Markus

Also thanks for the clarification!

I think that "yaki" is meant here as "hardening" because in the context of "tempering", the term is usually found with some suffix. Regarding, 湯足り and 湯走り, the former is IMHO just a typo. Now we have to dig into Tsuneishi's previous chapters to find out what he means with "strong". I am with you, "strong" has no meaning when it comes to describe metallurgical conditions, that's why I added "intense". Not that this makes more sense but to add another periphrasis. Reading between the lines of just this short paragraph, I tend to think that with "strong" a way of hardening is meant which is prone to create more nie, and this is AFAIK keeping the blade slightly longer at a higher temperature (to allow nie crystals to grow) before quenching. Taking this approach further, it seems to me that holding the blade longer at a higher temperature requires pulling it more often through the hearth and maybe this lead to a loss of more clay along the mune?

You already pointed out earlier what Tsuneishi means, namely trying o make a distinction between yubashiri (nie) based and nioi-based muneyaki, but before we continue, let me provide a translation of the quote Tom posted. Just for the sake of completeness and with a minor correction of the translation given by you to John. Not meant as nitpicking. 来物には　三乗派や粟田口一派にはみられない棟焼状態のあるさくが多いですが　これは実は棟焼でわなく　湯足りの強いものです つまり来物は湯走りの現れる程前記の系統より焼が強い訳です "As for Rai-mono, there are many blades with muneyaki-like formations which are not seen on works of the Sanjo or Awataguchi school. However, these are not muneyaki but strong yubashiri, and this appearance of yubashiri on Rai-mono belongs to the feature I was referring to earlier as "strong/intense hardening."

With the great help of Morita san who was able to decipher all characters, I have a try translating the kyoka poem on the first kozuka. I think it is a little suggestive and degorative but charming to describe a man from Edo. My translation is not literal but tries to keep as much of the literal content as possible. Otokogi no, azuma-sodachi no, hatsugatsuo ippon-tsuyoi, hana hyakkan. "Chivalrous are those grown up in the East, but just like they are famous for their love of the first bonito (i.e. the love for the very first products of each season), so they like their women (i.e. plenty and best as virgins)." Morita and Moriyama san, please correct me if I am wrong.

Sorry Alan, all copies are sold in the meanwhile. I apologize, I should have mentioned it in this thread.

The mei in question put next to the Masamori entry in my Signatures of Japanese Sword Fittings Artists. As John pointed out, the mei of Hosono Masamori varies significantly. Workmanship looks fine IMHO.

PM sent.

Thank you, thank you, thank you Peter! I will have the NBTHK ship 16 copies via SAL to your place. Apart from that, I am going to send you the list of UK orderers somewhat later today via PM.

Short update: Order is placed but I have a last question: Is there any UK-based member willing to forward a bulk shipment of catalogues from Japan to UK rderers? We are talking about 12 shipments (16 catalogues, 2 orderers receive more than 1, minus the forwarder himself). I am asking because the UK is the third largest group. A friend of mine forwards as mentioned the catalogues to D/A/CH what makes the second largest group. The largest group is US/CA which I do of course myself as also the remaining ones scattered around the world. All costs (shipping fees, boxes, etc.) will be fully refunded by me of course.

I am afraid I can't translate this one. Can read some characters and passages though, but without the whole, it is IMHO too much "Chinese whispers" to give it a go.

@Andi: I am afraid not. Too much work involved for too few potential buyers.

There are now only 4 copies left and I put down all the names of those who reserved one. In this sense I would like to say thank you to all of you and I am overwhelmed by the support of those who initially didn't go for one but purchased one to get me out of the situation having about 35 unsold copies at home. This strengthens my belief that there is indeed a dedicated, committed, and close-knit Nihonto community and that the NMB is its hub. So also a big thank you to Brian and all the moderators who keep this going. Upon my order at the NBTHK, I will post some updates here like when the copies arrive and when I have shipped them.

Bump: 8 copies left.

Short update: Thank you all, really! I was able to gain a few more orders and there are now 16 copies left. Order will be placed on September 1st. Three-quarters of the copies are shipped here to the US and one quarter to Germany where a friend of mine kindly forwards the copies to the orderers from D/A/CH.

I have to place my order soon and want to know if there are any more interested in a copy. There are 33 copies left at the moment and NBTHK urged me to get as close as possible to the number of copies I have reserved there (100 reserved, 67 sold). So if you want a copy please PM or Email me (markus.sesko [at] gmail.com). Would be nice if some more can be sold as I am actually going to order all (or almost all) reserved copies in order not to "loose my face" if you know what I mean.

The part on the right reads: o-kesa ryodo (大袈裟両度, "cut two times at o-kesa") The part in the middle reads: futatsu-do (貮ッ胴, "cut through two bodies") And the part on the left reads: ryosando dotan-barai (両三度土壇拂, "[cut] two or three times into the ground [i.e. entirely through the target]"). To the left of the cutting tester's name we read: kore o tamesu (是様, "tested by"). The tester, Okawa Nagatsugu, had already been identified. But I don't know who Masanaga was whose name is found with kao on the ura side.

I think on Chrome it's called RIKAIKUN.

Hope you get well soon Paul! All the best.

Thank you Morita san. I will add that to my list of corrections.

Great response so far! Just a short bump: At the moment about 35 left from the copies I reserved at the NBTHK.

Hi Sébastien, the total amount for two catalogues shipped to France is 70 Euro. Please follow the payment details I stated above.

Was just in touch with the NBTHK and reserved enough copies. I will place the final order towards the end of August to give participants of several of the upcoming sword meetings the chance to place an order. I accept payments from now on, so if you are going to place an order, please paypal me either 40 USD or 35 Euro per copy. My account runs either via "dojigiri@hotmail.com" or "markus.sesko@gmail.com". If you want to pay by wire, get in touch with me for my bank details. Also please add 4% PayPal fee. Not that I am greedy but I just want to do this with +/- 0, no profit but also with no loss as my wife and I will pack and ship a big pile of copies upon arrival. :D

@Stephen: Yes, PayPal will be fine and is probably the easiest way to pay. To all: Will get back in touch with the NBTHK tomorrow Friday or Monday to reserve enough copies until we know how many we are.

I am in touch with the NBTHK at the moment and thinking of having a bunch of copies sent here and to my US address where I will be in a couple of weeks till October. How many would like to have a copy? Price is 2500 Yen for the catalogue, i.e. about 25 USD. As I am going to pay for the catalogues + shipping in advance, it would really appreciate if those getting in touch with me are actually buying the catalogue upon arrival. :D So be prepared for a total of about 40 USD what includes the shipping from Japan to Europe and the US and the shipping and handling from there to your place.

Hi Klaus, this will be only in English, sorry. Not enough potential buyers to justify all the work involved for a German version.