Soshin

Nice little tsuba. It would look very nicely mounted on a tantō along with an appropriate set of other fittings.

Hello Robert, The iron does look grainy in appearance, but overall, it is a nice tsuba. I have always liked the design and symbolism of dragon flies in Japanese art. I have 22 artists in my references that used name Masayoshi with the Kanji "正義". Of the 22 artists seven of the artists used a cipher (kaō 花押) in addition to their signatures. Since you tsuba does not have a cipher on it along with the signature those artists can be eliminated bring the total to 15 different possible artists assuming the artist that made your tsuba is recorded or if we are dealing with a false signature (gimei 偽銘) as sometimes the cipher is left off of the signature intentionally. Sorry about not having any more helpful free information. I would send it for formal written appraisal (shinsa 審査) in Japan to get more information.

Hello everyone, Just wanted to share a preview of a tsuba that I am photographing and writing about for my personal collection website: Tsuba Otaku | Reflections of a Not So Empty Mind. This tsuba is part of personal collection and not for sale therefore the propose of the is new topic is to just promote the education and learning of our shared hobby of collecting Japanese sword fittings. This is a Katchūshi (armorsmiths) tsuba from the collection of my late Japanese sword teacher Kunio Izuka of the New York Tōken Kai. It was purchased via auction from Bonham Auction House New York in Nov. 2020. More information about Kunio-sensei can be found here. I think it dates from the late Muromachi Period comparing it to similar tsuba I have had. I have found this tsuba published in a Japanese book about tsuba that I purchased from Grey Doffin years ago at the Tampa Japanese Sword and antiques show. My wife Tamaki is helping me with the translation of the few pages of this book regarding this tsuba and more information about the book itself. I will share more details on April 1st when I update my personal collection website. I find it interesting that the raised rim of the tsuba a separate piece of iron, feels hollow, and that plate of the tsuba retains much of the original black lacquer applied to the surface. This is more visible in the second photograph. This a small tsuba relatively speaking and likely made for a wakizashi and measures 7.4 cm wide by 7.6 cm high. Feel free to politely discuss and ask questions. Thank you for reading.

Dear Dan, I just was email by Bob Elder this morning. The Orlando Show is officially a go for the July 9-11, 2021. I have updated my website will all the details here: CONTACT | Rain Dragon Fine Art and Antiques, LLC. on this webpage in the Show Schedule 2021 section. Let me know if you have any questions.

Hello Chuck J, I have a copy of the above discussed book by Barrie B. I purchased it from Grey Doffin. Here is this website: Store | Japanese Sword Books & Tsuba (japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com). I did some translations of a few pages from the book with the help of my wife for my most recent article for the JSSUS. A online copy of that article can be found here on my website: GALLERIES (tsubaotaku.com). It is at the bottom of the webpage in a section titled "Published Articles by the Tsuba Otaku".

Dear Dan C., I talked with Bob Elder via Facebook message and he is considering the weekend of July 10 for the 2021 Orlando Show. He still discussing it with the hotel and no contact has been signed yet. Happy Thanksgiving!

Hello Dan, I am unsure. I know Bob Elder was trying to have a show this year but it was cancelled twice in June and October due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I just send him a direct message on Facebook asking what the date is for a Orlando show in 2021 as I want to have a table. I will keep you updated once I have more information.

Hello Dan C., I am going to Orlando Show in 2021 and will have a table. I am looking to meeting you in person.

This has really depressed me and I have considered stop collecting Japanese swords. He passed away just before my birthday and I learned about it on my birthday. My last interaction with Kunio-sensei was in January of this year when I participated in kantei session at the regular club meeting. I scored my first Atari (当) and I was very happy and proud of my work. I knew the answer because I once had a tanto that a previous owner had attributed to Atawaguchi-Yoshimitsu. Here is also a photo of the middle Muromachi Period, Yakuōji Yoshimitsu Tanto (薬王寺吉光短刀) that lead me to do the research necessary to get the atari score at kantei. Little did I know this would be my last interaction with him. I feel very sad. I am sure people here will likely make fun of my post and its typos, but life is a very precious thing and I could careless of the peanut gallery opinion of me.

I talked to Fred Weissberg and decided to roll my table reservation fee over until next year show which is set for August 6-8, 2021. I am very much looking forward to next year's show.

I have decided not to go. I have just cancelled everything in regards to the San Francisco Show 2020. Hope to be at the show next year.

I sent a email off to Grey seeking a tsuba box and apologizing for not having the money to purchased a Satsuma reference book like I talked earlier about with him. I also randomly asking if he will go to the San Fransico show not having read his post. Since my very first show Tampa 2011 Grey has been there. I have a table reversed, flight booked, hotel reversed, and vacation time saved up from the day job. Right now not sure if I will go. COVID-19 cases are now spiking in California, Texas, Florida, and Arizona. I feel sad.

Just starting this topic to publicly thank the officers and Board of Directors of the New York Tōken Kai (ニューヨーク刀剣会) for putting together such a wonderful club meeting in midtown Manhattan yesterday. I also want to thank Markus Sesko for putting on such a wonderful Powerpoint presentation on an interesting kozuka made by Funada Ikkin that he recently discovered in the Met’s collection. Funada Ikkin was a very highly respected late Edo machibori master working in the Goto Ichijo tradition. Here is a link the New York Tōken Kai for more information about the club: http://www.ny-tokenkai.org/.

Thanks for the updated information Grey. Atlanta would be a easier trip for me with a cheaper flight.

I had a table this year but I have not heard anything about a 2020 Tampa show.

I am going to be there all three days with a table. Sorry Fred and again I would like to apologize. I hope there is no ill blood between us especially in case our tables are next to each other.

Yes, Ford I don't make tsuba professionally, taken any of your paid correspondence courses despite all the emails, or trained in a traditional apprenticeship in Japan and therefore not quality to post and/or reply on this public discussion group. LOL! LOL! With that said thank you for share your knowledge and experience you are a great resource to community. I am going to post this tsuba on my website homepage as bit of public service announcement about these type of reproductions coming out of Japan. I am going to use this tsuba on my martial arts training sword which needs a new handle anyway and the current modern tsuba looks really bad. I can't wait to send my training sword to get remounted. I just need to get new menuki and thinking about going with modern phoenix or dragon menuki. If anyone has any suggestions let me know via PM or email.

Well this post has finally ran its course and the signal to noise ratio is getting way too low now to be helpful. Did learn something from Ford wielding his verbal ax along side Henry's cringe humor. Kinko is really not my thing but I am still willing and able to learn more. My tsuba is a fair better quality compared to what is now being listed on Yahoo! Japan and other Japanese auction sites. A friend sent this to me for reference. The same design but the workmanship is very poor compared to my reproduction. Spotting this tsuba I am linking to as a reproduction would have been easy in my opinion. It makes me think it was made as a copy of a copy. https://www.sendico.com/ayahoo/item/h411428393 Sorry the link above doesn't work anymore but the photos were posted by Stephen.

Hello Fred, I am deeply sorry for my arrogance. Consider this a formal apology. Thanks for the helpful information and your support of the American Branch of the NBTHK.

Thank you so much Alex. This information is very helpful to my research. I liked you comment but also wanted to thank you more directly.

All of your comments are of a commercial nature becuase you make tsuba and which are not free or cheap! Talk about a double standard!

There you go StevenK with personal attacks again. When did I present 'faux facts'? See my quote below. I just stated that this tsuba was the 'focus of my current study' and that I was thinking it was maybe late Edo Period or Meiji Period.

It is three layer construction (sanmai) and not a reproduction. Many kinko tsuba were made using this method as early as the Momoyama Period. Here is a tsuba made with yamagane sanmai. The core is made of copper.

Ok guys. Stop it with rude comments attaching me personally. Yes I have reported one comment which is really not helpful or informative. The poster who is new here has likely haven't seen my many other posts and replies of this website starting back as early as 2008. The tsuba is a reproduction but still is a nice and likely vintage reproduction and will be noted as such on my website. I disagree with Ford on one point when he says that it lack craft merit. It displays a remarkable level of craftsmanship in the casting and hand finishing of the reproduction itself. Like I said and it should be emphasize I didn't pay much for it so no harm was really done. Case is now closed time to move on.

Not cast at all or a reproduction. Many of your guys grasping at straws. Thanks anyway but closing down and need to get back to work.