Sukaira

Definitely will once it comes back

@ChrisTopher10

I was just at Yuji’s shop in Nagoya visiting with him a few weeks ago. He’s doing great, no problems. Really great person and really into what he does. If anyone is not aware, what he posts on the website is like a fraction of what he carries in store. His store is stocked to the gills with treasures. It’s just him that posts things to his website so he doesn’t post that much. If you want to know more than what he shows on the website, just ask. He brought out his prized signed “-“ Ichimonji tachi for us to view while I was there and it’s a beauty. Apparently not for sale though 😂. Anyway he facilitated the polish of a sword for me that we are submitting for Juyo shinsa this year, polished by Sugihara Hiroshi.

Agree. It's basically a fairy tale, probably based on averages of quality across a large quantity of swords. Many of the top tier Sukesada smiths use this signature across the generations. In Fujishiro books you can see quite a few listed as using the signature as well, plus the existing Juyo Token and other really good examples currently sitting at Tokubetsu Hozon. They were definitely commissioning blades to high level samurai and daimyo with this signature, for whatever reason.

White light LED

Not sure if this has been posted, but I just visited the Juyo Token exhibition in Tokyo today and there were some amazing blades. Here is the list they are showing: https://www.touken.or.jp/Portals/0/pdf/english/（英語））第71回重要刀剣等新指定展目録.pdf They had a Hizen blade done in a killer hitatsura temper that was over 94cm nagasa! Absolutely stunning....but my favorite was probably the Yasumitsu. There was also an Awataguchi Kuniyoshi that belongs to Nicholas Benson that is being submitted to TokuJu, even thought its listed under Robert Benson. Also Awatguchi Hisakuni. Amazing to see 36 Juyo from all different smiths for future reference.

Guess I’m late to the party but I’m just discovering the fusion that is Sōden Bizen. Nanbokucho piece around 70cm with a 3cm / 2.65cm width. Morikage’s “Chikakage style”

It looks like it has some really good features

Thanks for this, I also am going the gun case route to bring 3 back in a few weeks. Going in and out of Haneda, but my sellers in Japan have handled the export permits.

I can ask for more info!

totally agree

truly incredible

Just wanted to share some images for study that Keisuke over at https://www.katana-case-shi.com shared with me today during a chat. In the order from the title.

Good to know - thanks!

Commissioned a new sayagaki from Tanobe sensei. Looking for translation - thank you in advance.

@anguilla1980 That is a solid first pick up for Sukesada. Also I just wanted to share a close up of that Yosozaemon that @klee posted, because I also downloaded the original image You really don't see (or at least I have not) long Kinsuji running through the ha in Sue-Bizen pieces. Just proves the smiths had all the knowledge and skills, just not the time or resources (or maybe even just the reason) sometimes.

Juyo Token

@klee thanks! What Kyushu schools did you switch to? Hizen, Enju, Satsuma...something else?

That's true, could also be that. I asked Shono-san at Seiyudo and he says "Kakushitogane is a rare mark that swordsmiths use to confirm that they themselves made it" so maybe that clears it up?

That Yosozaemon was absolutely insane. I have 2 nice ones I can show from Bizen, Sengoku era. 1. Gorozaemon no Jo Kiyomitsu 1537 2. Bishu Osafune Sukesada 1567

All very possible reasons. Does anyone by chance know of anything similar from Naotane to compare to? Maybe it was something he did on other specific blades also? Maybe at the request of the customer? @PNSSHOGUN good question, this one is actually Soshu style, so yeah that would probably rule out Ichimonji @Natichu sure - check below.

I agree that hamon was a bit...different..but I am not really familiar with that smith. Maybe his style is off beat skinny vertical spikes with tobiyaki? Maybe they didn't want to bring out the good good stuff.

Wanted to share a Taikei Naotane that I recently acquired that has a secret engraving for "Ichimonji" on the bottom. Is anyone else familiar with this type of thing? Is there a specific reason(s) or is it just a total "this would be cool" kinda thing?

don't breath around the sword, but let me show how bendy it is

Yeah I am not sure what the standard is for Tanzan/Tanobe to do a sayagaki, but just as an example...I currently have 5 blades (2 Koto, 1 Shinto, 2 Shinshinto) in Japan right now getting sayagaki from Tanobe, plus 1 already here with me...so I would have to go with the higher numbers in the thousand(s)