Rayhan

I dare not comment on who is the best horimono artist, I haven't seen them all side by side. I can only state that my preference from what I have seen is Sadakazu for Horimono and Sadakatsu for his steel. Modern perspective is Sadatoshi (I'm biased because i own one but no horimono just Ayasugi) but his Horimono work is also amazing.

If I had the chance today and wanted a Daisho it would be from the Gassan school/kaji. With storyboard horimono from katana leading to the wakizashi and certified together on the same paper. Or older daisho but also on the same NBTHK paper. Gassan horimono is still the best modern horimono in my personal opinion (just me).

I think the difference between these two is good Kiyomaro is just epic, like nothing ever done in shinshinto where as bad Kiyomaro is very, very bad. Munetsugu was mostly consistent in his work.

Some of my favorite Tanto smiths on one page https://nihonto.com/category/for-sale/swords/tanto/

Ok the correct thing to do when cups are full is stop pouring. Like any intrinsic art, I have my own view on Bungo swords and will just sit comfortably with that.

This thread is a perfect example of how art means something personal and different to everyone.

Totally agree, I just prefer to limit risk and below the 5k mark the risk is greater. But, good things happen if you know what you're getting into the main issue is the polish on a sword at lower prices.

This observation is slightly harsh, I think they (Bungo smiths) are more utilitarian than artistic so they should be categorised in that spectrum.

Hello All Thanks to Markus and Brian we now have some additions to the downloads section that are from the Edo period. 1 - Minamoto Yoshitsune Ason kachu zu. [Illustration of the Armour [and sword] of the Great Minamoto Yoshitsune]. 2 rolled manuscripts in an envelope (measuring 275x28cm & 362x28 respectively), one showing his sword, the other his armour. Later Edo period [i.e. around 1800-1830.] This is an interesting document relating to the famous Minamoto Yoshitsune (1159-1189), the victorious military commander during the Gempei wars and a swordsman of legendary fame. His life and death have become immortalised in literature, including several Noh and Kabuki plays. The short text in the beginning of the sword document is entitled: “Old honourable Sword”: It states that that Yoshitsune owned this old sword, and explains the provenance as follows: A merchant in Nara called Kogawa had owned this sword, and he took it to Edo and showed it to a Megata Nagato-no-kami. Megata wanted to own the sword, and Kogawa presented it to him. In December of the first year of Genbun (1736) Sakai Harima-no-kami purchased it from Megata. Ohara Mamori from Hoki prefecture had previously verified the authenticity of the sword. This is a wonderful Oshigata of famed armour and sword with an interesting back story. 2 - Shuko Jushu - Swords - Matsudaira Sadanobu The ‘Shuko jushu’ was an Edo period catalogue of ancient artifacts produced under the auspices of Matsudaira Sadanobu (1759-1829) which eventually ran to 85 volumes. The ten subjects mentioned in the title are inscriptions, bronzes, weapons, copperware, musical instruments, stationery, seal impression, wooden tablets, portraits, and calligraphy. Researchers travelled widely visiting the treasure houses of ancient shrines and temples to measure and sketch important objects. The present catalogue of important swords is complete in itself. 3 - KURIHARA (Mitsunobu): 'Token Zukou' [Pictorial Study of Japanese Treasury Swords]. First edition. 2 volumes. Edo: Hanabusa Bunzo, 1843. Includes details and descriptions of famous and celebrated Japanese swords from the 11th-16th centuries, with numerous illustrations Many of these documents contained old Kanji and Markus worked over a years period to bring them to us so we can enjoy moments from Nihonto many 100's of years ago. He would translate the old Kanji to a modern text and then into English. It is such a blessing that we have people like Markus to open our eyes to items such as these so please pass your thanks to him should you download and enjoy the books. The downloads are quite large so please be prepared for that. Thank you Brian and Markus.

There is nothing to say this wasn't created by the smith especially for a Sa smith. I think study is required by everyone on this thread, myself included.

The soul of my collection are the memories associated with each sword. From the first sword, the journey that brought me to it. To the people involved, the good memories and the bad, the best lessons and the worst (which are actually the most essential) to the friends and loved ones now part of those memories.

I think this opinion on Saiha needs to come with a disclaimer that the sword needs to be historically significant, like the blades from Osaka castle that were damaged and Saiha done by Yasutsugu first, etc. Not just any.

I am only inclined to recommend swords that have (or can paper up) and these generally are higher priced. But in the end people will buy what they like and this is also ok, we cannot detract from the "itch" but I hope people will do justice to their bank accounts as well as their desires.

Sorry but I've seen very good ones go for 3500. 5 to 6 k USD is a good starting budget if you just want a sword to study. It gets tricky when you start to specialise though, then you're right @Bosco, it's more expensive when we spec our desired sword.

The information is in the setsumei which Aoi hasn't translated. If there is nothing remarkable there-in or Honami documents with further provenance then you are very right @Lewis B on the hype. But Edo smiths go through these phases like Naotane hype a few years back.

Let us know what you find

There are quite a few people with connections in Japan to swordsmiths who could tell us how this is achieved and polishers who are also knowledgeable. Perhaps we can ask them? Also, there is plenty of historical text on the subject but in Japanese. I will ask a few connections in Japan for insights and hopefully others here can do the same?

DTI has a few wonders close to or over 1m USD and the most expensive Japanese Sword i have seen sell was the Sanchomo for 5m USD not to mention the recent Sotheby's sale Mikazuki Kanemitsu https://www.sothebys.com/en/digital-catalogues/crescent-moon-the-mikazuki-kanemitsu-from-the-paul-l-davidson-collection which I'm sure was priced quite high. Not an open auction but still publicly advertised so you could apply to be included.

Some of the Kiyomaro in this exhibit really had a presence, huge energy. The Masahide, especially with the exquisite horimono are sublime.

This exhibit was really impressive, where are the pics of Kiyomaro?

Learned something there! Thank you @Franco. So it's akin to tachi, nagamaki is about the koshirae and less the suguta of the blade? So Jussi pinned it as Nagato which is the right terminology?

I would like to take a moment to apologise to the JSSUS for not verifying and doing my research properly before posting one of their magazines (taken down long ago). If I had been more clinical I would have found this link https://www.jssus.org/Japanese_Sword_Society_Archive.html That has a full host of valuble materials and made available for free. Ladies and gentlemen of the JSSUS please forgive my oversight and arrogance. And for those students please check the link to see great material for beginners and seasoned collectors alike. Rayhan

People generally get very annoyed at me for saying this but you should ideally aim for a 5k USD budget and higher for your first sword. Even tradionally made gendaito are pushing 3500 USD these days. I think the collecting guide by Kiril puts things in good perspective.

Dropping an interesting old text for everyone to download and read. Before the copyright police jump on me, this book is free to download from JSTOR as well and was published first in 1905. Light reading for fun. Not sure if it is in the downloads section already? The Japanese Book of the Ancient Sword.pdf

To have seen this in person must have been such an honour. It is a great book to go through and we are all lucky it is so freely available.