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!

If the sword study group takes off and is well supported, I am hoping we/I can ressurect the San Antonio Sword Show at some time in the future.

Hi Okan, 100% Gimei! Sword looks nice though.

A sad loss to the world of Nihonto. It reminds us that we are but mortal caretakers to Samurai art and history that will be around for a long time, if, and only if, we share our knowledge as Darcy did.

100% Gimei

Hi Bazza, You are still kicking ? That's good news! I might have known you were hoarding all the choji-midare swords under the bed. Hi Hammish.... tks. Its all educated BS! And my father was called Mr Robertshaw--- I prefer Roger since according to my wife, I still have the mind of a 4 year old ! I have been taken to task already -- my spelling of Tsunobi (as in Tsunobi tanto) is incorrect. It should be Sun-nobi or Sunnobi Tanto --- thanks Jean. I stand corrected. Rog

The kabuto chop video was really great. Thanks Luc, I was surprised the zunari kabuto withstood the rather large katana blow if the video was genuine. The cutter was only wearing a pair of glasses and the spectators pretty close by, so safety in the work place was a little lacking. Kind of throws the Kotetsu legend of cutting a kabuto in half out of the window. Incidentally I have an early Edo kabuto with a horizontal sword cut in the back that cuts into one of the high? carbon ridges to a depth of about 2mm. I suspect the wearer would have been surprised, and knocked to the ground for sure. Whilst both the cuts (video and this one) demonstrate the protection afforded by a helmet, the blows would probably render your opponent with a sore neck if not in hospital. Similarly with arm protection - might stop a deep cut and glancing slices, but doesn't stop a bone fracture. Rog

I have several boroscopes and you can usually squeeze the 3 mm dia light head in through the 2 cm opening in the tehen and then spend an hour or two figuring out which way is up and the kanji. Remember to thoroughly clean the endoscope first in case Granny has used it for the purpose it was originally designed. I also restore armour and it takes about 500yds of hemp thread and 4 days to make a decent Ukebari, followed by a week in rehab from going insane! Why would anyone in their right mind cut an ukebari. May as well take a grinder to the kabuto to cut a hole or use the above posted method (love it!). Nice kabuto. Rog

I'm back! The Tadayoshi did indeed make many styles of Hamon ---and the world recognised signature pieces were suguha. But not just any suguha….THE suguha. The forgers jumped on this bandwagon, and anything with suguha was faked into gimei Tadayoshi with varying degrees of signature quality from that akin to a 2 year old drawing in sand with a chopstick, to the Hizen Kaji itself adding the signatures. Some rare genuine pieces are in the more flamboyant choji midare, gunome etc and I suspect were special orders. The Oshigata books are full of them, but they rarely surface in the flesh, and when they do, they command very high prices and great care is necessary. The bulk of the works we see are therefore suguha- and in really nice suguha with some fine, often missed, ashi sometimes (4th and 5th if I recall correctly), and nijuba (2nd Gen), bright nioiguchi (2nd gen), nie deki in dark nie (1st gen) , flawless (3rd Gen)and so forth. Since the wilder hamon are buried deep in collections and rarely seen, the tendency is to assume they are gimei when they do show up. If you see a suguha sword, most jump straight to the Tadayoshi and if the hamon is lifeless, then clearly NOT the work of this school. The reality is that far more suguha gimei are out there, and unfortunately, some 85% of the overall Tadayoshi swords/oshigata/images I come across are in my opinion outright gimei, maybe 10% are in the 'not sure' bracket, and 5% have me drooling. The 10 % is the grey ‘floating world’ of gimei and all sorts of theories expound, but they can be really, really good. In short, its not JUST the signature, but the message the whole sword puts out. No I am not high! What I do when I see the wild hamon type swords is to put a great big question mark in the equation. In fact, the best approach is to not have any sword fever at all, and start with a gimei approach, the aim being to find signs that prove it is genuine and try to take the hoarder/gold fever attitude out of the equation as the heart beats faster. So the question is.... is this sword genuine. Since I presume no-one bought it who commented, it is now an easy option to say probably gimei, feel good about it and move on, but I don’t think that does this sword justice. I once saw an old collector at the SFO show years ago sit for two days behind the dealers table with a single sword he was contemplating buying – just getting to know it and listen to it he said! The sword, from what I can see (which isn't much) , doesn't have any obvious flaws and looks nice quality with a good colour to the steel. It gives an impression of quality, not junk. In no particular order...... The almost O-Kissaki and boshi is great with a Hizen type kaeri (I think that is what is there- an even tightish turnback without the wavy midare carried into the actual turn itself?). It’s a stoutly (very stout) proportioned sword, with an unusually short nakago and a signature that fills the nakago…… almost tsunobi tanto style --- so if it is only JUST a wakizashi in cutting length, then that's good news because there seemed to be a penchant for tsunobi (oversize 1 shaku 1 sun) tanto within this school (ie you don't often see small tanto, but you do see technically short wakizashi over 1 shaku, with tanto type proportions – tsunobi tanto), hence the rather short nakago ** (more later). Koshirae is possibly changed but ---glimpse of a Hizen Namban type of tsuba, a glimpse of lovely menuki in quality shakudo and gold, a glimpse of a silver dragon kanamono on the dried up saya ripe for restoration. Kind of points to a higher value owner than a hunter killer impoverished Samurai. Onto the nakago ----- well the nakago shape is good for the early generations, rounded V shaped nakagojiri, yasurimei are good quality, patina suggests maybe early Edo, if you go with a tsunobi tanto, then signature size and placement is kind of Ok. So I am thinking Hizen kaji work and haven't really seen anything to say it isn't yet. I love the powerful blade shape, and the short nakago maybe significant as the nakago wouldn’t be long enough to chop through your Xmas Turkey or opponents thigh bone in one stroke. The all important Mei. What I don't like: One chisel stroke in the Zen kanji runs into the nakago-mune. Hmmm. I would have been more comfortable if the mekugi-ana had pieced the left chisel strokes. Kind of suggests that the mei was added AFTER the mekugi ana and squeezed into place. I don't know what they did in this respect, but was told by an old Japanese sword master a few years back that the sword was a utility weapon, and was made into a sword after the smith made it. So you would expect the entire sword blade including the signature to be made first, and the hole placed later by the person fitting the koshirae who was more concerned with fitting the tsuka than the smiths signature. Not sure on this point but it makes sense........( Incidentally he also said once a sword was chipped or damaged, it was retired from use since your life depended on its structural integrity. I would suggest that depended on the depths of your pockets. I digress but all those Sengoku Jidai battle blades we collectors hold in high esteem with hakobori he thought of as junk!). What else is not right ......Kanji spacing is a little suspect but hard to discern on an oblique picture. The bottom TADA and YOSHI seem wider apart than the upper kanji ---almost as if they are set apart from the rest of the signature to say – “look at me ---- and don’t look anywhere else”- could be the angle but it is a question mark in the process. I usually run on 3 strikes and you are out--- right now we have a (probably) tsunobi tanto shape ( ** more later) but not a problem , with a wilder hamon than usual, again not a problem but care should be exercised, possibly awkward spaced kanji (maybe a problem) and a stroke runoff the edge (problem). What I do like : the vertical stroke in the kanji Tada is exactly correctly placed for X smith. The kanji are well cut, and let’s face it, up there with the actual smiths. Whoever applied this signature was in the upper end of his knowledge of this school, whether it was a master himself, or very good faker, or ......... the kaji itself. None of the kanji are out of place for this school in terms of shape and stroke ---none that I have spotted yet! We now take a while to let this sink in before returning to the kanji, and digress a little. The same Iaido master in Tokyo told me (and who am I to doubt him), that the castles in the castle towns were also repositories for weapons. Swords were stockpiled in times of peace for times of war. Thousands of them. And significantly many/most/all? were unsigned as they were churned out by the deshi and masters for the stockpile. The finest pieces went as gifts or were sold, the rest into the stockpile – unsigned. When hard times fell upon the Samurai (1800's onwards) and the CEO (Daimyo) was looking for cutbacks --- guess where the stockpiled swords ended up! Back in circulation ... but mumei swords were plentiful and what was required were swords made, and more significantly signed, by the masters (who were now dead). Add this to the grey production lines that the Daimyo did not control , and hey presto the actual 4th Gen sword with a faux 4th gen signature becomes reality... kaji made 'gimei'. Yup --- this throws a big spanner in the sword world... thank goodness it isn't rife in the armour world! I have that sword – a 4th gen blade, with a 4th gen signature, dated 1819 (8th gen was around 14years old). Un-papered of course but everything screams 4th gen except the inscribed date (which if anyone is aware is smack in the middle of the leaderless Kaji as the 8th gen was still too young, and the 6th & 7th recently departed this world)! Back to the ** short nakago issue. The same Iaido Master also told me that if you ever see a disproportioned (in length) nakago on a wakizashi size sword, it is PROBABLY a merchants sword. Remember they didn't fight, and could not wear a katana being limited to wakizashi. They carried fine pieces, high quality, but of little real fighting use due to the shortened tsuka. There was simply no need for a larger tsuka because if the merchant ever put his hand on it, he would probably be cut down in the blink of an eye. Best not touch it! They could afford the masters works and the flamboyant hamon, and often glamorous koshirae, and wanted the signed pieces. I am also thinking no self respecting trained killer of a samurai is going to put a silver kanamono dragon on his ro-iro saya. Incidentally the old Iaido Master’s grandfather was friendly with a local Daimyo, and they both had a passion for swords (he showed me the photo at his house one evening). Anyway, the Iado Sensei inherited the old family house, and had it restored. He found over 160 swords stashed in the attic and was slowly selling them off (I bought a few over the years) including a really nice Shodai Tadayoshi leaf yari that papered– and the usual bunch of (subsequent) gimei other smiths – stick to what you know! So that is where I am at with this sword --- possibly a tsunobi tanto, (someone is now going to post its length as 1 shaku 9 sun or something, rather than 1 shaku 0 Sun 8 Bu and shoot me down ! ), possibly a merchants sword in nice koshirae, and I would give it a shot at 80% genuine 1st gen and worthy of more research -note I did not say Shinsa in Japan as the last few swords I sent a while back to the NBTHK came back Horyu (undetermined). Did I say 1st gen? Slip of the pen but it got everyone’s attention. I am still pouring over the oshigata references, but I like it and am actually leaning towards 1st gen C1621 or a good gimei (not run of the mill). The ONE kanji that really cracks the Shodai question is the top of the HI kanji and the number of strokes top right – which was 3 for the Shodai and 2 for the other smiths – and that is the kanji we don’t see here (funny old thing)! The only solace is that had there been a couple of serious bidders, it could have hit a much higher price way outside of my now wife limited retirement budget of $4 per month. Had I seen it earlier and posted this, I guess the price would have been a lot higher than the rather pitiful $2,000 (sob sob). It is not 100% gimei and IMHO worthy of further research, and despite my setbacks with the NBTHK, even (dare I say it) worthy of Shinsa, otherwise known as “passing the buck” Hopefully some insight into suguha hamon, and gimei/shoshin appraisal (of Tadayoshi). Don’t you just hate it when a potential bargain slips past in the night! Rog

thats easy Valric.... buy all 4 and send them off to Shinsa.... get 1 Horyu, 2 gimei, and 1 genuine (or in my case 3 gimei and 1 horyu).....

Tricky without seeing it...

Tricky without seeing it...