Markus

Yes, also the rarity comes into play here. The kozuka is namely one of the rare examples of a reisho-script interpretation of Natsuo. The kozuka shows by the way the last two lines of the famous "Quiet Night Thoughts" by Li Bai (701-762): 擧頭望山月 I lift my head to look up at the mountain and the moon, 低頭思故郷 Lowering my head to think about my hometown.

@Klaus: The introductory offer is the complete series, i.e. "Nihon-koto-shi", "Nihon-shinto-shi" and "Nihon-shinshinto-shi", namely now in the en suite design. The initial German translation of the "Nihon-koto-shi" done two years ago has namely another format and was print via another publisher. The German set is € 150 as the individual German volumes are a bit more expensive than the English ones (because of the lower number of sold copies). You can mail me if you are interested. I have namely each set of three books print and shipped individually.

Thank you Gilles and Dirk! @Dirk: You´re right. If I would have done this for money alone, I would have probably stopped after my third or fourth book because you just don´t get back when you invest. But I just love the subject too much to let it go. :D

Now available, the final part of the series, i.e. of Dr. Honma´s "Nihon-koto-shi" and my own follow-up the "Nihon-shinshinto-shi". I take the liberty to link to my blog where more details can be found. http://markussesko.wordpress.com/2013/1 ... nto-shi-2/ The book can be purchased for $ 65.00 here: http://www.lulu.com/shop/markus-sesko/n ... 55340.html And the eBook for $ 30.00 here: http://www.lulu.com/shop/markus-sesko/e ... 55345.html For those who haven´t got any of the books yet, don´t miss my introductory offer for $ 150 for the entire en suite set of three (instead of the regular $ 200). Also please don´t miss the Lulu coupon code PUMPKINS for 20% off until October 18. Thank you for your attention!

Ah, "kago" of course! The twisted pic also twisted my brain. :D

The inscription says: "Go-ryûsô Monju Kaneshige saku" (御龍鎗　文珠包重作), lit. "Dragon yari made by Monju Kaneshige" And the inscription on the other side ends with "jûsan-ban" (拾参番), "Nr. 13". Does the blade show a dragon horimono? Never seen a saya cap like this.

Back to your initial question Ken, this date can be explained by the Japanese trend to stick to nengô eras. I.e. some date Suishinshi Masahide´s main artistic period around Tenmei (1781-1789), others around Kansei (1789-1801). In short and following this trend you can say that if Masahide was active around Tenmei and the founder of shinshinto, shinshinto - upon reversion - can be dated from about Tenmei (1781) onwards.

Thanks a lot Barry!

@Anders: This one actually doesn´t contain so much work of myself. I just added the pics and all the characters as I got so many inquiries to do so. But thanks!

Indeed Jacques. Thanks for the link!

Thats the mei of the Iemori dated Ôei 1 from my book Kotô-kantei. Unfortunately the oshigata of tang of this blade is not that crisp.

Jacques is correct. The date is Kôô gannen (1389). This makes the blade likely to be a work of the 2nd generation Osafune Iemori, but also the 3rd generation is possible because there exists a date signature of Ôei 11 (1404) from him.

Hi Ben, Such a hilt interpretation is called "torikubi", or the whole sword "torikubi no tachi". I dedicated them a brief chapter in my Koshirae book which I attach as PDF for your info. torikubi.pdf

Thanks Paul! I am almost fully restored by now, just have to cut down my super strong espressos.

Hi Jimi, the mei on the tsuba reads "Shôzui" (Hamano). The box doesn´t belong to it as the hakogaki mentions a signed Choshu-tsuba by Nakai Zensuke.

@Joe: Unfortunately I don´t have a printed copy myself. The b/w photos of the blades measure in general 15 cm (5.9") in width so they are more for getting an overall impression. But you can see the details of the hamon and hataraki in the numerous oshigata. I attach you some PDF from the picture-heavier pages. I know that´s not what it is in printed form but you might get a better idea of what the books like inside. PicturePreview1.pdf PicturePreview2.pdf

Thanks John!

Kikuhide as he is listed in my Index of Japanese Swordsmiths: Kikuhide (菊秀), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Gifu – „Kikuhide“ (菊秀), civilian name „Murayama Kikuo“ (村山菊雄), born September 21st 1905, he worked as guntō smith and died April 8th 1952

Now available, the English version of my second supplement to the first two kantei volumes. It contains 175 kotô, shintô and shinshintô blades in the classical order, namely kotô-gokaden, kotô other provinces, shintô-centres Kyôto, Ôsaka and Edo, shintô other provinces and shinshintô. The numbering continues with the last blade of the first supplementary volume, i.e. with number 419. So we arrive now at almost 600 blades (594 to be precise) with all volumes so far! 428 pages, A4, paperback, b/w pictures, price: $ 89.00 It can be obtained at Lulu.com via this link: http://www.lulu.com/shop/markus-sesko/k ... 05812.html There is also an eBook available here: http://www.lulu.com/shop/markus-sesko/e ... 05830.html Below please find also the table of contents. Thank you for your attention! Kantei2-Contents.pdf PS: I don´t know if these Lulu voucher codes work so please try: LADY15 (save 15% USA and Canada only, Expires 9/17/13) FAST5 (Save 5% Off Any Order)

I´ve never read anything about nakago length rules. FYI, p.133 from my book Koshirae - Japanese Sword Mountings p133.pdf

I briefly dealt with the kuji a while ago on my blog: https://markussesko.wordpress.com/2013/ ... -koshirae/

Hi Mark, The mei reads "Bizen Osafune Yokoyama Tôshirô Sukeyuki saku + kaô" (備前長船横山藤四郎祐幸作), and the one to the right (地鍛総巻張) is the info that the barrel is made of forged iron in the so-called "winded construction"). See here: http://www.home-nagahama.jp/tepponosato ... aji2-1.htm Interesting. Craftsman seems to be a close relative of the late Edo period Yokoyama Bizen smiths.

That´s true. What we need in the first instance is a way larger number of really knowledgable and easy accessible experts outside of Japan who separate the wheat from the chaff, i.e. to separate art swords from weapon quality swords. So from the point of view of preserving as many as possible (art) swords, Japanese associations should try to think about educating more future experts.

I am also more than willing to help. There are so many sleeping beauties in our museums waiting to be discovered. Keep us up to date Grev.

As having spent some half-days on and off the hospital recently because of an annoying stomach ulcer, I had to focus on something which doesn´t require my books. Thus I finished a minor project I was asked for several times over the last months and years. As most of you know, the NBTHK provides an English translation of Dr. Honma´s Nihon-koto-shi on their website, but just the plain translation without any pics. http://www.touken.or.jp/english/nihon_koto_shi.html Non-members of the NBTHK and younger members which don´t have all the back issues of the Token-Bijutsu asked me frequently where to get the pictures or if I am willing to sort them out. Now I fulfilled this request and compiled a paperback version (and an eBook version) of the Nihon-koto-shi with all the pics, but not only that, I added also a lot of pics mentioned in the text but not shown in the Token- Bijutsu reprint. The result is a 320 pages 408 b/w pictures book (7.44 wide x 9.68 tall) available as a personal reference. Once again, this version will not be available in public so if you are interested in a copy, please contact me via "markus.sesko@gmail.com" or via PM here. The price is $60.00 + $10.00 flat shipping rate and determined by the printing costs and the compilation work involved. The eBook version can be downloaded here: http://www.lulu.com/shop/junji-honma/en ... 2054FA7B6F KotoShiContents.pdf PS: I have taken the liberty to adjust the format to my previously published Nihon-shinto-shi, so that it will be a decent set with the upcoming Nihon-shinshinto-shi. :D