Toryu2020

Excellent! So we can see that this is a well cut mei - very likely a Shinto or Shinshinto work - is there any other info on the other side of the nakago? Do you have photos of the blade? Might help us get closer to figuring out who this guy was, that is if he was a real smith. My first guess on seeing this is Mizuta BTW... -t

Paul - You are correct, this was at the Clark Center in Hanford California. Something like a 4 hour drive from here with 6 other guys from the NCJSC. The swords were just so-so and did not photograph well. The armour made the trip well worth the effort. A very small museum but very nicely set up. -t

Jason - Good or bad we always will want to see pics, there are things all of us can learn from the image that cannot be presented in words... -t

Piers (Bug) - Why not post this in translation assistance? Perhaps Morita-san can help with this? I get "Nago-Jo something Zu" but since it is trimmed I can't be sure. I too like the idea that the true battle is only hinted at, everyone supposedly knowing Hideyoshi's story by this time so a hint is all most folks need and as suggested also gets you past the censors... -t (sorry had throw Bug in there, that just cracked me up so much)

Thank you Gentlemen - Some folks have pointed out that on some systems the photos take a minute to load - if you visit the site and click on GALLERIES give it a little time and all the albums will come up. It is "Under Construction" as I am still adding some photos and ephemera collected over the years and still in the process of titling some of the photos so do check in for updates. Cheers all, -t

Posted on behalf of a brother collector - Please if you encounter these items contact Wayne at the address below. -t To the Members of the Sacramento Japanese Sword Club - Unfortunately, a Sacramento-area sword collector was the victim of a burglary. The burglar will likely try to sell the stolen items. So, please be on the look-out for any of the following items. - Two Yasunori katana. One was dated Showa 18, is an unusually long 27 inches (the normal length is 26 inches, and is in Type 98 military mounts with family crests (mon). - A Yasutoku katana dated Showa 15, is 26 and 1/4 inches long, and is in Type 98 military mounts with family crests. - An Awataguchi Tadatsuna wakizashi with a 21 inch cutting edge. - A mounted Enju school katana approximately 30 inches long. - A late World War II Type 44 green scabbard. - A military gunto blade that was in the process of polishing. - Three or four Type 98 military mounts with tsunagi (wood filler blades). One of the mounts, unusually, had copper fittings. - A koto Morimitsu tachi approximately 28 inches long, ubu (the tang has not been shortened). - An unsigned koto Kamakura tachi with a hi (groove). - Several gold-inlayed menuki. The burglary occurred on Monday June 13 at approximately 9:30 a.m. The burglar was driving a navy blue pick-up truck. Evidence indicates the burglar was not knowledgeable about swords. Again, please be on the look-out for any of these items. Also, please feel free to forward this E-mail message to others who may see these items for sale. Thank you, Wayne _______________________________ Wayne Shijo KD Anderson & Associates 3853 Taylor Road, Suite G Loomis, CA 95650 Phone: 916/660-1555 Fax: 916/660-1535 Cell: 916/205-7032

All - Just spent the weekend scanning a bunch of old photos into the computer, these may be seen on my website http://www.toryu-mon.com under Galleries. Actually found more old photos while I was at it so in another week will be uploading those. Please take the time to visit the site and send me any feedback you may have on the articles I have posted as well. Thank you, -tch

Look for Kamon that feature fans (sensu)... -t

Piers- Can you post a close up of the small panel at upper left with writing in it? Have you read that or had others read it? Are there other seals or panels on the tryptich? Have you looked online for other examples of this image that have not been trimmed? Thinking out loud... -t

Jason et al - You might Google "Oni-Bôcho" for info on a most famous example that surely inspired many copies. FWIW at least a few folks felt this construction cut very well... -t

OK, So does anybody know which Sadahiro this is? Can we see more pics of the sword and the whole nakago? Keep the thread alive! -t

Can't help with an attribution but I can suggest you look at Edo period screen painting and other decorative arts for examples. These fan shaped panels were often used to create "windows" in larger works of art, and can be seen in Ranma and other architectural features... -t

Chris- In the late Muromachi blade shapes like this, moroha-zukuri, shobu-zukuri, kanmuri-otoshi and others became popular. Short stout tanto made for use as armor-piercers from that era could all generally be called yoroi-doshi which means "armor-piercer". Double thick hira-zukuri blades are most often described as such. They again become popular in the late-Edo period. I would study the shapes of dated examples from both eras and draw your own conclusions... A nice little piece BTW -t

Moroha zukuri, I would say late Muromachi given the color of the nakago, condition of the blade and complete lack of machi... -t

Kusunoki-san Regarding "de Gansu"; I was gonna say this was Kagoshima-ben but looked it up, you must be talking about Tasogare Seibei which is set in Shonai (Iwate) and not "Last" which is set in a weird Japanland not actually found on our planet... -t

Larry - There are lots of great images out there. Check the Gallery page on my website for a few odd old photos. Sorry no Yoshichika but a few other fellows from his era. I have more that I hope to post soon so stay tuned... -t

Did not see a good topic or forum to add this to, but if you know where that is let me know. http://www.hokkesaburo.com/ A neat website I was recently introduced to. Maybe oldhat to some but thought I would share. If there is a place for links besides the ones on the top-page do let me know. Thanks, -t

Jon - We are indeed still having the NTHK Shinsa at the Tampa Show - Uncle Al Bardi is doing a great job promoting his event and ours - we anticipate a very successful weekend to rival the recent San Francisco Shinsa - I personally am looking forward to meeting our East Coast cousins and enjoying several days of productive sword study. Hope you all can make it, -t

Bunsei date, look for the san dai of this line and I think you'll find a good match. -t

Indeed nice sword, Student of Suishinshi Masahide - studied in Edo and then returned to work in Higo his home province. Would love to see more of that blade... -t

I suspect not all of Yoshichika's works were western milled steel... -t

Leonard you are most welcome - @John I think the original post had these as Goto - I think if you look at the presentation of the leaves you can almost see the gold dots of dew, also you've got gold, copper and shakudo - not Goto I'm thinking but under the influence anyway... -t

Gosuriage Kotoku (kao) Hon'Ami Kotoku perhaps? -t

Leonard - I didnt see the signature in the earlier photos, though I do want to see it - I was speaking of the blade shape - if this is a "tanto" it does not appear to be the right shape for Shodai Nagayoshi - check whatever references you have and try to match this shape to a period (era) - from there we can look for schools and then maybe your smith... -t "licking the mune"

Leonard - First off, not bad. Not great either but the image is uncommon enough that they are a pleasure to see just because they are different. As stated the immediate impression is that the quality is not first rate but there aren't a lot of those floating around undiscovered anyway. Goto themes and Goto style was copied all over the country by generations of artists so Goto-esque is not such a bad call even if no school is apparent. Pics of the back would be cool. And I think your theme is Myoga - ginger, but I could be wrong... -t