Caleb Mok

Just wanted clarification: despite one respected website quoting "Moto-haba: 2 Sun 3 Bu 6 Rin (7.15cm)" as i saw it just now: http://www.sho-shin.com/yam2.htm The Cultural Heritage Database (of Japan?) quotes it as "元幅4.1" i.e. motohaba 4.1(cm). It is probably 4.1... http://bunka.nii.ac.jp/db/heritages/detail/148488 But can someone elaborate the difference(s) between "身長" and "刀長"? if any. Thank you! -Caleb

Wow i am thoroughly greatly-satisfied and blown away with your comprehensive i.e. touching-all-relevant works yet jaw-droppingly clear explanation to my question. Thank you! Goes to show for me that, yet again like so many times, Nihonto is so, so satisfying to learn. I like them glittery nie and colors ...but more and more now i am absolutely addicted to reading words...of not even glittery nie and colors, but "merely" of things that ~happened~, dates, places, history

Before I begin, I am a complete noob; this topic has probably been discussed before. I did search "awataguchi shintogo kunimitsu", but not only did that not produce any IMHO satisfying results, i would like to ask some more-current perspective on the subjects. Again, i am complete noob: everything i naively presume about these two/one smith is based ENTIRELY on a very, very ~casual~ reading of Darcy's wonderful contribution on his website--and i cannot thank him enough. (And i say casual as in, i did not read it whilst eating ramen noodles; i mean casual as in, if you are serious i.e. the opposite of casual, you should read a book not a website) Okay, my question: Can somebody tell me WHY someone would think they are two or one smith? If the work style is so similar, does it really ~matter~ if they are different people? If we are interested in the formation of let's say, the Rai school or Soshu, is it not enough to say, "Okay, so here is Awataguchi Kunimitsu and his stuff looks like....this (pointing to Darcy's website)...And here is a Rai Kuniyuki and his stuff looks like...this (pointing to Darcy's website).......And here is a Takagi Sadamune that, although may be Nidai, ~probably~ looks like shodai enough and it looks like...this." In order to make a very casual, noob-generalization as "So this ~could be~ from what Rai and Soshu departed from, and the result of the departures are what ~could be~ these" So, how would an experienced Nihonto scholar ~generally~ describe the "biggest" difference between early Soshu from early Rai (apart from the Bizen influence? Sounds kinda theoretical to a noob like me, can you explain in shapes/colors/etc?). I lost my copy of The Connoisseurs'... Thanks, Caleb

Here you go http://www.aoijapan.com/katana-hizen-ko ... tadahiro-2 -Caleb

Thanks Mr. Urban! I think i've found either ~it~, or something close enough. Searched "Japanese cloth pattern", and the new file i've attached turns out show up in quite a few sites. IMHO it strongly resembles the Aoi Art picture not only because of the hexagon pattern, but also because the middle of each hexagon (?) has some sort of a heavy dot or patch, which the cloth pattern also has. Sorry for posting your work without asking... :/ But really nice work. Thanks, Caleb

Thanks all. I'm particularly interested in the pattern of the outer piece. Seems like a repeated, geometric pattern that likes highly recessed...recessed as much as maybe even the Keyfret Habaki? But it may be just sculptural, like the 2nd from the left, of the new pic i posted. But then, that one is obviously contemporary and i don't know if the maker was intending to be historical at all. Back to the original one... seems to be of hexagonal pattern. I'm very tempted to just contact Aoi and see if they are willing to give me more info. Though my limited understanding of the Japanese cautions me against offering money i.e. it was said they take offense if you leave a tip at a restaurant (?)...i don't know how else to convey that i really, really want to know what pattern that is! I am a huge fan of the Keyfret Habaki, and am dying to see more HISTORICALLY ACCURATE styles of highly recessed, repetitive geometric designs. Thanks again very much, Caleb p.s. I've searched simply "habaki" and "habaki" (in hiragana and katakana) in google and looked thru i swear like every one...not much luck there

Was wondering if anyone has a bigger resolution pic of this type of habaki. Or if anyone knows what the pattern actually is. Or generally what words (English or Japanese) i can use to research if further. Many thanks, Caleb