Bugyotsuji

Here is the Masayoshi Juyo blade. Probably not visible in the photo, (yes, right, both the lighting and my photography need serious improvement) but this blade shows his typical choji ha, with ashi at opposing angles. He and his son used an indented stamp in the nakago. (Translation of card.) Katana. Sakuyo Bakkashi Hosokawa Masayoshi (Kokuin seal) Ura Mei Kaei Gan .. Nen 12th month and day 71.2 cm (Edo Period, latter part)

This season in the Chugoku area of Japan there are numerous sword shows in the calendar. This weekend was the annual NBTHK exhibition below Tsuyama Castle, a first for me personally, by car about 90 minutes away on the low road. It was interesting to see how they had lined up their blades. At first it seemed pretty random. Number 1 was a Hosokawa Masayoshi, then some other Hosokawas, followed by a new blade or two, and then suddenly a line of Kamakura, Namboku Cho and Muromachi blades, finally ending with 10 Edo blades. Huh??? Gradually it became clear. Pride of place was given to the outstanding Juyo blade and koshirae by Hosokawa Masayoshi , (a famous smith from the Tsuyama Sakuyo/Mimasaka fief) and then a Juyo by his son Masamori, and some fine examples from his other disciples Masaaki, Masanori, and Masatoshi. Next they were showing two present-day blades by smiths continuing the old tradition. (The people of Tsuyama are very proud of thier history.) The rest of the blades along the wall followed the normal old-to-new pattern representing different ages from around the country. They added variety to their sword display by hanging one wall with Ukiyo-e by Utamaro. There were some central tables, with a) iron tsuba on one, B) some old Edo maps on another, c) a glass display case of Hansatsu paper money, and d) another filled with Koban gold coins. In the far corner was a teppo section with some pistols and two or three large-bore O-zutsu. As an NBTHK member I was made welcome with a bento lunch. For me the exhibits were fascinating, but equally so was the interaction between the brother and sisterhood.

If you search around you can find toothpicks in bamboo, to save the filing down. If there are enough holes, then wood should be strong enough. Sometimes the original pins were already placed too far apart.

Hank-Jen, you say the 'size' of toothpicks, but that is exactly what I use to repair such broken boxes. Wooden toothpicks are ok, but real bamboo picks are stronger. I put a dab of wood glue on the tip before hammering into the original hole where possible, and they fit there nice and tight. (Beautiful trays by the way!) A quick touch of non-gloss paint and a bit of a rub and they fade into the background.

Topaz, the only Nagamasa sword (with those characters) that I can find is listed is 近州米原住藤原永正作之 (quoted from the 愛剣 and 年紀) and the date on that one is Meiji 3.

As Mywei says, Masamitsu. (not Masumitsu.)

Meiji smith, Nagamasa 永正 tsukuru kore造之(?)

Yes, (I mean no, it doesn't make sense) because in my experience these people have close to photographic memories! The only way is to wait for a new generation, or have the Mei professionally erased and try again. I have heard stories of the sword then being attributed to the very person whose Mei was on there in the first place!!!

1. 太刀Tachi. 正恒 Masatsune, 重要美術品 Juyo Bijutsuhin. 2. 刀 Katana. 無銘 (Nagamitsu) 3. Tachi. 国宗 Kunimune 4. Tachi. 雲次 Unji 5. Tachi. 備前国長船住近景 Chikakage 6. Tachi. 備前長船康光 Yasumitsu 7. Tachi. 備前長船経家 Tsuneie 8. 刀 Katana. 備前国住長船源兵衛尉祐定作　*Sukesada 9. Tachi. (古青江 Ko Aoe) 正恒 Masatsune 岡山県指定文化財 Okayama Prefecture designated Juyo Bunkazai 10. Tachi. (古青江) 助次　Suketsugu *This Genbyoei/Genbei no Jo Sukesada might be the son of Yosozaemon, or possibly the grandson (Nidai Genbei). Will ask.

Yes, Paul. I bought mine @ JPY 3,000 that same day. Are there any Token meetings in London in August or September that you might be attending? I could hand it to you then if you like. Not sure whether to start a new thread, but we have another one of these hands-on events coming up next month at the Prefectural Museum. Not nearly so lofty content, though. I'll post a list here of what they will roll out for us.

Just shot those directly from the museum booklet... ssshhhh...

Agree with both of the above posts. Great shots. (With Netsuke too, you have to be careful not to get too close, beyond what the artist's own eyes could see!)

Nagamitsu Tachi Mid-Kamakura 13 C. 国宝 備前国長船住左近将監長光造

Mitsutada Tachi, founder Osafune School, Mid Kamakura 13th C. Juyo Bunkazai

無銘 Ichimonji (Yoshifusa?) mid Kamakura 13th C. Juyo Bunkazai

Yoshifusa Tachi Mid Kamakura 13th C. 国宝 Kokuho

Nobufusa Saku, Tachi Early Kamakura, 13th C. Juyo Bijutsuhin

Haha, Joe! For Michael, starting with Masatsune Tachi, Late Heian, 12th C. Juyo Bunkazai (Hoping this works)

Simon, I just had a chat with someone well aware of the workings of the NBTHK board, and asked him some of your questions above re the March shinsa in Tokyo. He says that the judges really do take their work seriously, and they do allot proper time to deliberate over each sword individually. He also said that the standard is pretty much the same; in his experience it has not been getting noticeably stricter recently. If possible, I would go with some of the advice above and try for NTHK papers, even if a second opinion means waiting longer to get them home.

Cate, in order to find volunteers, you might want to offer 1) anonymity by use of a nickname, etc., 2) that at the beginning and end of each episode you will insert words to the effect that for safety considerations the collector normally keeps his/her collection elsewhere at a secure location. 3) Use of a neutral venue could be a good option. In fact 4) you could have a check list for the collector to look at in order to establish mutually agreeable conditions under which he or she would be happy to go on camera!

An interesting read, Mr Morita. Many thanks. (So he came back from Holland in the Kaiyo-Maru!)

An iron meteorite, it was found in 1895 in Shirahagi in Toyama, Ken. See pic here on right of page: <a href="http://www2.memenet.or.jp/kinugawa/museum/yume20/130501.pdf#search="data-ipb="nomediaparse" data-cke-saved-href="http://www2.memenet.or.jp/kinugawa/museum/yume20/130501.pdf#search=" %e7%99%bd%e8%90%a9%e9%9a%95%e9%89%84'"="">http://www2.memenet.or.jp/kinugawa/museum/yume20/130501.pdf#search='白萩隕鉄' Enomoto who was something of a scientist and had been to Holland on the Kaiyo Maru, thence to Russia where he saw a meteorite sword, was fascinated, bought the meteorite and had it made into swords in 1898 by a smith called 岡吉國宗; one long sword was given to the crown prince who later became the Taisho Emperor.

Having posted the first link, guess I should take a little responsibility here! Paragraph one should look something like this: 作らせた榎本武揚のひ孫が寄贈 Donated by great-grandson of Enomoto Takeaki who (originally) ordered its manufacture. 　明治期の政治家で草創期の小樽の発展に寄与した榎本武揚が建立した龍宮（りゅうぐう）神社（稲穂3）に20日、武揚が隕石（いんせき）から作らせた刀剣「流星刀」が奉納された。On the 20th (of June 2017) a sword originally made to order from a meteorite at the request of Enomoto Takeaki was donated to the Ryugu Shrine (located in Inaho 3), also built by Enomoto, a Meiji politician who contributed greatly to the early development of Otaru. 代々榎本家に伝わってきたもので、武揚のひ孫の榎本隆充さん（82）が同神社に寄贈した。小樽の関係者はゆかりのある地で保管できることを歓迎している。Passed down through the generations of the Enomoto family, Takeaki's great grandson Takamitsu(?) now aged 82 has given it to the aforementioned shrine. Otaru city authorities welcome the fact that an object with such local roots can be treasured here.

Yup, well that translation shows just how far the much-vaunted art/technology has progressed. Even so, it has to be better than nothing, though there is nothing like a bad translation to make us quickly lose focus. Thanks though for the nice presentation, Barry. Original Japanese = 短刀は1本が戦時中に行方不明に。 Net translation above = "Dagger is missing to one is during the war." Actual meaning = "One of the tanto went missing during the war."

Text in Japanese, but one photo. (Perhaps a translation will follow?) The smith made five blades from a meteorite that was almost pure iron. https://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20170622-00010001-doshin-hok