Goldy

G'day Adrian, thanks for the info. All the the work you guys put into the shinsa is very much appreciated.

Cheers,

G'day Adrian, not sure if you are back in country yet but thought I'd ask if there has been any news about the papers yet (it's almost been 8 months)?

Cheers,

G'day Guys,

I'm also after info on the best way to have blades here in Oz sent to Japan for polishing. It seems that the process and togishi used is somewhat protected info. Perhaps it comes down to the lack of Aussie nihonto societies, the huge distances involved and therefore minimal face to face collector meetings, all preventing good relationship building and information passage. I know about the regular meeting's in Sydney but for some they may as well be on Mars. It's not anyones fault, it all comes down to money in the end, unfortunately.

Perhaps there is a small business opportunity for someone with good Japanese contacts to act as an agent!

Looking forward to a fully qualified togishi here down under, keep going Andrew!! Let me know if you need any support from your home country.

G'day all,

Does anyone know if the DTI catalog is available for purchase on the net? Failing that, if anyone from down under is going would they be able to pick up a copy for me? Of course you would be fully reimbursed for the catalog, postage and inconvenience (I can't afford to pay for your travel and accomodation though...otherwise I'd be there myself!! )

Thanks,

G'day Mark,

Thanks again for the great pics and info. I'd like to co-ordinate my next trip to Sydney with Colin's visit to the gallery, so, looking forward to the dates. Lastly, I was unable to find any reference to the display on the gallery website, do you (or Colin) know if they have anything in the works?

Cheers,

Thanks Chriso, you're right, no need to worry, I think I remember 3 months being touted as the usual timeframe, give or take a few weeks.

Still looking forward to the next big Aussie event....

Cheers,

Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone has received their NTHK Certs yet?

Cheers,

G'day Guys,

Yeah, I've tried uchiko with no result. Ted, in a strange sort of way it is a little heartening to hear you say that. Hopefully they are not some sort of 'ware' and might disappear with a light polish by a qualified togishi. I've been considering sending it to Japan for a polish. The blade is still in very good condition with no shintetsu showing through but with Hizen blades this is obviously a risk.

It was pinked by the NTHK as gimei but also attributed as a later Hizen smith and worth preserving. They also said that it lacked in the hataraki area, the jigane seemed weak and the hamon was a little too narrow. I'm not sure what it was about the mei that they didn't like. Who am I to argue with the Imperial household togishi?

Anyway, it's a beautiful Hizen-to and was described by one western Hizen expert as absolutely fantastic.

If anyone comes up with anymore please let me know, feel free to pass this post around to your learned friends as I'd really like to know if anyone has seen anything like it before and how it occurs.

Thanks again,

G'day all,

I have a few pics of some mystery spots on a recently NTHK pinked Hizen blade. These 'spots' occur on one side only in the monouchi area. Now to me they seem too light for sumigane and most references I've read show a dark patch of irregular shape with a lightish boundary, not the other way around as in these.

I was starting to think of air bubbles during the yakire or as one expert mentioned maybe some spittle rust spots polished out. I'd appreciate some educated opinions please.

Thanks,

G'day Erich,

I have a tsuba with a seam as well, check out this post:

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2620&p=18656#p18656

I think the differenece is that your seam protrudes a somewhat tiny bit into the nakago-ana. It seems (no pun intended) that not all tsuba with a visible seam are cast, I certainly trust Ford's and Richard's (Richard S from my thread) experience and advice.

Cheers,

Here's a bit more from "Legends of Japanese Art"

"HACHI NO KI - Story of the Potted Trees.

In 1253 the fifth Hojo Shikken, TOKIYORI, abdicated in favour of his son, and taking the title of Abbot Saimioji, went on a journey through Japan, with only one companion, DOUN NIKIAIDO, also disguised as a monk. Both suffered greatly from the hardships attending a winter trip, and one night when stopped by a storm of unusual violence, they took refuge in the house of a man whose refined ways proved that he had seen better days. On enquiry they found that he was the son of a magistrate of Sano, who had been despoiled of his estate through his confidence in an unworthy kinsman. He, however, did not bear any ill-will to the Kamakura clan, though his petitions to the authorities had been constantly ignored, and in proof of his loyalty, he showed them his suit of armour and rusty weapons. The ex -Regent forced this man, TSUNEYO SANO, to accept a small present of money, in exchange for which he received from Tsuneyo's wife a lock of her hair. Before they left in the morning, Tsuneyo apologized for being so poor that he had no incense wherewith to effect the purefication ceremonies, but bringing near the fire-place his dwarf trees, the flowering plum, the bamboo, and pine, he chopped them down and burnt them instead. A year later a rising of the Miura clan necessitated a general call to arms, and from all parts of the country warriors came to Kamakura, even long after the revolt had been quelled. Amongst the late comers, was Tsuneyo, in wretched attire and on a rossinante, whose presence excited a great deal of merriment. On giving his name he was at once taken to the Regent, in whom he recognized his guest of the previous year. Tokiyori restored to him his father's estate and office, and added to it three domains, the names of which bore resemblance to Pine, Plum and Bamboo. In the No play it is said that the trees were used to warm the guest room during the cold night."

I wonder if the Noh play is like the modern day equivalent of 'based on a story by...' ?

Cheers,

Holey moley that is just crazy...Not the guy that put it up for sale, but the one who bought it....

Brian, WRT Rondo, check out this link:

http://www.plasterboard.boral.com.au/brochures/orders/html_version/irm/irm1_18.htm

G'day all,

Has anyone had any experience with Japanese OCR software? Like most of us I have some pretty decent sized reference books and would like to scan, translate the indexes and then, in some cases, the entire book. This is only for personal use, no commercialism involved.

Any suggestions on the simplest and best would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

Wonder no more....you guessed it, China!

I don't know if I should post the results of my internet search here so if you want the proof, PM me and I'll pass it on. There's no reason to not post it here as the info is available in the public domain, however, that doesn't stop people sueing just to keep you quiet. I know the site has been tracked down before but it doesn't hurt to let the world know again.

Cheers,

PS: Does anyone want the owners address and phone number?

G'day All,

I know how you feel Adrian, I forgot my camera completely and lived too far away to race home and grab it. My camera phone pics really didn't do the event any justice. A huge thanks to you and your team for the event. Everyone I spoke to over the weekend is really looking forward to the next one. I enjoyed meeting some of the Aussie Nihonto community for the first time, quite a few I had emailed back and forth but it's always great to meet people face to face.

The highlight for me was Mr. Robertshaws' display and presentation. To have a blade from each Tadayoshi generation (1 to 9) in one place at the same time was a first anywhere in the world, for him as well as us (including 2 of the 4 known 7th generation blades). To see them was great, to hold each one was simply magic . Unfortunately, the Tadayoshi I submitted to the shinsa was pinked, made by one of the later generation mainline smiths but the signature didn't match apparently. Still, I have a real Tadayoshi and I'm very happy with that .

The only improvement I could suggest for the next event is to have the dealer room and presentation area's separated due to the noise. Only a little thing.

So, from a Token Kai/Shinsa virgin, I can't wait for the next one either. I know a great spot on the North Coast NSW where it could be held, resorts, beach, bush, airport, harbour etc...hint hint

Once again

Rashomon?

G'day James,

Mate, loved the pics on your site and couldn't see anything wrong at all, I especially liked Buccaneer competitor #131.....

Oh, and its 'nakago' not 'nakaga'.

Welcome, and keep up the good work....

All the best,

G'day Mate and welcome to the community. Good to hear that you want to do things right with respect to preserving this blade.

Try doing a search of the forum on removing rust on the blade only not the nakago (tang).

As for the saya, yes, get a new shirasaya asap. If the blade is going to be professionally polished then a new shirasaya (rest scabbard) will be made automatically, well, it should be. The old re-glued saya is probably contributing to the rust on the blade in some way, the saya is traditionally stuck together using a glue paste made from rice.

Is there someone local that you can talk to about it? Which country are you in?

Once again, welcome and give those searches a try, there's a wealth of info here.

Cheers,

Craig

Hi Mark,

Thanks for posting all of this, great timing with the Sydney Token Kai coming up as well. I'm in Northern NSW and am coming down for the Shinsa and now, also a visit to the gallery. I usually avoid cities like the plague having done my time in them but make exceptions for nihonto. Well done to Colin for the dedication and effort, yourself for getting the word out and finally the Museum for letting a fine art be displayed.

Cheers,

Craig

Thanks Brian and Koichi-san,

The picture says it all, thanks for that, another one for the library. I'm eternally amazed at nihonto descriptions and their relationships to nature, I reckon its great!

Cheers,

G'day all,

I noticed on the Aoi-Art site here: http://www.aoi-art.com/sword/wakizashi/08059.html the word 'Hamaguriha'. Its explained as 'clam shell shape' but what does this mean - is it similar to hiraniku? Very meaty etc?

Thanks for any help, searches proved useless so far. Not intersted in purchasing the blade, just learning the terminology.

Cheers,

G'day Charles and welcome to the forum.

If my monitor is calibrated correctly, your papers look like the green NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon type as issued in the old system (ie 1950's to 1980's).

As for the scar on the mune, it certainly looks like a kirikomi judging by the wedge shape cross section (shape of the other sword blade) and depth. I'd email Mr Tsuruta-san and ask if he knows more about it and its history.

Cheers,

G'day all,

As I live hundreds of miles from the nearest decent size city, in a country rarely (if at all) visited by the Nihonto illuminati, I have next to zero chance of being involved in a real kantei experience. Speaking of experience, I am light years away from being able to prevent any embarassment should I ever get the chance. Hence my enjoyment of these online 'kantei'.

I am learning volumes from you guys who have the experience and the time to share it with us newbies and appreciate your explained decisions, whether they be right or wrong. Reading your posts helps embed the logical thought processes and general, then detailed knowledge of nihonto examination.

Please keep the 'kantei' treats coming! Maybe one day I might be able to actually offer a knowledgeable post.

Many thanks,

Hi Darcy,

First off, let me say that I love your work, excellent pics . Can't wait for you to visit Australia....Maybe around the same time as the NTHK Shinsa in March next year....Just a thought

Cheers,

I think that style of knot is called "Jobless Man". Not sure though, and certainly not sure of why it is called that - if it is, if you get what I mean...been a long day.

Cheers,