DanielM

Many many thanks, specially for Bruce who made a lot of useful research.... For Jussi I plan to go end of next year November probably 2or 3 days in Tokyo, 4 days around Nara and 4 or 5 days around Niigata but nothing is fixed yet Again many thanks for your help

Hello members I would like to obtain NBTHK papers for at least 2 blades from my collection and some kodogu also. I hope I will be able to go to Japan end next year ….probably my last long trip as I am already 79 If not I will send these ….directly to Japan or via Bob Benson in Hawai? So could anyone give me a reliable contact in Japan (that I can contact and meet next year (that will keep the items and bring these to the Shinsa) and of course I will pay for the service. I intend to spend 8 days at least and I have another demand could you recommend me 1 or 2 museums where I could see koto Soshu blades (sunnobi tanto)…if possible Hiromitsu or Akihiro or Masahiro shodai…I thank you in advance for any help. PS the 2 blades are in good polish conditions , in shirasaya, one is a shinto mumei so just Hozon expected - the second is a koto partly signed good candidate for higher papers.

Many many thanks Colin T and Dale for this "common" information....and similar exemple...aizu-shoami is certainly the best choice...it was very helpfull for me all the best Daniel

Could you please help me identifying a school for this tsuba…all I can say ..it looks like a copy of kaneie goose tsuba. Dimensions 8.3 x 8.1 cm and thickness 3 mm in the center 4. 3 on the rim Many thanks in advance for your comments

Hello Saint Just You ask us an extremely important question...is it better to leave a valuable Japanese sword to a museum or to sell it to a collector who will take care of it? I'm afraid there is no satisfactory answer... -On the death of the careful collector this piece can very well be used by a member of his family who having no knowledge will let it rust or worse... thinking he is a samurai will use it to cut branches in his garden... -As for the museum…I speak from experience having been a volunteer in a large museum in Brussels…many pieces are languishing in poorly ventilated and poorly adapted reserves… Here's a striking example...in 1980 Dr. Walter A. Compton donated 200 swords from his large collection to the Boston Fine Art Museum where a new wing was created with Japanese capital. A wing where students could see and study quality swords (reference Token Bijutsu Journal No. 3 and 4. from 1980) Probably in the 90s this wishful thinking was realized…. But in 2013...30 years after this wishful thinking...I planned a trip to New York and Boston and I sent an email (3 months before my visit) to the curator of the Boston Museum stating that I wanted to see if possible a "Fukuoka Ichimonji" blade. I got the following response: We do have some blades from this school but unfortunately they are in reserve and we do not have the staff to show them to you, we have a visit once a year from a Japanese expert who comes maintain our blades but he will not be there during your visit…. So I went to Boston where I remember seeing 1 naginata blade and a beautiful collection of tsuba and other kodogu…what a disappointment…. So I don’t know what to advise you….perhaps the Samurai Museum in Berlin? Janssens Collection? Museum solely dedicated to Samurai objects

Many many thanks SteveM...realy you are of a great help for this forum I wish you all the best Daniel

Please could somebody help me translating, identifying a signature of a tsuba....all I can say it is a shibuishi end Edo or Meiji tsuba....many thanks in advance Daniel

Hello David, This tsuba seems effectively very interesting, your photo shows very well the tekotsu. What is your opinion concerning the design? it looks more or or less similar to a tsuba that was offered for sale by Gold Tier a few months ago ...I join a screen shot of it? Thanks for your comments Daniel

Thank you Chris and Mauro it is probably an unrecorded artisan end 19th century. thanks again and all the best Daniel

Many thanks Jean....I go for Kazu Masa All the best Daniel

Hello, Could anyone please help me translating a tsuba signature…I suppose it is in soshu script. 3 kanji: Ichi (or I. or kazu). /. ? / Tsukuru? It is on an iron tsuba. Most probably end EDO. Voluntary corroded to imitate old Katsushi tsuba? Many many thanks in advance

Hello Jeremy, Thanks for the advice....I will do that Cheers

Hello, Could anyone please help me translating a tsuba signature…I suppose it is in soshu script. 3 kanji: Ichi (or I. or kazu). /. ? / Tsukuru? It is on an iron tsuba. Most probably end EDO. Voluntary corroded to imitate old Katsushi tsuba? Many many thanks in advance

Incredible, many many thanks to Dale, SteveM and Piers D. you are really of great help. ...

Hello members In the past you have been of good help translating a signature on one of my tsuba…So I have another one and if you could help identifying the maker or the school that would be marvelous It is iron decorated in kebori not very often seen on iron…well finished with a thiner edge Many many thanks in advance Daniel

Dear Paul As you said "If this piece was really made by Nara Toshiharu it would be worth a fortune " and I agree with you so I tried to find references on internet and I find at Aoi Art ...8 pieces of kodogu made by Toshiharu...with NBTHK certificate...Tokubetsu Hozon for about 1500€...??? there is something wrong somewhere? What do you think?

Many thanks for your help Paul and MauroP. Inside this box there is a Fuchi and a Kashira Nara school but the quality is not the one of that master.... thank you for your quick reply...it is veery helpfull Best regards to you

Hello, I would be very grateful if you could help me translating an inscription on a box containing a Fuchi and a Kashira I join 2 photos of the inscription - I have no other photo as I have not yet bought this item - it could depend of the translation.... Many many thanks in advance

Many many thanks for your time SteveM, I will take the regular name Yamayoshi Katsu...it sounds nice Japanese linguage is very difficult...but their works are so beautifull..even if we understand only a little part... All the best Daniel

Hello Samouraijack, It looks like ko kinko sanmai tsuba is the reverse side similar? if you look at the Nakago ana do you see the 3 layers? But it is possible also a ko kink plain Shakudo... Interesting tsuba anyway

Hello, May I ask your help for the translation of a Mei on a kozuka and if possible to identify the artisan. Many many thanks in advance It is a very simple red copper kozuka with the head of Daruma and on the back side we have on the upper right …I read (but I am maybe wrong) Miya +Moto +Mu +Sashi +? +? +I (meaning = intention) This is I supose a tribute to a painting of Daruma that Musashi did when he was old. In the lower left …it is much more difficult for me Yama(or San) +Hoo (or Kanba) +Ichi (or itsu). +Tsukuru I have no idea about this artisan? Many thanks for your help Daniel

Yes I was a little bit surprised of the "non" response about this topic..;but I suppose it is a difficult subject? anyway I thank you very much Dan Tsuba and Matsunoki...for their proposals. I will thus investigate these 2 suggestions. Legend in Japanese art from Holy is effectively a very good book...unfortunately I sold it a few years ago...because I have the Ko ji Hoten. also interesting. and possibly more complete? ...but I did not find the 3 man (or woman?) in it... Again thank you for your research All the best Daniel

Could anyone tell me what is the signification of this design? Chinese general? or? Many many thanks in advance

Daimyo aikuchi I would like to share with you an interesting discovery that i tryed to place into its historical context….any comments is welcome. It is a Daimyo aikuchi koshirae, with a simple black laquer saya decorated in gold laquer with cherry flower and a phenix bird all with fine details. The tsuka with samé without lacing and 2 round menuki with a central dragon and six Kirimon. And a sober Futakoromono with Kozuka and Kogai Kyo Goto school Suisen no zu (Daffodil design) The real interest concern the Kashira, the Fuchi/Koiguchi, the Kogiri and the Kurigata, in simple black horn but decorated in gold laquer with 2 Mon on each ..the « Kuro Mochi Tate Mokko » and the « Tanoji » they are the primary and secondary Mon of the Clan « Hotta from Sakura ». I suppose that the union of these 2 Mon is due to a special event..as a marriage or an anniversary or an important birth….as normaly for the day to day wear only the primary mon is in use. The Hotta from Sakura is not a very old clan, founded by Hotta Masamori in around 1626 thanks to his relation with the nurse of the Shogun Iemitsu (Lady Kasuga) It is also not a great clan with high revenue but as this is a mid to end Edo period koshirae it has most probably belongued to Hotta Masayoshi (1810-1864) or his son. This is the 5th Daimyo of Sakura and an important political person He was one of the principal of the « Rangaku » it is an organisation in charge of the study the knowledges of the Holland people residing in Deshima – more specificaly the medicine, the astronomy and the military equipment (let us remember that the Holland people are the only foreigners authorized to commerce with Japan from 1641 to 1853) He is a supporter of the opening of Japan (in 1853-1854 Commodore Perry and the black ships...try to force contact with Japan) 1855 Masayoshi is at the head of the « Roju » replacing Abe Masahiro. He is now the principal adviser for the Shogun, control the relations between Nobles and the different Daimyos.) He is also in charge of the diplomatic contact with the american Townsend Harris and will be a co-signer of the Harris Treaty (without obtaining the agreament of the Emperor Komei (in favour of the joi faction – wanted to expell the foreigners by force if necessary….) At that period the shogun is Iesada, he is very ill and its succession give rise to a struggle between 2 factions… With these issues unresolved Hotta was replaced by Ii Naosuke Hotta Masayoshi resigned his posts in favour of his son but continued to support the Hitotsubashi partisans for the succession of the Shogun, which was opposed to Ii Naosuke and during the Ansei, purge of Hitotsubashi partisans, Hotta was placed under house arrest...where he died in 1864. Hotta Masatomo 6th Daimyo of Sakura, a son of Masayoshi had also some problems as during the Boshin war he was partisan for the Shogun...and as we know it is the Emperor faction that win the battle… So we can understand that Hotta Masayoshi and his son where after a rather glorious period not very happy at the end...and probably in financial difficulties...and having priviledged contact with Holland people...they could have sold this (or given) this aikuchi to one of these barbarian...i know it is speculation but as a coincidence ? this aikuchi was discovered in an old Holland province ….where it was possibly kept in a Holland family for several generations….but ...maybe the reality is totaly different...who knows….thanks for reading.