omidaijo

God forbid that weapons of mass destruction are being shipped internationally. Thank you radical left!

Also US export customs are apparently not aware of the ability to import traditional swords into Japan under special priviledges (nihonto). They just look at the "no swords" part of the regulations and thats it. I am getting the impression that in the past, the export customs side just weren't that good at spotting nihonto leaving the USA or didn't care, hence swords being exported generally got through. Nowadays, AI type sytems are flagging "swords" for further inspection prior to leaving the USA and Customs merely apply the "no swords into Japan" restriction. ...and this is where it all falls apart ..because the 'returned' items are NOT being scanned back into the USPS system (probably a limitation of the actual system). So you cant see where it is. Add the "antique Japanese sword" (dinner gong to thieves) label, and hey presto....dinner is served.

Chicago.......but LAX has the exact same problem. It appears that there is a chain of custody loophole between customs and USPS which is being exploited by thieves....its internal as well in that it is either Customs or USPS employees.

Hi All, I rarely post but think this will affect all USA collectors shipping swords to Japan for restoration. About 6 weeks ago I shipped a sword via International Express Mail USPS (EMS) to Japan. As required by the Japan based agent, the sword was declared as an "antique Japanese sword" , with an accompanying letter stating the export code and 'not for sale' etc. Value $600. Despite questioning the required declaration, that was the only way to send it. Off it went by USPS with a 4 to 5 day delivery expectation. About 7 days later the online tracking showed a "customs compliance" issue with a "returned to sender" statement. ..then nothing. Several weeks passed and no further tracking information available. Multiple calls and visits to various USPS offices, station managers, and ICS (international customer service ) revealed that the package could take 45 days to even enter the tracking system and that "Swords, gold and ivory" are not permitted into Japan. I had no tracking device in the box. Here we are 6 weeks later and it just showed up out of the blue...luckily ....my local postal delivery guy knows I was getting worried about it, saw it arrive at the post office this morning and scanned it back into the system...then delivered it. If he had not scanned it, it would never have shown up in the system at all. So.....some major learning points here... 1. There is a major chain of custody problem between US Customs and USPS with packages NOT being scanned / accounted for when transferred from one organisation to the other. (I know of at least 5 swords that have gone missing/stolen over the last 2 yrs in the customs/usps black hole). 2. Customs have an incorrect grasp of the legal import of declared swords into Japan. I am going to write to them....won't change a thing probably). 3. USPS are grossly negligent in their ability to scan and track packages. 4. Anyone shipping a sword (or valuables) MUST use a tracking device (I am now using an Android Find hub card ...luckil because as I write this, a friend of mine is bringing his swords/tsuba and another sword of mine back from San Fran sword show to Texas. The sword box just got offloaded in Sacramento hundreds of miles away in the wrong direction on the wrong flight...and is sitting in Sacramento arrivals hall....so here we go again! At least I can track it. 4. The Japan based agents/dealers need to raise this issue with the Japanese authorities ref USA customs interpretation of the import regulations. If you want a Japanese restoration, the ONLY other option is to hand carry your sword into Japan under a hiki-watashi-sho (temp. import license) or go with a USA based polisher and visitng Shinsa team.... What happened to the good old days of trusting people to do their job dilligently? Rog

Shodai Tadayoshi NEVER received the title Omi Daijo. That's 2nd Gen. Shodai Tadahiro received Musashi Daijo. A LOT of Musashi Daijo are dai-mei, but not the early ones.

... and Shodai Munetsugu was probably about as close to "mainline" as you could get other than Tadayoshi ... He was the head priest of the entire Hizen Kaji, and is postulated to have become "Tosa no Kami Tadayoshi" (by Eguchi).... the 'conspiracy theory goes along the lines of Shodai Tadayoshi becoming too famous, so the name Tadayoshi was given to Munetsugu as head priest, so Tadayoshi changed to signing Tadahiro in 1624, got a bit hacked off, and used dai-mei --- hence most Shodai Tadahiro mei are dai-mei. Interestingly a whole bunch of smiths disappeared (died) around 1632...including Shodai Munetsugu. Natural causes, a fire?, or a bad case of eating contaminated fish at the local takeaway? (Joking).

Bit late, but better late than never. The original question is not quite as simple as it seems. The sword I own is a 4th Gen katana with a katana mei and NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon papers. I asked Sensei Tanobe about it and he wrote back (Jan 2000) and said " Dear Mr. Robertshaw, Even though your Tadayoshi sword is slightly too long to have a Katana -mei, there are indeed some exceptions amongst swords made by Tadayoshi II, III and IV in length slightly over 2 Shaku. The mei is undoubtedly genuine, thus this sword may be considered a very rare example of such exceptional works. Sincerely yours, Michihiro Tanobe" with seal. The Hizen kaji cutoff for 'Katana' versus 'Wakizashi' is 2 Shaku 1 sun, so a technically long sword at 2 shaku 0 sun 8 Bu (for example) and classed as a katana by the NBTHK, would be thought of as a Wakizashi in the Hizen Kaji and would therefore have the signature on the "wrong" side for the average collector who uses 2 Shaku as the cutoff! The sword referenced above (4th Gen) is ubu at 2shaku 3 sun 3 bu --- so not in the questionable zone of 2 shaku 1 sun, in fact, way outside this zone.. Never say "Never" when it comes to swords! Cheers, Rog

Did the Peter York collection ever come up for sale?

Hi All, Does anyone have any recommendations for a tsukamaki-shi, preferably USA based, but anywhere without 500% import tariffs! I need two or three handles re-wrapping. David McDonald was my go-to guy but he has slowed right down with over a 1 year wait time. I am even thinking of giving it a try myself as I have watched 4 or 5 U-tube videos !!!!!! Just kidding - but I particularly like the guy that uses fluorescent green PE instead of silk Ito. I know we like to keep the craftsmen we use secret as we don't want them inundated/hacked off, so feel free to PM me! Thank you. Kind rgds, Roger

yeah.... I have 5 stitches from stopping a Tameshimei Katana sliding out of its scabbard during a martial arts class many years ago. Still got all my fingers and won't be doing that again I hope.

SATURDAY 2nd March 2024, 3pm

Hi All, We had a very good first meeting with about 10 people with varying levels of experience. Topics were sword etiquette, common flaws found in swords, and then viewing of about 12 swords. The two and a half hours passed really quickly and all who attended agreed that there should be another meeting - Saturday being the preferred day. so.... for a trial period, we are going to have a regular meeting on the FIRST SATURDAY of every month, at 3pm sharp, in the San Antonio area. If you want to be on the email list, please pm me and I will add you to the mailing list with venue details etc. It is important to get on the list so we can notify anyone with changes to venue. If anyone on this list is planning on attending and can bring along a piece or two, please do so --- whilst James and I have plenty of items for show and tell, we don't want to do all the talking! 2 March 2024, 3pm meeting we will talk briefly on sword hada (grain), then get onto the viewing. I will also be bringing a few Tameshimei swords for a brief introduction to the sword testers and different cutting tests. .... bring bandages, gags and iodine ..... Kind rgds, Roger and James "You were told 3pm, not 4pm !!"

Hi Everyone, Thanks to Mark Jones for the Vegas Japanese Sword section... as always some fabulous items to drool over. ..... and great to see Brian there all the way from South Africa. There is no truth in the rumour that he was stopped by the South African Airport Police on arrival with 4 katana stuffed down each trouser leg, which were apparently easy to spot due to difficulty walking off the aircraft. The large bore tanegashima/teppo pistol down the front of his trousers went un-noticed. The first San Antonio club meet will be held this coming Saturday, 3rd of Feb, at 3pm at the Bookstore at 5154 Broadway, San Antonio, TX78209. We would love to see anyone who can attend (its a free event!) ; novices, experts , anyone who has an interest in Japanese swords are all welcome. Because it is the first meeting, we will be starting off with the basics of sword etiquette and handling, flaws to avoid in your hunt for swords, and gokaden/features to look for in the sword. James and I will take some swords along as discussion material, and anyone can bring along their own Japanese swords regardless of age and condition (that is the sword age and condition!) . The more the merrier! Any Hizento will of course be confiscated at the door by myself, as will Juyo fittings by James. Whilst we realize that many of you live a prohibitively long way away, we hope to see some of you ...... if you can make it, please bring along a sword (or ten) to share with the group, and spread the word. Kind rgds, Roger & James

...and there will be armour at the odd meeting! ...so not just swords and fittings!