Ray Singer

Thanks guys, and Arnold's comment below is something I try to keep a focus on in kantei. Miyano-sensei stressed that his entire approach to kantei was based on remembering individual smiths' distinctive hamon. He has made a practice of memorizing 10 new hamon every day, and also commented that recently other individuals in Japan have started following this same approach and have quickly shot up in rankings within the kantei competitions. He does not completely ignore other attributes, however the hamon weighs far more heavily to him when placing a bid.

The Unju did not receive any bids at auction. http://www.sword-auction.jp/en/content/as17246-刀：無銘-雲重第62回重要刀剣-katanamumei-unjunbthk-62th-tokubetsu-juyo-paper But sold shortly afterwards. https://www.aoijapan.com/katanamumei-unju

Bump

Yes, you may have seen this discussed in Markus Shinto Kantei reference.

Very reticent to place a bid without clearer photos, however this type of low lying midare hamon with sunagashi (having a slightly nijuba tone in spots) makes me think more of Naoe Shizu. That was my first thought in the previous photos, and the new image seems to support a Nambokucho bid. I also note the futatsuji-hi which far short of the yokote, which is a kantei point for some smiths and schools (hisaki-sagaru). In koto, hisaki-sagaru can be seen in Tegai, Shikkake, Gô Yoshihiro, Soshu Tsunahiro, Chôgi, Kanemitsu, Motoshige and Aoe.

I would imagine that this will be a challenge, however can someone assist with translating this tameshimei? There has been rust damage and I can get only as far as Dai _ _ _ _ Te _ Setsudan. Many thanks, Ray

http://www.lulu.com/shop/markus-sesko/e-swordsmiths-of-Japan/ebook/product-22166224.html http://www.lulu.com/shop/markus-sesko/e-encyclopedia-of-Japanese-swords/ebook/product-21830160.html http://www.lulu.com/shop/markus-sesko/e-legends-and-stories-around-the-Japanese-sword/ebook/product-20878691.html http://www.lulu.com/shop/markus-sesko/legends-and-stories-around-the-Japanese-sword-2/paperback/product-20443723.html

I believe that the original Token Bijutsu set is $1,800 if you can find one. If I understand collectly that the Fimio version has the majority of the information from the newsletters contained inside and collated, then it is a steal at that price. Available here for $250: http://www.japaneseswordsocietyofcanada.org/Sword_Books.html Yamanaka is another one that is worth its weight in gold, considering how much valuable reference information is provided.

Additionally: http://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/books/c205-nihonto-newsletter-yamanaka http://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/books/b648-token-bijutsu-english-edition-reformatted-fimio http://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/books/b657-kanzan-token-koza-all-6-volumes I was very lucky that Jim Kurrasch pointed me towards Yamanaka and Token Bijutsu from the beginning. Also, check out Markus Sesko's store here. http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/nihontobooks

Outstanding, thank you again. I overlooked this on Grey's site. Best regards, Ray

Thank you all. Dirk, I will reach out to you directly with a question. Best regards, Ray

Would anyone have a complete list of swords from the Kyoho Meibutsu Cho they can share? Much appreciated, Ray

Then their attribution was not far off, Hokke and Mihara are both associated with sword production in Bingo. Was the attribution Mihara only (rather than Ko-Mihara or Sue-Mihara)? If just Mihara, this indicates Chu-Mihara and skews the sword a bit later than Aoi suggested, perhaps early Muromachi rather than Nambokucho.

https://www.aoijapan.net/katana-kanetsugu27th-nbthk-juyo-token/

Also a great article from Markus. https://markussesko.com/2013/05/25/new-boshi/

Yakitsugi-bôshi (焼継ぎ帽子) Quote below from Usagiya: http://www.ksky.ne.jp/~sumie99/episodes.html "Step-hardening Kokaji was shown an old Naginata by a customer. It was very old, may be from Kamakura period or Nambokucho period, but very healthy with its meat. It was a little shortened. The owner was proud of the blade. But Kokaji found that the hamon was a step-hardening, above the monouchi was a re-hardened new hamon. The owner was disappointed with that. Sometimes we find such work on old blades. The original hamon disappears before the new hamon. Then the reproduced hamon starts with mizukage. This blade was polished very well by the modern style. Of course the hadori (white pattern) was made as one continuing hamon pattern. So it was a little difficult to break the trick of step-hardening for beginners. Anyhow, it is impossible to connect new hamon to the original hamon."

Roy, I would rather leave that to a shinsa team but if it were mine I would absolutely send to San Francisco. That would be a starting point before considering restoration. You would be doing yourself a disservice proceeding with restoration or selling the sword until it has been evaluated. Best regards, Ray

Very sorry to hear that Roy. Reach out if you need help reaching Paul or need any further feedback on your sword. Paul can be found through these links below. https://www.facebook.com/paul.martin.3363 https://www.facebook.com/The.Japanese.Sword/?pnref=story thejapanesesword@gmail.com The recommendation to send to the upcoming NTHK shinsa is also a good one. Thomas Helm I believe has a service for mail-in: NTHK2017@TORYU-MON.COM

Roy, you have the answer above in multiple posts. The signature reads Hankei (the name of smith). Suggest Paul Martin to help with the process of submitting for authentication. Please do not have this restored by an amateur or anyone other than a certified Japanese togishi (polisher).

Relisted with the correct description. https://www.aoijapan.com/katanamumei-unju

Andy calls these hachidai, but they fit in your specified time range. http://www.nihonto.us/NOBUTAKA%20WAKIZASHI%20FG.htm http://www.nihonto.us/NOBUTAKA%20KATANA%20FG.htm http://www.nihonto.us/NOBUTAKA%20TANTO%20FG.htm

According to what I see there, it appears to only references Juyo Token - 62nd session.

I meant to write to Tsuruta-san regarding this error last night. You need to carefully scrutinize these listings because errors like this seem to often slip through, like the Hokke wakizashi that was similarly misdescribed as having Tokubetsu Hozon recently. This particular sword, being a mumei shinto blade only attributed to a school, does not meet the requirements for Tokubetsu Hozon. Best regards, Ray

My pleasure Wayne, very glad you are pleased with these swords. Enjoy Best regards, Ray

Bob H = Robert Hughes, and yes he is highly recommended. http://www.keichodo.com/eng/Background/background.html