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Isshu

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Posts posted by Isshu

  1. Hi Guys,

    Thought I would share an interesting habaki that is on my latest katana purchase. I haven't seen one like this before so if anyone has any thoughts on it, it would be great to hear about it.

     

    20240228_110527-1.thumb.jpg.1147b5d0540c35c71d81a1dd5c3bd41f.jpg 

     

    Regards,

    John C.

    • Like 3
    • Wow 1
  2. Hi Clive,

    I live in Queensland and have a number of yari. I have never had any issues in receiving them from Japan, the latest one arriving last November. I have always used EMS and had them sent registered mail with a description of "Antique Japanese yari spear over 100 years old". There could be an issue with a Ken as it can be seen as a double edged sword due to the short "sword" like nakago. They have all been purchased from dealers and not through auctions which might change things.

     

    If you live in Victoria there maybe an issue but if your a member of the "Goshu Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kai Inc." that will be beneficial and required. Hope this has been helpful.

     

    John C.

    • Thanks 1
  3. Hi All,

     

    I thought that I would share my recent addition to my collection. It's a Chidori jumonji yari signed by Echigo no kami Kanesada (Terukane). It is newly polished, papered (TH) and in new shirasaya. It's such a beautiful little yari and it's hard to stop admiring it since I received it. The photos are not the best but I think you can see the comparison for a before and after.

     

    Regards

     

    John C. 

     

     

     

    post-4104-0-57265200-1550802296_thumb.jpgpost-4104-0-64668100-1550802313_thumb.jpgpost-4104-0-57706200-1550802323_thumb.jpgpost-4104-0-76658700-1550802343_thumb.jpgpost-4104-0-93341800-1550802351_thumb.jpgpost-4104-0-00219500-1550802368_thumb.jpg

    • Like 7
  4. Thanks Guido and John,

     

    Great to see some other similar examples. Is there a "translation" for Zaboshizunari and Tenkokuzannari that determines the differences from one and the other?

    Also wondering if that Rare Kabuto book is available somewhere?

    Could anyone suggest if the hachi is finished in urushi or is a base metal finish?

     

    I am grateful for all the input from everyone. It's all very interesting.

     

    Regards

     

    John C.

  5. Hi All,

     

    Just received my recently purchased Kabuto and was wondering if any of the members can suggest more information than I have. From my reading it appears to be a Etchu Zunari with a hineno shikoro that was made in the Edo period. The appeal of this kabuto are the raised rivets, brow wrinkles and the "decorative" additions to the bowl which I haven't seen often on other Zunari. Also could it kabuto shape be classed as a Tenkokuzan nari when looking at the side photos?

     

    So I was wondering, can the photos narrow down the options of possible school, area of and/or date of manufacture or any other points of interest?

     

    Thank you in advance for any information.

     

    John C. 

     

    post-4104-0-10965800-1543619335_thumb.jpgpost-4104-0-40632900-1543619348_thumb.jpgpost-4104-0-59169600-1543619358_thumb.jpgpost-4104-0-71517100-1543619375_thumb.jpgpost-4104-0-16141100-1543619387_thumb.jpg

    • Like 8
  6. Hi Guy,

     

    Thanks for your comments. I think my skills as a photographer are lacking but there is a Nie based hamon that is hard to see in hand as well as in the photos.

    However, as most of you have guessed it is commissioned shinsakuto work dated 2018.

    The school is Miyairi (Akihira). The smith is Kato Shinpei from Tochigi prefecture. Kato san trained initially under Miyairi Akihira until his death and finished his training under Kanbayashi Tsunehira. He has won many awards over the years and most have been in the Tanto section.

     

    The commission request was for the shape and size as indicated in the initial post but for the Jigane in the style of a Matsukawa- hada. Kato san initial wasn't prepared to attempt this type of jigane as there was a good chance that openings would occur between the layers, but was prepared to try as long as I was aware of this issue. As it turned out it is a perfect blade with no openings at all. Three types of iron were used in the construction, tamahagane and two other different types of old iron. I was informed that due to this type of jigane the Nioi based hamon I requested was not possible due to the steel structure, carbon content and temperature required during Yaki-ire. As mentioned above the hamon is Nie based and is difficult to visualise but happy to say is there! Also it was certainly not acid etched. 

     

    Attached are the requested Nakago shots with it's very beautiful solid silver Habaki.

     

    Regards

     

    John C. 

     

    post-4104-0-17109000-1543098452_thumb.jpgpost-4104-0-71097900-1543098463_thumb.jpg 

    • Like 3
  7. Hi All,

     

    Just received my first ever Tanto and I'm so happy with it I thought I would share it with you all. Also because it is quite unusual a Kantei of the blade might be fun for any who are interested.

     

    The shape is Kata-kirba, Shobu Zukuri with a blade length of 29.8 cm, hamachi width of 3.2 cm and a kasane of .6 cm. So it is a big blade for a Tanto. It was difficult to photo but I think the overall effect has been captured. So if anyone wants to have a go at Kantei I'll wait a couple of days and supply the answer to three questions. The only hint is that it is in Soshu tradition.

     

    -School

    -Swordsmith

    -Era

     

    Regards

    John C.post-4104-0-55744000-1543040042_thumb.jpgpost-4104-0-39258100-1543040052_thumb.jpgpost-4104-0-26733100-1543040067_thumb.jpgpost-4104-0-22056400-1543040083_thumb.jpgpost-4104-0-78771900-1543040136_thumb.jpgpost-4104-0-76277400-1543040151_thumb.jpgpost-4104-0-26279100-1543040169_thumb.jpg

    • Like 3
  8. Hi All,

     

    It must be nice to live in a country that has the ability to have shinsa every year, where here in Australia they are few and far between. Basic mathematics with a bag of rocks justifying the upgrading/changeover of certificates works well for dealers who can value add the cost to their products they sell. However, I am only a small time collector who did purchase items with green and blue papers that were considered OK at the time prior to the "recall". I no longer purchase items that don't have the acceptable certificates (except one, oops!) due to the information supplied by NMB.

     

    It would be nice to send my cherished swords to Japan to obtain Hozon+ but does that mean I will enjoy my blades any better? 

     

    However, for me the "basic mathematics" is that the additional cost to send an item to Japan, engage an intermediate, shinsa costs, posting it home and the possibility of GST tax is not justifiable. I will just have to hope that in the future there will be another shinsa in Australia to up grade my old papers.

     

    I think that if you happy with the items in your collection it doesn't really matter if it has no papers, old papers or current certificates, the important thing is to ENJOY them.

     

    Regards

     

    John C

    • Like 2
  9. Hi Gentlemen,

     

    It is great to see some photos from the expo and would have been interesting to have attended. However, I was wondering if anyone who attended could answer the following questions. There are two dealer booths that I have been unable to find on an internet search- Art- Antiques & Armour and Patrice Sabbah. Does anyone have a link to or can advise how to find them as there appears to be some interesting items. Many thanks.

     

    John C.

    • Like 1
  10. Hi Jeremiah L,

     

    Taking into account the the extra time for internal Japanese deliveries, international/Australian postage and customs it took about 6 1/2 months from payment to delivery. I don't think that that was too unreasonable. I had it polished in sashi-komi which I personally prefer. As expected the blade looks far more impressive in hand than in the photo's. I'm very happy with the product and "extra's" provided by Touken Komachi.

     

    John C.

    • Like 1
  11. I have purchased a number of items from Shiho Tsukada and she has always been very helpful. There has never been any problems with obtaining additional information or photos. My latest purchase from them is a Tadatsuna 2nd which I had polished through them and was very happy with the results. Highly recommended.

     

    John C

     

    post-4104-0-55174800-1526591312_thumb.jpg03141_001.jpg]

    post-4104-0-98835000-1526591350_thumb.jpg

    • Like 5
  12. Sorry guys but had to respond

     

    Only Australians who haven't travelled extensively overseas would want to leave this wonderful country-Australia. High costs- we're a long way from everything, no freedoms! have you not been watching what is going on in the world!, strong boarder security- thank God for this control of pests (insect, produce and human) arriving in the county. I have travelled to many countries in the world and I there is no doubt that "we are the lucky country".

     

    On a side note, I have never had any problems with customs getting swords in from Japan or the USA as long as the description and necessary information is attached to the package.

     

    Regards

     

    John C,  proud Australian

    • Like 2
  13. Hi All,

    This has been an interesting discussion with strong for and against opinions and each to make up there own minds. However, there has been little comment as to the validity of the NTHK-NPO certificates. As this type of certificate is readily available in the USA due to the ability of many Shinsa it appears to be quite popular. Unfortunately other countries don't have the numbers or financial backing to hold such regular events. This makes it difficult for collectors in countries which don't have Shinsa to upgrade their old or not as yet papered items. So we have to consider the costs to send to Japan- postage, middle man agents fees, Shinsa fees, registration fees etc. to possibly upgrade the current "old papers". Not everyone can afford this luxury unless comfortably well off or has a commercial interest.

     

    I have been told and open to correction but all dealers in Japan now only obtain NBTHK certificates. This seems to me that a monopoly is been created and as with any monopoly, in any field or business can led to it's own problems as with the criminal activities with the green papers. I only comment because what if the HBTHK one day decides that NTHK-NPO certificates are not up to a standard or unreliable or...???. I have read on this board many times that it is the blade not the papers but I think we all know that papers are an important consideration when purchasing a sword when someone (like me) has only average knowledge and little or no Japanese.

     

    So I am interested in comments from the strong supports of the NBTHK as to the "strenght" of the alternative certificates to the NBTHK.  Are they worth the effort to wait for that rare Shinsa event or send to Japan. Thanks.

     

    John C.

  14. Hi Members

    I have recently added to my collection a very nice Ryo-Shinogi-(Omi)-Yari with a nagasa of 57cm, mihaba of 3.6cm, ubu nakago and signed Oshu Aizu ju Shimosaka. In all possibility a special order or commissioned yari due to the length and size. I have searched through Markus's books, other reference books that I have, the web and have contacted collectors here in Australia to find out more about the school/ swordsmith that may have made this yari. However there only seems to be a small amount of information available that has been found. Hence the following question;

     

    What information is out there in relation to "Oshu Aizu Ju Shimosaka" signature.

    Is there anyway to link this signature to a certain smith and/or era.

    If this blade was a presentation yari would a smith not include his name so not to "big note" himself?

    Or any other information would be great.

     

    Thanks for any help  

    John C

     

    post-4104-0-81164900-1499471196_thumb.jpgmei 200KB.jpg]

    post-4104-0-60779200-1499471237_thumb.jpg

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