Soshin

Just a quick notice about the update of my personal collection website. I have the 2022 NBTHK shinsa results. Take a look and enjoy. https://shoutout.wix.com/so/1fO6vGxnM?languageTag=en

Here is notice about the second final sale notice for Rain Dragon Fine Arts. New lower price on fine (Katana) by Hamabe Toshinori (1796) + NBTHK. The asking price is $7,500 $4,850 USD. Here is a link for more information: Long Sword (Katana) by Hamabe Toshinori (1796) + NBTHK | Rain Dragon Fine Art (raindragonfineartandantiques.com). I will consider all best offers and thank you. https://www.raindragonfineartandantiques.com/so/b0O5oE1sQ?languageTag=en

Thank Bruno P., This more of a financial, tax, and official change. I am still going to participate and engage in this hobby through my website Tsuba Otaku and hear on NMB. I just want to focus on studying and research and not trying to sell, which is not an easy task and obtain the margin necessary to cover operational expenses.

Hi Brian, No problem going to kill the business to save the hobby so-to-speak. I will keep the Tsuba Otaku (www.tsubaotaku.com) website. There have been deaths in my family this year and the importance of enjoying one's short life has been made crystal clear to me. Need to pay off all the business debt and I should be home free to start attending shows again just for fun sometime next year. Looking forward to the Chicago Show 2023!

I miss Japan. Some Japan vacation photos from 2015. Take a look and enjoy. https://shoutout.wix.com/so/55O4V3MPo?languageTag=en

The business is closing! Notice of final sale from now until September 2022 all items are now discounted. All reasonable offers will be considered on items still on the business website. The website along with this form page will be removed in September 2022. https://www.raindragonfineartandantiques.com/so/bdO4KvArE?languageTag=en

Thank Dan K. for posting photos of this year's show and Mark Jones and family for all of their efforts each year. I am planning to attend next year's Chicago show and have it marked on my calendar.

Just a quick notice about the Business Liquidation Sale. Take a look and feel free to discuss politely. https://www.raindragonfineartandantiques.com/so/40O20xEJ_?languageTag=en

Just quick notice about the update of my personal collection website. I added photos of a new Ko-Kinkō Tsuba (古金工鐔). Take a look, enjoy, and feel free to discuss politely. https://shoutout.wix.com/so/91O20Lxp9?languageTag=en

Business Inventory Liquidation Sale! Click the link to find great deals. Collectors and dealers all are welcome. Moving forward notices for updates to this website will only be done once a month. Many of Japanese swords and fittings will be for sale at the upcoming Chicago Area Japanese Collectables and Sword Show. Check it here for more information: Chicago Japanese Samurai Sword Show - Show (chicagoswordshow.com). Feel free to discuss politely. https://www.raindragonfineartandantiques.com/so/c2N-hsk9S?languageTag=en

Notice about the update of the personal collection website. Moving forward notices for updates to the website will only be done once a month. Feel free to discuss politely. https://shoutout.wix.com/so/fcN-hp9FE?languageTag=en

About this issue, I was told the same thing Tom said above that all work on the books was stopped because of his heart attack a few years ago.

The closing price of $280 sounds reasonable to me... I really cannot see any detail in the photos (this is likely a good thing). LOL

Hello Mark S., Normally don't do this but you sent a PM as Mr Kunio Izuka was my Japanese sword teacher as being a member of the New York Token Kai. I looked up examples of the 1st generation Omi no Kami Hojoji Tachibana Masahiro work and found a few examples that match very well with your sword's signature. I am looking at them on page 185 of SHINTO-MEIKAN by Markus Sesko. This sword I think would be worth sending it to shinsa.

Just a quick notice about the update of the Tsuba Otaku website. Take a look and enjoy. Feel free to discuss politely. https://shoutout.wix.com/so/9dN_DEolz?languageTag=en

I cannot attend this year, but I fully recommend going to this show if you have the chance. Mark and family always do a great job with the setup and running of this show in my opinion. I hope to be able to attend next year.

Dear Marco R., Sorry, I get a Facebook error message when I try and view your link.

I think these menuki likely date from the Momoyama Period. I do agree with John's call of Mino. I don't see the extensive openwork around and among the design that I have seen on examples of Muromachi Period Ko-Mino menuki.

I cannot attend the show this year, but I wanted to take some time to recommend attending this show if you can. I have always really enjoyed attending this show the past few years. Mark Jones and family does a great job of promoting and organizing the show.

Hi Bruno P., Yes, I see and agree with Shonai Shoami influences. I wish the tsuba was signed. I had a ji-sukashi tsuba without the gold zogan sell out from my collection in 2021. It was made of the same base metal also with black lacquer, but it had a really nice silver fukurin.

The sword on the eBay link was not at all interesting to me. I would recommend you keep saving your money and avoid the eBay impulse buys that myself and other have made when we are new the hobby. If you just want to buy something I would invest into some good reference books to expand your knowledge. This is just sharing just my own personal opinion. I hope you find it helpful.

Hi Steve M., In answer to your question not really sure and looking back at all the photos I do have only this one photograph that might show a loop at the end of the tang (nakago 中心). The sword is still with the professional Japanese sword polisher so additional photographs are not possible at this time.

Just wanted to share an update about my Kanemoto Katana that posted about previously here. I wanted to get the sword check out by a professional Japanese sword polisher before sending it to shinsa. Likely now the shinsa for this sword will be sometime next year in 2023. The professional Japanese sword polisher suggested a complete (finish polish) shiage due the amount of rust on the back of the blade (mune 棟). Here are some photos from me and the polisher showing what I am talking about. Feel free to politely to discuss.

BaZZa, I am a big fan of Pawn Stars and even bigger fan of Mike Yamasaki. Thanks for sharing the video. I have watched the episode before and enjoyed watching it again.

The next NBTHK shinsa for tosogu is February. Here is a link from the American Branch of the NBTHK. https://nbthk-ab2.org/nbthk-shinsa-schedule/