Toryu2020

Tim I’m skeptical, is there a source that says Yamakichibe made Tsuba for the Yagyu? -t

Shipping or star maps?

Bruce - I apologize for not recognizing you! My table is in the same corner most years, stop by next time! -toryu

The polisher was Nicholas Benson. The man who returned from the war was the brother of the swordsmith, forged to celebrate his brother and his triumphant return… sorry I don’t recall the name of the smith.

Pics from day one

Here we are folks just a week away. Tables are nearly sold out - the hotel block is 80% full - and we are all excited to see everyone again this year. In addition to a busy showroom, the NBTHK will be putting on a display of early swords from Late-Heian to Early-Kamakura, there will be other presentations and of course all the shananigans, swords and tsuba one could hope to see in a single weekend. Hoping you can join us, https://www.ncjsc.org/events/san-francisco-to-ken-taikai

A snippet from Strategy and the Art of Peace... Strategy and the Art of Peace Excerpt.docx

Quoting Paul ” So I have had a National Treasure Swords of Japan book ready to go for 10+ years. The stumbling block is the cost of the using all the existing photography for all the blades, plus koshirae, plus National Treasure Koshirae. Crowding funding incurs more expense via return gifts and 20% to the crowdfunding company, so we are thinking of basing it on pre-orders. The book is not going to be cheap as it is a large volume of the very best swords and koshirae in Japan. At this stage, we are estimating the cost of the book to be approximately 100~120 USD. Please leave a 'Yes' in the comments, if you would be willing to pre-order. Please don't just click 'like', as it won't be counted. Pre-orders will also have the option to be signed by me. *I probably need about 1000 yes's for a chance for this to become a reality.* If you share this post, please ask your followers to put their 'yes' directly on this thread.”

Japanese Art Motives by Maude Rex Allen 1917 "The Shippo or seven precious things are; gold,silver, coral, crystal,agate, and pearl. The list varies, and the older records include amber, tortoise-shell, and mother-of-pearl. The Japanese term for enamels of all kinds is Shippo; the word is probably of Chinese origin, and goes back to a time when amber, and tortoise-shell, mother-of-pearl, coral, agate, rock-crystal, and lapis lazuli were used as inlays. The shippo form is oval, like a flattened grain of rice, or like the small metal cells which, when filled with enamel, form the basis of much of the cloissonne' work. This simple form has been varied and developed into beautiful arabesque and diaper designs. There is far more in this term shippo than can be grasped by us, because perhaps this mystic number seven is applied and made use of to express in its summing up what cannot be expressed by any other medium. Seven precious things to them are like the seven precious colors and the seven separate notes of music, by whose means all the glorious art of the world has found expression and interpretation." Shippo BY THE WAY is given as one of the treasures filling the Takara-bune along with the seven lucky gods...

Small bit of good news… A Portland baggage handler faces up to 15 years in prison after an AirTag hidden in a locked gun case led police straight to him. The passenger had placed the tracker inside a Glock 19 case before checking the bag on an Alaska Airlines flight to Oakland. On June 28, 2026, Port of Portland Police and the FBI traced the signal after multiple travelers reported missing firearms from checked luggage at PDX that month. Surveillance footage pointed to a baggage handler employed by a third-party contractor. The signal moved from the Alaska Airlines baggage area to an employee shuttle, then to the parking lot, where officers saw the suspect discard a black backpack. Inside: a cut-open gun case, the stolen Glock, and the AirTag. The handler, identified as Terell Wayne Overton, has been federally charged and faces up to 25 years combined. He has been released pending further court hearings. Investigators believe he may be linked to additional thefts. A similar incident at PDX in 2018 led to a prison sentence. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Houston also had a baggage handler stealing police guns.

Small victory… A Portland baggage handler faces up to 15 years in prison after an AirTag hidden in a locked gun case led police straight to him. The passenger had placed the tracker inside a Glock 19 case before checking the bag on an Alaska Airlines flight to Oakland. On June 28, 2026, Port of Portland Police and the FBI traced the signal after multiple travelers reported missing firearms from checked luggage at PDX that month. Surveillance footage pointed to a baggage handler employed by a third-party contractor. The signal moved from the Alaska Airlines baggage area to an employee shuttle, then to the parking lot, where officers saw the suspect discard a black backpack. Inside: a cut-open gun case, the stolen Glock, and the AirTag. The handler, identified as Terell Wayne Overton, has been federally charged and faces up to 25 years combined. He has been released pending further court hearings. Investigators believe he may be linked to additional thefts. A similar incident at PDX in 2018 led to a prison sentence. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Houston also had a baggage handler stealing police guns.

Pack horse saddle.

Typically the polisher is at the head of an atelier that includes all the necessary artists - he sets the price and guides the customer thru his choices for each stage of work. The other artists then negotiate with the polisher for their piece of the project…

Meiji himself was turned on to swords by his (former) samurai advisors, many people made gifts of swords to the imperial household because of this. Meiji work is distinctive for its over the top gorgeousness. Some of what you seek may be found here…

Nice one!

Has Jimmy seen the sword? Does he think it is Shinsa worthy? I would go with Jimmy’s assessment…

If you’re in Kamakura be sure to visit the Masamune forge… https://www.sword-masamune.com/en/

I wonder is Tozando on your list of sellers? https://japanesesword.net/collections/antique-Japanese-sword-katana

https://nihonto.com/nakai-koshirae/

Same’ is a “fish product” some species may be prohibited. This happens sometimes if your sword enters thru Alaska…

Look for - Art and the Sword vol 8 2001