Soshin

Hi Everyone, One month away so I wanted to post a update as I will be having a table all three days with my whole Tosogu collection at the upcoming Northeast Japanese Sword Show. Here is a press release sent to me yesterday by Bill Green the shows organizer and promoter. It is shaping up to be a great show and I sincerely hope to see many of my NMB friends in person at the show to discuss the study of Nihonto, Tosogu, and Japanese history and culture in general. :D Please note I have much less hair now.

Hi Grev, I still don't see how that would be at all that helpful.

Hi Grev, It not that simple. Overall shape alone cannot be used exclusively used for age determination of the tsuba as the shapes were often reused in later time periods. With that said you look like you are off to a good start. I will do some more checking and reply if I find something.

Hi Kunitaro-san, I completely agree with Jon. Are all of these wonderful examples in your collection? I have a few nice tsuba but nothing like what you have been showing. :D

Hi Kunitaro-sama, The lacquer work on the saya is excellent and very beautiful. Thanks for sharing. :D

Hi Robert H., Very nice thank you for sharing.

Hi Kunitaro-sama,

Hi Jon, This is an important topic to discuss in my opinion thank you starting this topic. Don't own any to share but have been looking at a number of them online for sale mostly in Japan. This will likely be my next big purchase come next year. The set I purchase will be at NBTHK Hozon level or with a guarantee and I will submit shortly after purchase in Japan. If I buy something in the USA I will likely submit it to the NTHK or NTHK(NPO) if unpapered. P.S. Here is a link to a really nice set on the web: http://www.juyo-bi.com/toppei-koshirae.html.

Hi Thierry, There is also a good example of a nodachi on page 206, item #112 in the Art of the Samurai Japanese Arms and Armor, 1156-1868. It is mounted with a normal sized tachi like tsuba made of plain gilt copper. I really like Seven Samurai movie! :D Here is a another good example from the web. It looks very impressive: http://nihonto.us/MUROMACHI%20SPOKED%20TSUBA.htm.

Hi Hamish, Yes in my opinion the tsuba looks to be the work of the Aizu Shoami school from the late Edo Period to early Meiji Period. Overall I like the tsuba.

Hi Everyone, eBay is also down for me on the east coast of the USA at 8:38 AM. I wonder if this is a cyber attack on the companies servers? I mostly sell/trade things on NMB or at Japanese sword shows. While I no longer sell much on eBay I do buy on the site so this does affect me.

Hi Everyone, The favourite piece in my collection is a small NBTHK papered iron tsuba by the great Nobuie! Here is the view of the tsuba from a display box. Enjoy... :D

Hi Ford, Nice film.

Hi Geraint, I agree. This is a large late Edo Period to early Meiji Period tsuba with no connection to a nodachi. Sometimes the early nodachi were mounted with small tsuba reative to thier long length.

Hi Jason, No disrespect but if you asking if this sword blade has been oil quenched or authentic (which means water quenched) you obviously haven't seen many authentic Japanese swords in hand. I would recommend avoiding eBay and other online auction sites, taking a long break and visiting a Japanese sword show or finding a study group or club nearby. The standard excuse I often hear online is that there ain't any shows or groups nearby does fly with me period. If you are really interested you will make it a high priority to attend a show or a study group or club. One other point to all the NMB members that don't trust me. I don't sell Japanese swords and am only offering this advice to Jason so that he can avoid be cheated out of his hard earned money, getting angry, and quitting the hobby.

Hi Evan, The second English book sliver in color focuses on Ko-Tōsho, Ko-Kachūshi, Shoami, Akasaka, Kyo-Sukashi, Owari, Kanayama, Yagyu, Hirata, Miyamoto Musashi, Shimizu, Hayashi, and Nishigaki schools. I might have missed or added one from the first book as I am at work and don't have the book in fount of me as I am typing on my iPhone. Here is more information about the book: http://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/books/b671-sasano-Japanese-sword-guards-masterpieces-sasano-collection. P.S. Just updated with the full lists of schools in this book. At 342 pages it is a wonderful reference for sukashi tsuba.

Hi Evan , While there is overlap between the two books the second book contains some tsuba that are not found in the first book and vice-versa. The second book covers fewer schools but the schools it does cover are in much greater detail in terms of examples. I hope you understand what I am trying to say. Looking at both books you would quickly see what I am talking about. I know the book are not cheap but try to get both idle you can.

Hi Evan, As Marius K. stated the first book is also helpful. I find both books very help and often use them. The color photos of the first book are helpful in determining what the color of the patina should look like.

Hi Grev, I think the term 'San Diego' is unnecessary. They are just Ko-Kinko tsuba from a shipwreck. Would love to see if some from the shipwreck often seen in the above photo have been restored.

Hi Evan, I concur about the purchase of the book discussed above by Steve, Mariusz, and others. I have had that book now for a few years and still use it often.

Hi Guido, Very nice thanks for sharing! :D

Hi Ford, I was going to PM you my apology as it is a bit off topic and has nothing to do with kozuka. Sorry for misunderstanding your comments as condescending and argonaute. I was simply agreeing with the owner of the kozkuka that it was gimei. Now with the additional information provided by Jean and Markus I know it is shoshin and not gimei. I often take the same approach in my research of my own tosogu in my collection until I find evidence to conclude otherwise that the signature is not fake but authentic.

Hi Kevin, I am going to purchase Markus's book next week which is intended to be a meikan. I already have a copy of Robert E. Haynes's Index of Japanese Sword Fittings and Associated Artists. It is only a Index and not a meikan by design which is a reference used to judge the authenticity of a signature.

Hi Ford, You don't understand my logic and I see little point in communicating it. I wanted evidence that the mei on the kozuka was of a consistent pattern and I found it. The case is closed in my book. You calling me arrogant is more then a bit hypocritical.

Hi Markus S., Thank you for even more good information. I PM you about your book I think it would be a good reference to buy. :D