Clive Sinclaire

Gentlemen (and Ford) There are already a number of westerners who are members of the NBSK, including mysel and although "gaijin friendly", the organisation is mostly designed to support artisans of the Japanese sword. It is felt that the NBTHK was unable to truely represent the interests of the artisans, especially with the withdrawal of official Bunka-cho funding following various "irregularities" at the NBTHK. This makes progress to higher levels such as Mukansa rank, impossible, and so there is a direct effect on the lives of artisans.There is, however, absolutely no reason why they cannot co-exist with the NBTHK which will continue to run the Sword Museum and shinsa. The NBSK seem to have a good relationship with Kokusa Tosogu-kai with several officials in common. In the longer term, there is a possibility that NBSK will run shinsa but would probably only run them at Hozon level, ie stating the authenticity of the sword only, as all other levels are seen as too commercialy orientated and this has been the route of problems at the NBTHK. Pierre's website explains the concept and details admirably. Clive Sinclaire

Hi all I have an ubu nagamaki in my collection which has a dished or concave shaped 8 sided tsuba. It is quite crude and has brass inlay similar to Namban work. I always thought that as the last 12 inches or so of the shaft is wrapped like a sword's tsuka, ito over same, the tsuba doesn't appear incongruous. Clive S

I met Mark Knofler once but sadly he had no Nihonto!

Brian I did value a mumei shinshinto sword with a reasonable koshirae that belonged to Eric Clapton a few months ago. It was OK but not worthy of the guitar god I am afraid! Clive

Gentlemen Slightly off the subject I know, but I understand that PM Putin is an admirer of Japanese swords and owns a first class Kanemitsu which was a gift. - interesting? Regards Clive

Gentlemen The hamon does not look like the work of Tadatsuna, seems to lack the naga-ashi and as the nakago has a very long okuri-machi the horimono, which are untypical, must be ato-bori. Not good overall I think, should be avoided. Clive

Hi Ed As it seems nobody has replied to you enquirey yet, the following maybe of some help athough I am away from my references at the moment so cannot check the detail of the following and hope it is of some help: This is not "official" paperwork as issued by one of the sword organisations but is nonetheless interesting. As it is dated in 1952, Japan was still enjoying the Allied occupation and swords had only recently been spared from confiscation and destruction. The Kunikane line of swordsmiths from Sendai claimed descent from the Hosho school, one of the 5 sub schools of Yamato-den and I believe there were 13 generations from the 1st generation Yamashiro Daijo in the early shinto period to the 13th generation in the Bakamatsu era. The distinctive feature, taken from the Hosho school, is that the jihada is pure masame-hada often resulting in small tata-ware which are considedered acceptable in Kunikane workmanshi. The Kunikane were retained by the Date clan in Sendai. As I said, I have none of my references to hand so I hope the above is accurate and I apologise for any errors! Regards Clive Sinclaire

Gentlemen Further quoting from Christies catalkogue on the Masao, it states that there is a "Silver habaki engraved with the characters for "hasamu-kyo" and "kiri-mu". What is the meaning of this, is it different from the nakago kiritsukr-mei or simply a different way of reading them? Clive

Hi Eric I assume that it was your sword and I was sorry not to be able to buy it. Do you know to what the name referred or what it meant? Regards Clive

Gentlemen Please forgive me if I am taking this thread in a slightly different direction, but I find the subject of named swords quite interesting. There was one for sale at Christies a few weeks ago, a mumei blade attributed to Suzuki Masao and inscribed on the nakago and described as a kiritsuke-mei, were the charcaters "Kiyomu Maru" translated as "Mist Pincher" the significance of which escapes me. As the fine sword had a bright red saya I think it may have been a kinno-to. Also a friend of mine owns a very good gendai wakizashi by a 20th century smith named Munemitsu. On the nakago is the smith's name and the characters "Shumpukan". This means "Hall of the Spring Wind" and is a reference to a poem which likens the slashing of a Japanese sword blade to the "lightening in the spring wind". This was also the name of Yamaoka Teshu's kendo dojo (as well as mine) and many shopping malls in Japan today! The original oshigata of this sword resides in the kamiza of my dojo and it is Sword 58 on the UK Sword Register on http://www.To-ken Society of Great Britain, should you wish to view it. Thanks for your indulgence. Clive Sinclaire

I don't think this looks anything like konuka-hada and the polish is so poor that it is hard to say what it is. Personally I can't see that the hamon looks anything like Hizen-to. Those that say the "nioguchi is wide" and can see ko-nie have far better eyes than I. If it were san-dai Tadayoshi, and in a reasonable polish, the jihada would be outstanding and not questionable. It is impossible for me to see any ji-nie in these pictures. If it does really look like Hizen-to you should also consider other smiths such as those from Aki-no-Kuni. On the otrher hand, it is Saturday and rather late! Clive

I was born on 6th August 1945 (Hiroshima day) and bought my first sword in 1967. It was rubbish but I did also buy Yumoto's "Samurai Sword" and started serious collecting. Now I only buy very occasionaly and have sold many swords over the last few years and bought only 3 good ones with the proceeds. I have seen the best in Japan and cannot aspire to these so would rather not compromise. Rising 64 years of age, still teaching kendo and drinking good sake! A sad old bugger! Clive

And I thought 1989 was Heisei gannen making 1996 Heisei 7. Clive

Guido / John If the sayagaki is dated Heisei 7, isn't that one year after he died in 1995? Clive

Guido old boy I was tempted to saying something about your persona non-grata staus, but another time maybe. I hope your lovely wife is OK. Clive

Gentlemen I am pleased that Barry made that statement regarding oshigata as it is absolutely true. I take some pleasure in that if you spend an hour on the boshi for instance, when you return the blade to the owner, you may know more about his sword than he does. Also it is possible for anyone to draw oshigata, all you need ideally is a sword with a reasonable polish, patience and some simple tools and the result is both very educational and satisfying. Have a go! Clive

CHIKUZEN KUNI KONGOBEIYO MORIYOSHI , then ? DAI TENBUN (1532-1554), I can't see the nagasa clearly but it is signed Honami Nishin. Not much help I am afraid! What does it say on the sword? Clive

Gary Yasuhiro used the name of Kunimori after he left Yasukuni Jinja and became the instructor of the Okura Tanrenjo in 1937. He was a talented pupil of Kasama Ikkansai Shigetsugu, arguably the best early Showa period (wartime) swordsmith. I think those price estimates are just a tiny bit ambitious in today's market. Clive

Mark Thanks for explaining that, all is now clear to me. Glad you like my scribbles, should be a new book out late summer. Regards Clive

Mark Forgive me for being a pain. I know some people like / collect specific schools of swordsmiths. I have a preference for Hizen-to myself and I can tell you exactly what appeals to me about them. You are not the first person that I have encountered with a likeing for Bungo Takeda (I am assuming it is not simply a price or e-bay thing), I simply would like to know what it is about them that appeals to you and what it is that motivates you to buy Tomoyuki in particular. In fact I believe a Fujiwara Takeda sword has snuck into my collection somewhere and I have a Yukinaga in for oshigata / appraisal at the moment. Regards Clive

Hi Gentlemen I see with interest your chats and views on this Bungo Tomoyuki wakizashi. I am interested in what you think about it in detail, as there seems little to recomend it but you all seem so keen. Maybe I am missing something and you would be kind enough to enlighten a poor old bloke like me as to what is the attraction. Best regards Clive

Brian I vaguely remember something like that too. Was it Asano Kanezane or Ozawa Masatoshi or someone like that? Maybe in a JSS/US Newsletter? Sorry but I am a bit vague on these smiths! Clive

Brian It is primarilly based on the Seki stamp but the whole nakago and inscription scream Showa-to. If this is doubted, then try importing it into Japan where it would be confiscated and destroyed as these swords remain illegal, as I am sure you are aware. I have never heard of a gendaito with the Seki or Showa kokuin because I am sure they do not exist. It does not matter that Seki was not an arsenal as we might understand it, it is the production method they used that defines them as Showa-to. I did not want Joe to be under any mistaken illusions that this might be gendai-to and buy it at gendai-to prices. I am sure it will not be properly forged or quenched and should be avoided by all those other than militaria collectors in my humble opinion. Clive

Joe It is not a question of "most likely a Showa-to"- it is certainly, definitely, no doubt, unquestionably so. Even if he made gendaito as you say, this is NOT one of them. Be in no doubt about this. Clive

This reads: Seki kokuin NOSHU JU TSUKAHARA KANETSUGU KIN SAKU, or so I believe. I am sure you realise that it is only a Showa-to. Clive Sinclaire