Ray Singer

Unfortunately it is no longer on exhibit but we recently had another display which included nihon-to. This one covered Yamashiro-den, as part of a larger show on Kyoto in the main exhibition area. It was just a few pieces, a Rai tanto, Nobukuni naginatanaoshi shoto, and a Heianjo Nagayoshi yari, but gave a nice overview on Yamashiro-den from Kamakura through Muromachi. I have also been speaking with them about doing a larger show which focuses exclusively on Nihon-to and hope to see that happen in the next year or so. There are some remarkable collections here in South Florida and we could certainly put on a great show if the local collectors 'combined forces' . Let's definitely get together for drinks when you are back in town, it would be great to invite over a few other local collectors for a sword meet-up...

Thank you both. I had this koshirae on display at the Morikami Museum (a wonderful museum and gardens here in South Florida) but unfortunately was not able to identify this mon when I was asked about this at the opening.

This is very helpful, thank you Keith... Best, Ray

Hi all, would greatly appreciate assistance identifying the two kamon featured on this koshirae. Photos of the saya and tsuba (nerikawa) are below... Many thanks, Ray

Some very good quality sue-koto can be found in this length, I have not seen literature that discounts a sword based on length alone, but regardless would not subscribe to that opinion. This would not be an appropriate length for a boy's day sword. When you say niku, do you mean that the kasane is nearly the same along the nakago and at the mune-machi? This does not necessarily mean that the sword is not polished down, but rather may indicate that the kasane has not changed much since the most recent osuriage. My point is that the current nakago kasane does not tell you how thick the sword was when it was ubu. The mekugi-ana closest to the bonji would be the later, rather than the earlier, ana. We know that the sword was shortened, so the ubu-ana would not be on the one furthest from the nakago-jiri. It is also possible that neither of the present mekugi-ana are original.

Appears to read Kunitsugu.

Why do you feel that the length is strange? It does not seem all that unusual for an osuriage koto wakizashi. If the sword was shortened by 3 sun and was ubu before the suriage was done, the original length would have been appx. 65.6cm. Alternately, if the sword had already been shortened before the current most recent suriage then it is possible that the bonji was visible above the habaki. Rather than 'writing in at least three hands', I am seeing what may be an original horimono, an inscription added aside one column of bonji and a second set done at the time the sword was shortened.

Interesting koshirae, someone got a bit overly creative http://www.eldreds.com/pictures/jap11/282998.jpg

Appears to be Ietoshi.

Thank you, appreciate the information... Best, Ray

I just saw the following tanto listed by a gendai smith I have not encountered before. Did this smith also sign works as the nidai Shibata Ka? http://www.tsuruginoya.com/mn1_3/a00235.html Thank you, Ray

I found this sword back in 2001, had the current restoration done in Japan and owned it for several years before selling it to knowledgeable Hizen-to collector (who had the present koshirae made). The difference in the nakago yasurimei is due to the fact that the sword has been shortened. The kiri yasurimei were done at the time of the suriage/machi-okuri. The sword has NTHK papers from 1993 verifying the work as an authentic shodai Masahiro.

The first two kanji in the date appear to have been obliterated by later added mekugi-ana (both open and filled). What is remaining reads niju nen ni gatsu hi: A day in February, in the 20th year. The specific era name is missing. I cannot make out the mei. Looks like an interesting piece, I would love to see more photos. - Ray

My impression is that are providing the two mei captions on the right side for a signature comparison against examples from Motoshige, perhaps to show similarities in 重. I may be mistaken...

Thanks Chris, would you be able to help with the translation? Best, Ray

Hi, I would greatly appreciate any help that can be offered with the attached photos of a sayagaki and surrender tag. Many thanks, Ray

Echizen-ju Hoki (no) kami Fujiwara Hirotaka Here is another example: http://www.sanmei.com/contents/media/H1 ... PUP_E.html

It depends on the ken, but there have there have been several ken which sold recently in the 6-7k price range. They were earlier pieces though (Yamato Senjuin, Heian through late Kamakura). Personally I would be happy to spend $7,000 on a ken, if it were the right one.

Exactly why I asked Thanks for the feedback and mei sample John. Best regards, Ray

Here are better photos of the kozuka face and mei. The quality is good, but I will need to defer to the group whether this is good enough for Goto Mitsunaga. As you can see below, there are serious condition issues. The kozuka has been remounted as a pin and the patina on the shakudo needs to be restored.

Additional photo attached.

I am at an antique show and was hoping that someone could assist with verifying this mei (I believe Goto Mitsunaga w/ Kao). Apologies in advance for the cell phone-quality photo... Thank you, Ray

Speaking of Soshu and the Antique Roadshow, a very interesting blade did surface at the Miami Beach event this past summer and no, they were not able to tell him anything about the sword. It was a 73cm daito, mitsumune, with niju kinmoku hakabi (sukashi mon) and kinzoganmei to Norishige. Fortunately someone at the show was able to put the owner in touch with a friend of mine and I was able to purchase the blade shortly afterwards. A wonderful soshu-den piece, but I'll try not to get overly excited until after shinsa...

Thank you. She does not read Japanese but may have a friend who can assist with the translation... Kind regards, Ray

My wife is a Nichiren buddhist and asked a sword-related question that I am unable to answer. Hopefully someone on the discussion forum can assist. In her copy of Gosho (the writing of Nichiren Daishonin) there is a passage discussing two swords which had been donated. I showed her an oshigata of the meibutsu Juzumaru by Ko-Aoe Tsunetsugu which was worn by someone within the Nichiren group but could not answer whether 1). The Juzumaru is one of the blades discussed in Gosho or 2). If Juzumaro was owned and worn by Daishonin or one of his disciples. If anyone has further information, it would be greatly appreciated... - Ray