Keiji

We held the live meeting of our Italian association last Saturday, I took the opportunity to promote the event and show photos and videos from the past edition. There are several people interested, while others will be on vacation given the period. So some have bought tickets, while some have had problems through the site and have not succeeded.

I also gave my support to the campaign for 3 days. In my opinion, the last edition was a success, an excellent opportunity for purchases and learning. For those who missed this, a report we wrote on the website of the Italian association I.N.T.K.: http://www.intk-token.it/samurai-art-expo-2018/ I would be really happy to be able to meet again many friends who love Tōken Bijutsu.

Huge loss for our community, a point of reference for scholars and collectors. After exchanging emails for years I met you at DTI, besides your great knowledge of the subject and rational approach, I appreciated your being straightforward. RIP Darcy, you leave us a great legacy, we will continue to read your writings, thank you for everything.

I also wish to our friend Guido to recover as soon as possible. We hope to once again be able to have a "nomihōdai" evening!

The swords have just been cleaned, thanks for the reporting.

I have been to the Museum many times, this is the first time I see this happening. I proceeded to report it to the Director of the Museum who immediately went to check. In addition, those blades are only touched with gloves, so I think they may be "fingerprints of fabric ".

I have read in several descriptions of Enju blades that have a nagare-masame hada.

Thank you for feedback and pictures! Yes I know, it's very difficult but that's why it's exciting to do researchs. Besides identifying the kaō, it would be interesting to understand if there were other attributions in black urushi, honestly I had never seen any. I also checked the Mitsuyama Oshigata and Umetada Meikan, but found nothing like it.

Hi, I've this wakizashi, which is an American loot during WWII, ō-suriage with kaō in black urushi and other remains. But first of all it's a sword with a very interesting hamon and hataraki. Given your experience have you ever seen attributions in black lacquer? Given the wear, however, it may have lost a superficial part (maybe red/gold..?!), it is difficult to say. Furthermore, by hypothesis, it seems to me difficult that the ancient red lacquer due to sun exposure and aging, can be darkened so much and homogeneously on both sides of the nakago. The kaō looks similar to that of Hon’ami Tadamasa, but even if some strokes are missing, and I don't think they disappeared due to wear. Maybe in his career he may have made changes to the kaō, but unfortunately I find only this image: And on the opposite side 1 kanji stands out relatively well, there are small remains of at least one other kanji. --> "津" from Shizu "志津". The old sayagaki can come in handy, in fact the attribution to Naoe Shizu is reported. The sayagaki I think is honest. Furthermore, as you can see from the photos, it doesn't any kaō on the sayagaki, only the attribution and size of the nagasa. Can anyone help me identify the kaō? Thank you, Francesco

Sorry but the book is old and I don't want to risk ruining it, moreover for copyright reasons it is not possible. I hope you understand.

I have the book "Ise no Toko", if you need some specific oshigata I can help you.

Thanks Gian!

This is an article about this museum I wrote a few years ago: http://www.intk-token.it/forum/index.php?showtopic=9500

I have been studying with Massimo since 2011, I guarantee that Ponzio is not a student and has never studied by him. He came once, only 1, I met him personally, he showed us a blade he built, honestly very poor. Stop. I don't want to discredit any person here, but before becoming togishi you must study the history and development of the Japanese sword, kantei, books, visit museums, attend study meetings, etc. etc. Then with time, dedication, a small step at a time, many trips to Japan, maybe you can become togishi. Togishi is much more than businnes, so I think this. There have also been scams similar to these on eBay and other auction sites. He has an account here on the forum.