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Hi, I would like to comment on this thread if I may. I got interested in Nihonto when I inherited a sword from a friend, and it took me like a disease! My wife thought I went NUTS! I bought all the books I could find and read all I could on the numerous websites I could find. Then I found out about a sword show in Mpls. MN "Arts and Arms of the Samurai" June 2007 Well there was no stopping me! I took vacation time, booked a room and went with wife in tow! Talk about overwhelming!! I got back to the room after the first day and felt ill! What a fool I had been, I knew nothing! I almost packed up and went home then and there. But the voice of reason spoke up (my wife) and talked me into staying. The next day there was a Tusba display and we were standing in the room alone when a gentleman came up and asked us what Tsuba we liked the best? It turned out that this was his collection (I wish I knew his name) We talked for a little and my wife told him how overwhelmed we had felt the day before, when he told us about his first show. His description of the first night after the show, well I thought he was in the room with us that night it was so similar!! If anyone knows who this was please thank him for sharing that with me. Maybe there was hope! I have since acquired four more Nihonto and am enjoying it more than ever! So, I just want to thank all those like Keith and the others that take time to share there hard earned knowledge and experiences with Newbe's like me! Thank You, JohnA

Hi, I got this sword from a friend of the family who brought it back from Japan after WWII. The Mei has me confused. It is on the Ura side up near the Habaki. I know It is not the Mei of the smith, but why would someone put a little know smith on the wrong side? "Shigemitsu" from what I can find was not a well know smith, so what would the purpose be in this Mei? It looks to have been put on the last time it was shortened. But why? It doesn't add any value! I have asked about it at many of the prominent sword websites (maybe even some of you that frequent this forum) and received many differing answers. I recently contacted Sumie Kashima at Usagiya website and was told it was most likely not the Mei of the smith that last shortened the sword, maybe an attribution to the original smith by someone that shortened it and was sorry to have removed the Mei? Maybe it was a much, much longer Tachi and so the Mei is left on Ura side? Any observations, positive or negative would be appreciated. I have many photos at this link: http://s728.photobucket.com/albums/ww29 ... /?newest=1 Thank you, JohnA Click on "slideshow" at photobucket for easier viewing.

Thank you for taking the time to help Koichi. I will continue my research. Thanks, John A

Hello Ford, Thank you for the adjustment. I thought I was doing well just getting it on! Sorry about the problems. Thanks again, John A

Yes probably, the gentelman that gave it to me was retired Army and brought it back from Japan when he came home from WWII. He kept it sharp as a razor and used it around the farm every day, he sharpened it on a wetstone and used to say, They (Japanese) make the best damn knife in the world! He never called it a sword. And coming from a man who went through two wars I belived him. So its been alot of fun learning about it and trying to restore it. I sent it to a polisher and he called last week to let me know that he had finished the shaping and thought it was still a good Koto blade and was worth finishing. Quite a testament to the smith after the use its seen! It's signed, Tachi mei "Shigimitsu". Sorry about the long story but I thought it would be interesting to the members of this forum. Can anything be done with this tsuba? What kind of patena should it have? It is alot darker then the pic. shows but I'm sure it's been cleaned often. Thanks, John A

Hello, Looking for help reading the Mei on a this Tsuba. It was on a Koto Wakizashi that I inherited from a family friend. I have visited numerous Japanese sword sites but haven't found one like it yet, but thats probably just my Novice eye! There is alot of rust and discoloration around the characters and I'm not sure if anyone could translate it? The link below will take you directly to pic. Thanks for having a look. John A http://img179.imageshack.us/my.php?imag ... 005cd5.jpg

Thank You for the translation. Was that a date of birth and death that you left next to the artists name? If it was were did you happen to find anything on him? Thanks again, JohnA

Hi, I recently bought this scroll from a shop in Tottori City Japan. The owner thought it was made about 1900 but claimed he could not translate it. He said something about the Kanji was to old for him to read? Anyway, can any one else shed some light on the translation? Thank You, JohnA