SteveM

Hi Frank, This is not particularly bad handwriting, and there is no dialect involved. It's just highly stylized. Those seeing the banner at the time it was written, wouldn't have any problem understanding it, because they knew the person in question. And, they were closer in time to the age where calligraphy of this kind was in daily use. Piers, I got your drift - I just didn't think these were Shimazu. But...I haven't shut the door on that possibility completely. The way the brush strokes flick seem too different from 島津 as written on the name on the left side (below). So I'm stumped.

Hmm - I hadn't even considered that. Actually, I don't have much confidence in the 津 in that part, but I couldn't come up with any other possibility. The Shimazu on the left (the writer's name?) looks a lot different to the large kanji written in the center, so I think I'd rule out the possibility that they share the same last name. And the other bits above Toranosuke... Is it 之? 定? or 之人? The whole thing might be 応集勇途之人 近衛寅之助君 (Sending off the brave Konoe Toranosuke-kun), but I feel I'm grasping at straws now.

Slightly unusual in structure, so it's a bit hard to parse. Anyway, the vertical writing is 祝 (congratulations), 歓送 (congratulatory send-off) and then the word 近衛 (Konoe) which is a rather noble family name, but also a word used to describe a guardian of the court. I don't think its meant to be a name here. Maybe its use is intended to be patriotic, or invoke a martial spirit. But it seems slightly weird to me. Under that: 應集 (a word used to assemble a group, sort of like the military command to "fall in") 勇途 (another word to invoke a glorious send-off of a brave person). Then we have what should be the recipient's name, but I can't quite get it. Maybe 津寅之助 (Tsu Toranosuke)? Anyway, its somebody Toranosuke. Then on the left side is the writer's name (I think) Shimazu Hatamata, although I'm not 100% sure of this. The two kanji at the top of this name might be a location name (Sata? Yuta?).

Japan Sword and Aoi Art are other Tokyo-based shops dealing in various sword-related goods, and might have something for your budget. Both are used to dealing in English, and both can communicate in English, at least via email. As Brian says above, all swords are subject to export restrictions, so you won't be taking any swords back with you in your checked baggage. But koshirae and other decorative elements are normally not subject to restrictions. There have been some reports of customs agents demanding export certificates for higher value items (tsuba over a certain value), but generally you won't have to worry about koshirae. Sometimes customs agents don't actually know the latest laws, and get over zealous. http://www.japansword.co.jp/js-e.html https://www.aoijapan.com/

Kinokuniya is a shop in Tokyo that carries a huge selection of samurai-era antiques. They mostly sell armor, but they may have some koshirae. You can email them to see. They are a rather large "clearing house" for antiques, so the items they sell are not particularly high grade antiques, but you can get authentic items that might fit your budget. Located near Tokyo station - however there has been extensive renovations around that area for the past several years, so I'm not quite sure if they are still located at the address mentioned on their home page. They seem to be open to communicating by email in English, so you might try to contact them. I used to enjoy just walking around the shop and looking at all the items they had. Disorganized, stuff piled on top of other stuff, dusty, musty, but fascinating to look at. http://www.kinokuniya.tv/info_en.php (Not to be confused with Kinokuniya the book store, or Kinokuniya the grocery store, both of which are completely different enterprises catering somewhat to foreigners in Tokyo)

Piers has it. 雲窮 This is also what is written on the top line of the tag on the back (written, however, in Chinese simplified style on the tag). Again, its Chinese so I'm not sure what the pronunciation would be.

First one should be 雲. The second one is 瑞 maybe? No idea of the meaning, but it is from a government office in Beijing, so might be something specific to China or Chinese language. Left side is 1999, Summer?

The black text says 一貫齊 (Ikkansai), the name of the tsuba artist. The gold text is, as you mention, 鐔 (tsuba). I don't think it is meant ironically. Its just stating what is inside the box. It is pretty common for tōsōgu boxes, or, for example, boxes containing pottery. Edit: Just to be clear, I have no opinion on whether the tsuba is actually made by Ikkansai. The text on the box says Ikkansai, but the tsuba could well be from someone else.

I wonder if it is a case of 1. The immediate post-war generation dying off, and a newer generation finding these unregistered items in storage, and, now having access to information via the internet, this new generation is willing to get the items registered. (I don't have an statistics, but I believe many of the previous generation were hesitant to do anything with their swords as they feared they would be confiscated, or that the police would arrest them). 2. The effects of Covid and more people staying at home and stumbling across items that were in storage (or in hiding). And again, the younger generation was more willing and able to research how to properly register the items. Maybe a mix of both.

I know next to nothing about this particular organization, except that they no longer exist as a going concern, and that nobody in Japan regards these certificates as having any authority. As I mentioned in another thread, I have no reason to doubt any particular appraiser's judgment, but on the whole these 2nd tier appraisal groups are not held in high regard. If you haven't already read the article concerning "green papers", it's well worth your time. The papers in this thread are a different kind of green paper, but the same principles apply.

It is "juyo", but its not from NBTHK. This paper is from the Bijutsu Nihontō Shinsa Kai (Art Japanese Sword Appraisal Organization), one of the 2nd tier groups that started issuing papers after the NBTHK scandal of the late 70s. Their "juyo" is not to be confused with (or compared with) the juyo papers issued by NBTHK.

Hello, If I recall correctly, this was one of the dealer-affiliated appraisal groups that sprung up, possibly as a reaction to the NBTHK losing some credibility in the late 70s and early 80s. I don't think this group is around any more. I have no reason to doubt their appraisals, but nobody regards these papers as having any authority. The NBTHK made some changes, got a bit more conservative, and as a result none of these other appraisal groups really got any traction. These papers are an interesting bit of these swords' history, so no need to throw them out. But most collectors will look at them with some skepticism.

Ironically, the genuine swords will probably be easier to ship to Japan, as there is a fairly well-known process to get these through customs and get these registered. You will need the assistance of someone in Japan (Robert Hughes, Paul Kremers, Paul Martin, etc.), but these guys do this all the time.

Presented to the Mayor of Maebashi, Mr. HORI Yasuo, from the city councilmembers, on the occasion of his receiving an official honor. It doesn't specify what the honor is, but it would be clear to the presenter and presentee. Probably some civic medal; Order of the Sacred Treasure, or something similar.

Hello Max, Let me add mine to the voices who have said it is a minor flaw and not worth worrying about. Even in your photos it is barely discernable. For the price you paid, I think you've done well to get a papered blade w/koshirae. As a first blade, it is perfectly fine, and superior to the first blade that many collectors purchase, as many of us bought unspectacular or problematic mumei pieces as an entry into the sword world.

Suggested with slight reservation 早乙女　家貞 Saotome Iesada (I just noticed some Japanese sites list the reading as Sōtome Ieasada. I think most would intuitively read this as Saotome, so the reading of Sōtome is a bit unusual/unexpected for me.)

I didn't see any signature on the tang. Maybe the remnants of a partial signature, but nothing that looks like a legible signature. The inscription on the little utility knife is 和泉守国貞 (Izumi-no-kami Kunisada). It means "Kunisada, Lord of Izumi Province (made this)". However in this case it is more of a decoration, or an homage, rather than an actual inscription by Kunisada himself. Kunisada is a famous swordsmith, and one often finds famous names like this inscribed on kogatana.

No, the picture is good and clear. It's my poor inability to decipher seal script (and, not understanding Chinese writing conventions). Well, 2nd from the bottom on the right side is 楽, but that doesn't help much. The zodiac year would correspond to 1918 (or another 60-year interval year, like 1978, etc.).

Looks Chinese. Left side is a zodiac date (戊午) and then some numbers after that? But I can't make it out.

Hello Steve, The smith/signature is the same one as in this thread below.

Yes, that is correct. Not imperial. It's a gift for a boy on his becoming 3 years of age (given on Boy's Day, May 5th, 1916). The boy's surname is Matsuba. Not sure if the rest is his given name, or if it is 満礼三 (in celebration of 3 years).

I'm sure the red "hozon" seal on the tag means that bottom tsuba received the Hozon (or "worthy of preservation") appraisal, and comes with that authentication paper. So yes it looks like an authenticated Sōten piece, as Dale says (hence, the elevated price). I also agree with his thoughts on the top tsuba (the one for 33,000). The theme might be the sages Kanzan and Jittoku. Authentic Japanese antique, probably from the 1800s. Another view and explanation of this theme. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/25684

Nice helmet. Great photos, too.

I agree with Chandler - if you are in Okinawa it will be relatively easy to send it to the NBTHK for authentication. It is still a slightly cumbersome process, but at least you will be doing it from within Japan, where the postal system is excellent, and the fear of the sword getting hung up at customs, or hit with an arbitrary import duty, is virtually nil. (I'm assuming you are not sending it from a US military base). If you want the help of an English-speaking agent who can get it to and from the NBTHK, you might contact Robert Hughes at Keichōdō. He's a sword and armor dealer, and long time resident of Japan, and he helps people get their swords authenticated. There is enough in the mei and the file marks of the nakago on your sword to pique interest, but it will be difficult for any of us to authenticate. You will get some good guesses, but ultimately you will want the judgment of an expert panel who can examine it in hand. Actually its the sword itself that needs close examination rather than the mei (or, rather than just the mei). The sword needs to match the sword-making style of known/authenticated Masashige swords. Slight variations in the signature might be tolerated if the sword looks exactly like a typical Masashige sword should look (steel grain, hamon pattern, etc.). The broad features can be seen in photos, but often its difficult to pick out the very fine details, and these details are usually important.

Nippon/Nihon damashii is correct. And I think your intuition is correct: the words may indeed have been inscribed to partially obscure the Shōwa stamp. Katō Jumyō kore wo tsukuru would be the proper kanbun reading, but nowadays everyone just abbreviates it, word-for-word: Katō Jumyō kore saku.