Natichu

Wishing you a speedy recovery Jacques!

Wild and definitely uneducated guess: Echizen no Sukehiro (second generation, pages 1001-1002 in Markus Sesko's "Swordsmiths of Japan"). As a complete beginner, I just wanted to say thank you to Jacques for posting these and getting the conversations going. Even though I will only rarely be participating, I will definitely be lurking and appreciate the effort that goes into these.

Thanks so much for reaching out. That is definitely a stunning piece. I've also long had my eye on your Hida no Kami Ujifusa as well. If budget ever allows I'll certainly be considering both, but will likely reach out at some point to see what options you might have available.

Bump, still looking.

Was just about to start copying some links into the thread. Thank you!

I would have thought it was only shortened that much, so only the topmost characters of the mei remain.

I believe Mike Yamasaki can assist with all of that. You can find all contact info through the Tetsugendo Facebook page (the website is undergoing a renovation at the moment I believe). https://www.facebook...8820&mibextid=ZbWKwL

I believe you can access it on the Internet Archive, but also here (a bit more user friendly): https://onihonto.com...onto-ca-yuhindo-com/ I believe both are lacking many of the photos, but the text is there.

I'd suggest the photography is likely something new for many, as well as the accessibility. So while it may not expand your knowledge base, it does for many of us earlier in our journey than you are. Not all publications need to be all things to all people to be works of worth.

Just in case, a Ko-Mihara I've been keeping my eye on but is likely a touch out of my price range: https://www.samurai-....net/SHOP/P-478.html

I pre-ordered and received my copy the other day. I haven't had the chance to review in depth but will circle back with my thoughts when I've spent a bit more time with it. Not cheap, but not bad and on first glance a beautiful book!

I'm also in Vancouver, and had a sword shipped up from the States in May that cleared customs pretty well the same day it came in. Sounds like some bad border luck unfortunately!

Just as an FYI, I emailed the JSSC in April to inquire about their beginners course. Fred quite nicely emailed me back, indicating he was likely going to be retiring and so wasn't going to be offering the course. May be why you have not received a response.

Thanks very much for sending that my way, it's greatly appreciated. I think when initially looking, I thought I would prefer a Taira Takada attribution. However, on reflection that does seem like an excellent option and so will give it some thought. If you see any others on your internet travels, I'd be grateful if you could send them my way, but at any rate thanks again - yet another reason why the community here is so helpful as a beginner starting out.

Hi all, I'm interested in pursuing a longer Bungo Takada daito (tachi or katana). Preferably 2.5 to 2.6 shaku, but with some flexibility either way. Preferably koto/Taira Takada or Keicho. NBTHK or NTHK papered. Budget is around $4500 USD, to be shipped to Canada. Please let me know if you have any pieces that fit the bill you're looking to sell. Thanks,

First and foremost, thank you very much for such an insightful post. I found it very helpful. I did have one question about the section on jigane, in particular shintetsu. Is this tolerance of shintetsu an overarching thing - that is, applicable to all blades generally - or is it more particular to blades from schools like Hizen or Rai, in which I understand it may be a bit of a kantei point? (If I'm incorrect on that issue my apologies, I'm a rather rank beginner at all of this.)

But you just said the study of nihonto was like baking and physics, and now it's different? Talk about moving goal posts. At any rate, I agree it's highly complex and technical, and enough to make a beginner like me question at many points whether it is worth pursuing. I don't think anyone expects otherwise, or disagrees with your proposition that sword in hand is best. It seems you're suggesting the forum and those that recommend books are saying that you can learn it all without ever touching a sword. That is a patent strawman, and I don't think anyone here has ever put forward that argument. Rather, it's that books have their place both as a supplement to that (else the NBTHK surely wouldn't have any for reference) and as a way for us beginners to build vocab and understand exactly how much our knowledge is lacking. Few things have made clearer to me that I need more swords in hand to learn the basics than the small number of books I have. But they've taught me small pieces about the basics such that I have a better sense to guide my learning as I move forward and allow me to better articulate questions, and that has real value. It certainly won't bring me anywhere near your level of knowledge and experience (and I don't think anyone disagrees you are knowledgeable and would be a real asset to this forum if you would put your knowledge out there for members to read) but it is something and is what is available to me in terms of time and financial commitment. At any rate, that's almost assuredly enough from me. OP - as a fellow beginner I have found both the Connoisseurs Guide and Facts And Fundamentals to be good starting points, along with the assorted online resources around (which thankfully are free).

While I hesitate to weigh in, those fields you have mentioned are trades, not hobbies and passions. Many home bakers and cooks have learned plenty, and done well, learning from books and without teachers. Many in any number of other fields pursued as a hobby do the same. Beginners here are generally not setting out to be polishers or museum curators, that is true sword professionals. They are those that have a passion and wish to learn more as part of a hobby. Certainly, getting blades in hand with a teacher present is the best way to learn. But that doesn't mean other avenues don't have value for those looking to pursue knowledge, and the pleasure of learning. Just because I can't drop everything to go do an advanced degree at MIT doesn't mean I shouldn't enjoy reading Six Easy Pieces. Talk about letting the perfect be the enemy of the good! At any rate, I don't anticipate I or anyone else will change your mind or persuade you to moderate your approach when dealing with newbs, neophytes, or those just looking to learn a bit. But one can't help but feel your approach does more to hinder the passion we all share rather than further it.

I can definitely see the appeal in having a papered zaimei blade, and that would be my preference. That said, with a restricted budget and strong preference as to size, for the moment I think mumei may be where I end up. If I can land a signed so much the better, but I'm more likely to compromise there than on length. Will very much keep in mind though, and let you know where I land!

Number 3 takes the cake for me as I'm quite fascinated with naginata naoshi, with my least favourite being 1. Please forgive my ignorance, but I had thought 1 would qualify as a hira-zukuri. What sugata is that? After 3, I'd say two would be my runner up. Seems to have some presence to the sugata to my eye though I can't say why (I may interpret the image as showing it having a high shinogi, but that I anticipate that is me mis-seeing things).

That makes sense, definitely an interesting looking blade, and if I understand your explanation correctly that very much explains why the activities in the hamon look almost more hada continued than what one usually sees. If it ever comes back on the market I may well jump, but think that's unlikely any time soon given it's just been purchased by someone else. That said, if it ever happens I'll certainly let you know.

One never knows, it may come back around and find me. Otherwise, lots of things to learn in the meantime it seems! If you have any study resource recommendations on either Dotanuki or Bungo Takada, they'd be most welcome.

Fantastic information, thank you very much! Unfortunately I missed out on a Dotanuki a little while back from Touken Komachi as I was following the English page rather than the Japanese. Would have been a lovely find and checked pretty well all of my boxes: https://www.toukenko...i&katanaA010624.html Will keep digging into the Bungo side of things and keep your advice in mind.

Thanks for the input! Learning to read between the lines of the Aoi descriptions seems to be a bit of an art. I took the iai reference to mean new, cheap, and sturdy koshirae (which I don't mind), but didn't apply it to the blade as well. In terms of the attribution by the NBTHK, I'm still very much learning on that front. While I understood Bungo Takada (and possibly less so Taira Takada and Fujiwara Takada) to be a bit of a kantei bucket of last resort, my thought was the attribution to a specific smith made that to be less likely. I take it I'm incorrect in that understanding though? Any insight there would be very much appreciated given my interest in pursing something from either the Takada or Dotanuki schools (and it seems like the former is going to be easier to get my hands on than the latter).

3 first, 1 last, but can't say I'd turn my nose up at any to say the least!