Paz

I do love naoishi style blades , finding them for sale is the problem.

As chris just mentioned. Reminds me One of the best cutting blades I've ever used is the Hanwei paul chen Tori XL. In the US its about 800 dollars or cheaper. Another great hanwei cutting blades are the bamboo mat blade which were tested on hard targets.

Hi all if your after a good book to read please take a look at "Tokyo before tokyo " by Timon screech. Recently released. Available on amazon and about history of the Edo period and its art. Timon screech was my professor in London and I was fortunate to study with him during my Masters. Great lecturer and knows his stuff. Kind regards

Thanks Austin I also highly recommend this channel and its videos

Hey @Ryewhat does your dojo recommend ? does it have to be a nihonto and not any Japanese blade ie a Chinese replica ? As a Chinese replica will be better and cheaper

Thanks Steve. That means the next sword is going to be very expensive lol

Hey Steve Terukado is my second blade. Papered and signed. It is a 54cm wakizashi. About fakes and forgeries, are eluding to people who buy from ebay or general off a whim. I belive if you buy from a reputable seller from Japan or USA, and it has hozon then you are on the right path. I have a funny feeling their is a particular seller in the UK whom I'm not going to mention, that may have or have gotten away with selling fakes. For a price of around 4k upwards. The reason I suspect this is because they hardly ever mention important information about the blades their selling. Regards

Can confirm the above. Also purchased a blade of his. I'm currently reading through conissour of the Japanese sword, for more info

Hey Grey out of sheer curiosity how much would it cost to get this in a suitable condition? Would this have to be sent to Japan. And can it even be restored ?, thanks

Well I just been quoted 200 bucks to use them from Japan. I dont have a choice , until EMS get their routes sorted. But I've heard positive things about UPS, and plus they have their own clearing depot too.

That's good to know John. I thought FedEx had completely stopped swords.

Did the sender not give you an option such as UPS? I'm hoping senders realize that DHL don't offer this service. And that DHL at least stop collecting swords from sellers. So frustrating. As far as I'm aware UPS and EMS (parcelforce uk) are the only legit couriers. If anyone has any other recommendations I'd be grateful.

Hi Rich I've also heard inconsistent info on DHL sending swords and around the UK. As far as I'm aware UPS are the only ones that can be used. FedEx don't deal with swords either. What a balls ache

I'm leaning towards UPS. I heard mixed things about DHL carrying swords. Dealers such as Aoi are asking for increased shipping prices aswell. Which is fine as long as it gives us an option of who to choose.

Yep northern Europe. I think Italy Spain , and souther Europe is fine. What i don't get is that other couriers seem to be flying , so it must be the route that EMS use. I'm a bit confused.

Hi all just a word of caution if your importing from Japan. EMS has stopped flying to the UK from Japan due to the Ukraine war. I had a uchiko ball from tozando which has now been sent back to the sender. However I beleive that other couriers are still flying apparently. Regards (Ps mods. If you beleive this should go to another section please do)

Thanks!

Hi all. I took these pictures in 2014 when I visited the national museum in Tokyo. Can anyone with a keen eye identity these swords. It was so long ago and I dont have the museum descriptions at all. I only managed to find them as I went through old photos of my trips. There most likely quite famous. Thanks .

Problematic going forward how exactly, please elaborate. Thing is some members have managed to get their items from Japan without an issue into the UK , or having to pay duties. I beleive it comes down to what you write on the invoice, weather its attached to the front so it can be read. And then it's who deals with it at customs. DHL are hit and miss and are not clear on their import policy. While parcelforce seem to work provided you give them enough information. What I gather from Tony's unique situation Is that the auction house did not state at all what the item was, nor provide any further info which would be treated suspiciously by border force. And this lead to Tony having to complete the paperwork himself and provide invoices. I was asked for a copy of the invoice by parcelforce customs even though they were attached to the front. But all I said was antique over a 100 years old. But they were never seized. The best way to do this as most others would agree, and one member recently did with success is. Invoice attached to front Antique over .....years handforged Date of manufacture Name of Smith Customs tariff code How much paid in gbp Purpose of use ( private collection) And possibly a copy of hozon papers attached to front.

Apparently this has now changed according to another thread. To 9706.100.00. I wish to ask @Lareon. Both these swords came from USA, and I gather two were packed Into once container /box. Did the invoice declare how much you paid? And did the swords arrive in London ? What I gather is that border force went by the words saying "machine made" and two being packed together. You must be absolutely furious at the sellers and the problems they have caused by writing that on the front paperwork. Have you reached out to the seller for any compensation for what is there mistake, and putting you through this. It seems that border force have taken the sellers words for it , over yours. But I'm wondering shouldn't have bf seen how much you paid and thought about it. And I have been pondering the same thing, who can be accepted as a trusted authority. By guess is a museum rep, if token society is not always given the recognition that it should . I've now ordered a wakizashi and have decided to write on the invoice that I am a token society member along with their website. I really wish you the best Tony.

Another factor I wish to consider as someone who did Iaido (as few members here). Alot of the waza was done in seiza sitting position to cutt the opponent in front of you sat in a seiza position. I've seen opinions by some, which I do tend to agree with, that these techniques would have been done with a wakizashi. As a wakizashi from seiza is easier to draw and cut also , the use of one hand. As the scenario would have you indoors sat opposite a would be target. I wish to add that samurai may have found longer short sword blades such as o wakizashi, as definite suitable second swords as these could be used effectively in an indoor brawl. This may have initiated a demand for o wakizashi, who knows ?. My intention or what I wish to learn is that, why would you make a longer wakizashi, when a simple short sword would suffice and save time. It all points to reasons of practical use by either samurai or common folk. And not "just" art objects. Thanks for the links above which I am going to read through. Regards

Hi all. Just been doing some research around o wakazashi, specially blades which are around 54cm. I've read that some Tachi or katana were shortend during the Edo period due to regulations from the shogunate. Are some of these o wakazashi former long swords ? I have one here which is over 50cm (signed by fujiwara Terukado edo period). however the nakago is signed and has only one mekugi hole, which signifies that it was not shortend. What was the purpose of making longer wakazashi during peacetime ? The only answer I muster is for common people. Ie merchants. Thanks

Thanks all managed to get the copy from Berlin for 50 quid. The best I can find to be fair. And yes Michael from digging around it seems this is book is probably the most essential of reads. Thanks

Thank you @ROKUJUROthe German website has the best offering for 40 quid. it will have to do. @Shugyoshathanks John

Hi all. I believe many of you are very familiar with the titled book. I'm desperately trying to get hold of it, and so far the best price is around 70 gbp from America and I beleive shipping not included. Does anyone in the UK have this book in good condition, and would they like to sell it ? Have they got to a point where the book has been read , and is just lying around collecting dust. ? I know this is a far fetch, but im at a wits end trying to get hold of it for a reasonable price. If so please PM me thanks.