsushiro, Awa, or Sendai).

Here you are, Grev: https://sword-auction.com/en/product/3787/as20163-短刀無銘海部/ If you search for ‘Matsushiro koshirae’ (松代拵) online, you’ll find a lot of matches, but there isn’t a lot of information. A Japanese sword polisher on Facebook claims that many domains developed their own style of koshirae in the Edo period, and that Matsushiro koshirae, which is distinctively made from brass (shinchu 真鍮) originated in Shinano (modern day Nagano Prefecture). https://www.facebook.com/1070362196376441/posts/1098499036896090/?paipv=0&eav=AfaEsg62gEc6LdVFE9_Qt2jqJXZXo5X5SxTZ9YiHLSFuWOt57SCjdIkLwn3WfNBjn_Y&_rdr

I‘m not sure what the design is supposed to represent, but it is Matsushiro (松代) school work. Here’s a Matsushiro aikuchi koshirae from Aoi Art:

Many thanks, Peter. *Kunichika tsuba now sold*

Thank you for the kind words, Chris. I also thought they were very good prices. At sword shows in Japan I’ve never seen a Kanayama tsuba for less that 20万円. If anyone is unsure due to the lack of papers, I’d also be happy to submit them for kanteisho on behalf of the new custodian. I understand, Bruno. I think customs all over Europe have become more stringent after Brexit and have been worsened with the Russian-Ukraine conflict. *Akasaka crab and bamboo and Shoami sail boat tsuba now sold*

I’m shocked none of these have sold. A lot of very good quality tsuba for very good prices

I’m now back in Japan, so postage will be by EMS. If you have any questions or want further photos, don’t hesitate to ask!

Sold tsuba now removed from the listing. What you can see is what is available. I’m now back in Japan, so postage will be by EMS. If you have any questions or want further photos, don’t hesitate to ask!

*Tachi style Cherry blossom and chrysanthemum sold*

Thank you for the well-wishes, gents! Yeah, Brian, it has a very good reputation in Japan, and is one of the most difficult universities to get into, due to the limited number of students and courses being taught entirely in English (the entrance requirements are actually higher than for Tokyo University). Simon, I only checked for UK and USA, but I assume if EMS goes to UK it will also go to Europe.

Thanks for the kind words, gents. I’m glad to hear you are still pleased with the Heianjo, Ken! *Owari Kinko tsuba on hold*

The Owari, Nagasaki, Hirado, and Mototada also come with boxes

Thanks Pierce. Yeah, I was offered and accepted a permanent (tenured) position as a professor of philosophy at Akita International University, so we'll be settling there for the foreseeable future. It hasn't been that cold in Oita this year - we had one day of snow, but it has been a very mild winter. Akita will be a different story. Apparently it gets about 10cm of snow and the snow remains until March.

Just to note, I’ll be flying home on Tuesday 24th, so I won’t be able to post anything from the UK which hasn’t sold before Monday

Just to note, I’ll be flying home on Tuesday 24th, so I won’t be able to post anything from the UK which hasn’t sold before Monday