Hector

Apologies to the OP. I picked up the word 'kamikaze' from an earlier reply.

I'm resurrecting this thread after a year because I happened on another example of the tsuba shown in Dale's first post. If you compare the signature and the imperfections around the nakago-ana, it is undoubtedly identical to the others shown. TBH, I was mostly shocked by where I saw it and the impeccable provenance given. However, it is very obviously not maliciously intended and, as it is not for sale, not even any risk to collectors. https://shibuiswords.com/ELtosaMyo.html Hector

I promise that I'm not trying to be clever or sarcastic but surely, if you shot down a kamikaze pilot in a Zero, there wouldn't be much left, would there?

I must confess that I hardly know anything about tsuba or the Higo school. However, since taking on board the comments on this thread, I've been doing a lot more research and it's so interesting to slowly begin to understand what my tsuba's maker was trying to emulate - even though he was basically reaching for the stars! This is a genuine Rakujū from the Shibui Swords website and I can see what my guy was trying for in his own humble way. It's guided revelations like this which make being on this forum so deeply rewarding!

It had absolutely no active, red rust on it so I sparingly applied a little Renaissance Wax to keep it that way - and, wow, the patina really sprang to life! Best, Hector

Wonderful news !!! I'm always so glad to read these happy ending stories when a sword has gone missing!

Yours is on the left and on the right is a Juyo papered Sukuzane courtesy of The Soshu Den Museum website. Different mei.

That just crossed a real line and is deeply insulting to anyone who is on medication for any mental condition or illness. Such glib throwaway insults should not be tolerated on this forum, whatever the writer's opinion of people's comments or downvotes.

Thanks Jean! That's my total ignorance of tsuba showing..... again! 😁

Many thanks for that very thorough analysis and explanation, Michael! A lot of things make more sense now and I will definitely give the shinsa a miss. (I'm going to put three tsuba into the next one in November and was toying with the idea of adding this piece. However, I think you've just appraised it for me - thus saving me a lot of yen!) Of course, I fully defer to your expert eye but I thought I should mention that the odd shape of the seppa dai seems to be, in part, due to the insertion of the shakudo edge - almost like the steel was deformed slightly as it was hammered into place. Best, Hector

Hi Nicolas, This is the thread in question. https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/52617-which-tsuba-designs-tend-to-be-replicatedfaked/ Best, Hector

That's him.

This is a modern tsuba made by Yamazaki Takashi (山崎隆司), working under the name Ryūken (隆剣) out of Setagaya, Tokyo. He has been referenced on the NMB in another thread as people were worried these tsuba - or similar - would later find their way onto the market labelled as antiques. Therefore, I thought it might be useful to give you a close-up of one of his pieces which I own and a breakdown of what I was able to find out about his techniques. He’s been making tsuba since 1995, largely self-taught, hand-cutting the sukashi pattern with a itokogiri (fret saw) and finishing by file. His signature technique is a 'secret' aging process; after shaping, he buries the new iron plate in a bed of mixed sands and soils for three months to develop a patina that mimics 300 years of age - something which he says he researched himself from old texts. He’s not folding and hammering the billet himself from ore the way a traditional tsuba maker would. He claims to obtain pre-forged, period-composition 'tamahagane-adjacent' iron stock (not raw, mild steel plate), does the sukashi cutting, filing, and shaping himself and then finishes with his own three-month burial aging process. His work has picked up a following among iaido practitioners specifically for practical durability, and he’s built an overseas clientele through his website. Interestingly, his original master was supposedly the person commissioned to make the 'hero' tsuba for Kurosawa Akira’s films Seven Samurai and Yojimbo, and Yamazaki’s workshop still produces those same designs.

Okay Jean - thank you for the clarification! Whenever I hear 'tourist piece', I always think Meiji Era. But, if they're cutting them out with water, then obviously it's a modern cottage industry. 😳

Thanks Lewis The one that Dale posted does look like a thin, cast piece to me. However, it doesn't take very much to frighten me off an auction nowadays. 😁

Wow! If I'd seen that posted before I bid in the Yahoo auction, I would have steered well clear! It's frightening how identical the design is to mine. 😳 As always Dale, I'd be very, very interested to hear your thoughts on what I got. Best, Hector

Hi Glen, I presume you're talking about the seller of the tsuba I just bought? Looking at his previous sales I can see exactly what you mean. (He was actually the guy selling the 'Yagyu style' tsuba which I flagged up here a couple of weeks ago which all looked very shiny, very black and very new.) In hand, mine does not actually look black and is certainly not shiny; it is a matt charcoal with a deep chocolate undertone (it sounds like a cooking programme 😁). Perhaps he couldn't apply his usual chemicals as they would screw up the shakudo insert? Anyhow, for the minor financial hit and lack of hassle with mailing (I live in Japan), I'm very happy with what I got! Best, Hector

This has got those 'vibes' again. Brand new member. No name. Minimal info and pictures...... almost like a challenge to start an argument. Sound familiar?

Sheesh! My heart skipped a beat when I first saw those photos, Dale! With several people passing on my Tsuba's auction because they thought it was modern, I was seriously worried I might have ended up with an iaito accessory!😳 However, the more I examine it the more I'm convinced it's genuine but probably no earlier than mid 19th Century. Once upon a time, I would have even have gone so far as to put it in for shinsa but the NBTHK's considerable price hike prohibits me from doing that nowadays. Many thanks to everyone who commented - your input is often part of the pleasure of obtaining a new piece. 😊 Best, Hector

Thank you, Jean!

Received the tsuba today and I'm very happy with it! I just went crazy with my iPhone to try and show more details of structure and iron. Opinions welcome as to modern or antique.

Hi Jean, I always mess up the Japanese spellings! Now you mention it, it does look more like waves than clouds. Best, Hector

Thanks Hamish. For 120 bucks, I thought I'd roll the dice. I'll report more when I get it in hand. Best, Hector

@Kanenaga and @Curran Based on your observations about the tanage-mei, I did some research and came up with a Kamiyoshi Rakujū (1817–1884) who was the third generation of his school. He did 2 punch marks above and 3 below. Much appreciated! Hector

Many thanks! The dimensions are 79.3 x 78 x 4.5mm and the motif was described as being 'clouds and tomoe'.