cabowen

http://www.nihontocraft.com/nihonto_hamon_hataraki.html

If you have a look at some texts I think they should answer your questions quicker and easier than the time it would take to type an answer.

I would be happy to but first, you need to get confirmation from Fujishiro san that he will 1) ship internationally and 2) make payment arrangements. Please remember that shipping this will probably cost more than the oil. Also keep in mind that to send money to Japan by bank wire will cost many times more than the product. If he will take postal money orders that will lessen the fees considerably but not all countries have postal money orders with Japan- does Australia? He may not want to hassle with postal money orders as well. How many want to spend $60-$70 for $5 worth of oil? If someone wants to organize a group buy, say at least 10 or more large bottles, send me the funds (to include postage), I can get them from Fujishiro san when I am in Japan this summer and mail them back to the organizer to distribute.

Interesting. I think it important to also remember that the average height of the Japanese has increased markedly over the past 100 years. Many swords just under 2 shaku were just as likely to be used by samurai who were smaller in stature as a practical matter. Even in WWII we see many gunto made right around 2 shaku. I would think a good place to get some actual data on this would be to look into the records of sword production said to still survive. Perhaps in the records of the Tadayoshi/Hizen Daimyo or some shinshinto smiths there exists details about who the swords were ordered for, specifically. We do know the economic fortunes of the ruling class deteriorated as the Edo era ran its course, with samurai became more and more indebted. As a result, we also know that swords were sold, pawned, etc. No doubt wakizashi formerly ordered by samurai ended up in merchant hands as time advanced. We also know that Daimyo and the upper levels of the samurai class were indeed able to afford wakizashi and kodogu by the top artists of the Edo period. Thus, it is quite uncertain when it comes to many wakizashi to determine exactly who owned and wore them through time. This is what the price differential addresses- the uncertainty. WIth daito, there isn't this uncertainty- daito were exclusive to the ruling class. There is no conjecture, no theory, no doubt.

Seki ju Kane ___ 関住兼 The rest is missing....

That is the Fujishiro site so yes, it is Fujishiro's oil. There is no way to order internationally from the site. You would have to send an email to them and ask. Payment may be an issue.

Nice looking, well made sword....Too bad your watermark occludes the signature.

The top few kanji seem too spread out. The shape of the gatsu character seems off. The center stroke in the last kanji (日) is pointing in the wrong direction. I would think it is fake, but a fairly good one. Sukehiro is one of the most often faked smiths. There are some mei that are really hard to tell. Fortunately, his workmanship is much harder to fake than his signature.

Notice the attention paid to finishing the nakago-all the Kato smiths were first rate craftsman. This sword would look a lot better with a real polish...

Called a furoshiki. I agree with Henry- kotobuki....Though the middle one looks like it might be fuku (fortune/good luck) 幅 ???

There was a line of Shimada smiths who signed Joshu ju Teruyoshi, though with a different kanji for yoshi, as you have found. This group worked from late koto into Shinto. To me, your sword looks Shinto. I would venture that your smith was related to the Shimada group but is not recorded. I tend to doubt that this is an alternate signature of a listed smith because none of those listed are recorded as signing "Ito" as yours is...

It bears keeping in mind that they can't know everything about everything. Each shinsa team has its strengths and weaknesses depending on the members. Members change and with those changes areas of expertise change. When you focus down on specific artists, often times the best authorities are people who have made a life long study of that particular area. You won't often find these people on the shinsa team usually because in many cases they are too specialized. A good shinsa team is usually composed of people with breadth of knowledge, not always depth in a narrow specialty.

Yes, per the revision: "The length is a little over 18cm."

Thanks- an oversight now corrected....

You are most welcome. Thanks for the add....

Just a heads up for a nice tanto with koshirae, tsunagi, shirasaya, and box on the bay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tanto-Gassan-Sadakazu-with-koshirae-and-kantei-sho-Wow-/171726009885?

Thanks for the kind words! Glad you both found it interesting. Not much information out there on Meiji/Taisho smiths. I was able to locate several obscure sources for info not generally available, which made it a great research project....

Yes.

According to the Meikan, it can be pronounced either way...

Wrote this for Bill Green's magazine but though it might be of interest to those not on the sword show tour... Meiji Taisho article.pdf

Maybe I am wrong but wasn't that sword displayed at the Yasukuni Yushukan? Blade was by Miyaguchi Yasuhiro.....

It is possible that the armory simply put out these as generic work, perhaps made by students. They were Army and could do what they wanted to as far as the stamping is concerned. There were a few good smiths known to have worked at the Kokura Zoheisho but looking at the poor quality of the nakago finish and the almost amateurish way the mei is cut I would say this is not the work of one of the better smiths like Sadashige.

Zodiac cycle and to the left, 仲夏 [ちゅうか: CHUUKA] (1) midsummer ･ (2) fifth month of the lunar calendar

Excellent! I am hoping to tour around and see lots of potters when I am in Japan this summer.

That's wonderful! I have admired her work for a while...don't own any... yet! Yup!