Andi B.

In many counties left handed children were/are forced to use their right hand quite recently Fortunately I'm both handed (could use sword left and gun right) so its an interesting topic for me. But I'm neither a shooter nor a swordsman... :lol: When I try to build a DIY koshirae, should I do it in traditional manner or a left handed version for me ...? What is the reason for the traditional placement on a katana tsuka, if it's more practical for a left handed person? Not "form follows function"? And from an individual point of view - a left handed swordsman trained to fight against right handed opponents could have an advantage against a right handed person only trained to fight with other right handers...?

Hello Thomas, it's Tomo Tsugu (see scan from my blade). The other blade to be up for sale is from "Tomo Tsugu of Etchu province". Never mind that it is for sale, it is interesting to find more information about the origin of my own piece... I thought that the double ha machi / mune machi was an "individual" modification by someone but I'm surpised that I found it on another blade (not to mention that the mei is the same...). P.S. the other Tomo Tsugu was now sold via ebay for about 500 EUR / 700 USD - I haven't bid (still waiting for the real deal... ) And hey - Oktoberfest is going on !!!

Hello, I have an old and valueless wakizashi blade (my first and only). Now I found a nearly identical blade on the web - "same" Mei and same "characteristic modifications" on the hamachi and mune machi (but in better overall conditions) that I presume it could be really the same smith. My beginner question: Is it desirable to collect such a pair (would this be a "Shosho"? ) or does this happen from time to time and is nothing special?

-> try amazon.de...

Here is a content overview of the articles - in German (because the whole book is in German...): - Diener und Herrscher. Die japanische Geschichte im Spiegel der Samurai - Exkurs: Zen - der religiöse Weg des Kriegers - Die japanische Rüstung: Schutzpanzer und Statussymbol - Exkurs: Die Münchner o-yoroi-Rüstung - Die Waffen der Samurai - die Kennzeichen des japanischen Kriegerstandes - Exkurs: Netsuke - Von kriegerischen sowie von schönen Künsten - der Beitrag der Samurai zu Japans Kunst und Kultur - Exkurs: Japonismus - die Kunst Japans bringt Europa eine neue Ästhetik - Die Entstehung der japanischen Teekultur und -keramik - Europa und das feudale Japan - Das christliche Jahrhundert in Japan 1542 - 1637 - William Adams - ein britischer Samurai? - Krieger ohne Krieg - die Samurai in der Edo-Zeit (1603 - 1867) - Frauen des Kriegerstandes - Rauer Kämpfer - sensibles Gemüt: Samuraibilder in der visuellen Kultur bis zur Edo-Zeit - Sterben als Ehre - zum Wesen der rituellen Selbsttötung (seppuku) - Samurai und Ritter - Abbild und/oder Wirklichkeit "Samurai" in der westlichen kommerziellen Fotografie des späten 19. Jahrhunderts - Exkurs: Philipp Franz von Siebold - der wissenschaftliche Entdecker Japans - Das Entstehen von Japan-Sammlungen im Europa des 19. Jahrhunderts - Exkurs: Das Titelblatt von Siebolds Nippon - eine Komposition aus den Motiven aus den Skizzenbüchern Hokusai Manga - Kusunoki Masashige und Ashikaga Takauji: Die Instrumentalisierung zweier Krieger des 14. Jahrhunderts im 19. und 20. Jahrhundert - Charakteristika und Entwicklungszüge des japanischen Schwertfilms - Samurai-Darstellungen in ukiyo-e und Manga - Ein neues Selbstverständnis? - Die Samurai im modernen Japan - Von der Theorie des Kriegers als Helden zur Theorie des Kriegers als Profession

I was told it's TOMO TSUGU...hmm - the second character is similar to the third TSUGU in John M. Yumotos book.

Strange...maybe the blade is etched - then the yakiba turns dark while the ji-hada becomes matt white (the dark tinge comes frome oxides). Otherwise it's very tricky to catch a hamon on photos - maybe it's simply an illumination problem...?

Hello everybody, my only authentic piece is a Wakizashi / shinogi zukuri / ca. 60 cm length /signed TOMO TSUGU. It is in poor conditions because it has no hamon - I suppose the hardness is lost due to unknown reasons... (Careful tests with nitic acid showed no differend kind of steelstructure ) Can anybody tell me something (possible timerange, smiths, ect.) about this blade or the inscription? Declaration of reassurance: It was aleady "conserved" a bit "cosmetically" without any "irreversible" changes by myself. It was very cheap (previous owner is a Nihonto expert and it was also judged by a German togishi) so I'm not in danger of destroying a piece of history and art. Never fear - I am aware of what I'm doing - in respect of Nihonto.

Hello, has anybody a picture of a punch used to create Nanako on fittings? I wonder how the artisans made these fine bumps - one bump per punch or did they use punches with more than one notch?

Only an idea: I have hung up a katana (not a valuable antique) with two guitar strings from the ceiling like a painting. The sword is placed above a plain shelf. The strings are nearly invisible and therefore the sword is "hovering" and not affected by any stand. The strings were cushioned by simply using black wire insulation from an old earphone... (Of course it is not safe and is a bit intricate to handle...)

Is there any Hada (visible steel layers on the surface) visible? If not and judging only from the pictures, this could really be a broken Paul Chen blade... Maybe made only to complete the Koshirae?

Hi Tobias, if you live in/near Munich I probably can help you with a contact... On this Sunday, 15.07.2007 there is the "12. Japanfest" in Munich/Englischer Garten around the Teahouse. http://www.djg-muenchen.de/veranstaltungen/?id=105 There will be a stand of the "Freunde des japanischen Schwertes" where you can ask questions ect. I will be there too... Otherwise we (the guys from this stand) meet regularly each month in a tavern in Munich, where you can bring your blade and get information. Some of them are really Nihonto-professionals You can send me a message for more details. Greeting from /to? Munich!

...I'm really no nihonto expert but the blade (especially the hamon) looks like a modern made reproduction (Paul Chen etc.) and not "pre 1800"... ...Do they really think, one would spent so much money on eBay for these pieces :? ?

...the lower left hole looks a bit like a bat... ? I own also a very poor wakizashi tsuba and I'm intersted in any thougths about it (I don't want to start a new thread with this "miserable" piece): The dates which I found out but I'm not sure if it's correct: 67 x 62 mm, Kiku mon Sukashi bori (right term?) - the spokes are inserted and partly lost pieces Saotome school ??? Age: ??? Can this be confirmed or do you have other ideas?