Curran

I had been trying to remember who owned or where I'd seen that sword with a part of another sword embedded in it. One of my two swords has a kirikomi the polisher left in. I like it, but think most consider it on a case by case basis. Guido's was one of the most interesting. On the flipside, I know a high level Hizen sword collector that considers them major detractors. He doesn't mind thin skin flaws that I hate, but a kirikomi on a Juyo and he considers it dead to him.

He did say "novel". I still like the design.

Either the Horimono book or another book has a section on some of the kantei possible by horimono. Many years ago I used it for Yamashiro Nobukuni and agreed with their opinion regarding how Nobukuni ken were carved. In regards to this kantei, I can only express opinion that it is not by the Yamashiro Nobukuni line.

Agree with Grey. My little opinion is this one might go to Umetada instead of ko-kinko. Either way, I like it. I'm a sucker for wave form and chrysanthemum tsuba, so this one is twice over a pleasure to me.

Thank you for sharing that.

Mauro, Diece mille grazie! Questa tsuba dentro di un'altra scatola.

Yes, I was hoping for a clean cut answer. The box needs a new inner silk liner, but there is no point if it does not go with the tsuba.

Morita-san, Steve, and Mauro: Thank you for the replies. The tsuba that was in the box is signed: 貞栄. According to Mauro, the hakogaki says "sahari". I thought this too, but was not sure of my reading. However- opinion seems to be that the reading of 貞永 on the hakogaki is = Sadanaga. Haynes Index only lists one Sadanaga (Haynes 07751.0) using 貞永 but he does not sound like an artist that would work with sahari. Reading the next caption for Sadanaga (Haynes 07752.0) using a different kanji than 永, it notes "They seem to have come from the early Edo period Hoan School. Some read their name as "Teimei"". One form of Sadanaga can be read as 'Teimei', but can the other? But also Hoan school worked with sahari sometimes.... Confusing. Does this tsuba belong with this box? or just a close mismatch?

He is here on NMB.

Morita-san, Yes, that is the tsuba in question.

I need some help from our more fluent Japanese readers. Please see attached tsuba hakogaki images. (1) Can this attribution be read "Teiei" as in Kunitomo Teiei? (2) Also, is anyone else able to read the date? Most everything else is straightforward, but I didn't know if Teiei could be written in this form or if the wrong tsuba was placed in this box. Curran

Myochin Kuninao Haynes Index 03638.0 Haynes Notes: "Mokko flat iron tsuba in the style of Nobuiye"

Pete is the more comfortable with original Nobuiye signatures (A). I defer to his opinion when dealing with one of those. Since these aren't that, I thought it might be one of the Other Nobuiye ( B ): Akasaka Nobuiye, Echizen Nobuiye, Owari Nobuiye, or Kaga Nobuiye. Brian asked, so I got out the Kinko Meikan. It didn't match the better known Other Nobuiye. -- Not (A) and not ( B ). Steve's attribution to 19th century revivalist or copyist works © is a better answer. [ A, B, C, D, => I'm obviously taking too many exams. --Self mockery there--. Later gents.]

Peter, Well cowpies.... if using the lunar calendar, it looks you are right. I was just trying to post something fun. Darn Brits! [Totally joking, as there are many days I'd rather be on that side of The Pond]

Higo Fuchi-Kashira from July 1776.

Guido, Do you know the year of the photograph? I have an Ikkansai Shigemasa (Sakai Hiroshi) O-tanto and in the process of researching it, looked up a few photos of him from his Yasukuni days. In doing so, I believe I recognize some other faces. Nothing certain. From July 1935 and December 1936 comparison photos vs. your photo: Person 1: Holding sword- no idea yet. Still looking. He has some distinct features that would allow him to be recognized if I had better photos. Was hoping to recognize him from the Dec 1936 "Bye-bye Yasuhiro and Hiroshi" party photo. Person 2: Page 95 bottom photo of Yasukuni book. 2nd row. Listed as "name Unknown". Person 3: Page 95 bottom photo of Yasukuni book. I considered Yamaoka Juko per Chris's comment, as he is also in the second row. To me, the resemblance with Koizumi Shinji in the middle or row 1 is much stronger. Other photos support this opinion. Person 4: [No idea, but a dead ringer to my sophomore roommate. A 3rd or 4th generation Zaibatsu-Chaebol fellow educated in Swiss private schools. His grandpa? Small world then.] Person 5: No idea. I believe he and No. 7 are in a November 1935 photo, but both are skipped in the list of names. Person 6: Miyaguchi Yasuhiro. [my opinion. strong resemblance in several photos, but he's wearing a hat and looking directly at camera in the photos] Person 7: No idea. See No. 5 Just opinions. Not 100% certain on any of them, though No. 2, 3, 6 all look to me to be in the July 1935 photo. With a better copy of the photo, might be able to single out a few others. Good luck.

As an agent, you are in a perfect place to evidence the black swans. Yes, I like Hagihara-sensei and have had a meal or two with him in the past. No, I've preferred Ito-sensei's opinions.

Finally Mike. Thank you. If I read it correctly, a fuchi-kashira to Kanshiro (Hozon) in late 2015. That is the black swan. The only one I have seen in two years. Glad it exists, and hope more follow. Someday I hope to see them paper a tsuba to Kanshiro again.

Jussi, Though it is a modified 'den' attribution, that is the first artist specific one I have seen from 2014. Thank you.

Yeah, not enjoying it either. Trying to keep it light and above the belt, since it is an old thread and things have gotten a smidge better with the NBTHK. I expect Brian to clamp down on us at some point.

Mike..... positive proof. Positive proof...... to use something more well known: We know there are White swans. Lots of them ----(Hozon to Higo). Let us say there are no Black swans ---(Hozon or Tokubetsu Hozon post Jan 2014 to Kanshiro, Hirata (or Hikozo), or specific Hayashi smith attributions? Oh, look- there are black swans in Australia. Well that puts a hole in that theory. Are there any more? Yes.... Same sort of thing here. Looking for a "black swan", even though I already believe they exist since they did pre-Jan 2014. Still waiting on the post Jan 2014 Kanshiro, Hirata (or Hikozo), or specific Hayashi smith attributions. As Brian touched.... you are welcome to scour the many dealer sites in Japan for an example. That is part of what I had been doing, and where many of that original "Higo" count came. Why do you need to post proof? You really don't, and you haven't. Nor will I chase down your wild geese digressions. I'm looking for a black swan or two, not wild geese.

No Mike, I will not be posting image of tsuba with post 2014 Higo papers. You are welcome to do so and expound. If you can provide positive proof, please do so. It is much more to the point. Or we can wait for your return from Japan. Keep it simple and on point. As of the 2016 evolution, we see a few more school papers and some den papers. I asked for any positive proof of post Jan 2014 shinsa papers of Hozon or Tokubetsu Hozon to Kanshiro, Hirata (or Hikozo), or specific Hayashi smith attributions. I'm still getting 0, 0, 0 and 0. That shouldn't be. I welcome evidence to the contrary, from anybody on NMB or off. You have not provided any examples yet, but are very well suited to do so. I didn't want to point out before that neither of the two posted were as I asked. I'm not saying the don't exist. They really really really should.

Looking for positive proofs here. Otherwise, not interested. Since this thread started 1 year ago, we did start to see a few Nishigaki attributions. You also evidenced one of the 'den' attributions we started to see in 2015. Still, no post 2014 Hozon or TH papers to Kanshiro, Hirata (Hikozo or otherwise), or an unqualified attribution to one of the Hayashi masters. They should exist, but still looking for them. Perhaps we will see some issued in 2016.

So no post Jan 2014 Hozon or Tokubetsu Hozon papers or tags on any of the seven you showed then? Just looking for positive proof here. One or two would help. You collect yourself. Share one of the items you submitted from your own collection that received a Kanshiro, Hirata (Hikozo if you need), or one of the Hayashi masters in a 2014 or 2015 shinsa.

Mike, Show us the papers please. Or the pass slips. Discussion was largely on the Hozon level, from shinsa after Jan 2014. Tokubetsu Hozon is good too. Just looking for evidence, not hearsay. I'd like to be proven wrong. Especially on that kinko Kanshiro. As of late October 2015 after this thread was very old, we have started to see a 'den' attributions or two. Here is one: http://www.kusanaginosya.com/SHOP/321.html Looking for specific post Jan 2014 Hozon or TH to Kanshiro, Hikozo, or specific Hayashi artists. Even a straight Tohachi would be nice. Not a 'den' Tohachi. Appreciate your help.