MassiveMoonHeh

What an amazing catalogue of swords - thank you so much for sharing. My mouth just sat ajar as I went through every page. Those koshirae were magnificent. What an amazing collection. Some information on the man: Count Itō Miyoji 伊東 巳代治 was born on May 7, 1857 in Nagasaki, Hizen Province to a Samurai administration family. He excelled in languages, specialising in English. The Emperor sent him to Europe in 1882 with the future Prime Minister Itō Hirofumi to study European Constitutions and was instrumental in the drafting of the Meiji Constitution. He serverd in the Japanese cabinet and was later elevated to the House of Peers where he served in various Cabinet roles from 1890-1898. From 1899 he was selected to serve as a member of the Privy Council which he did through to his death. Even though he remained a member of parliament when opportunity arose he purchased the newspaper the Tokyo Nichi Nichi Shimbun (the predecessor of the current Mainichi Shimbun). This gave him a platform to trumpet his causes. He was made a Baron in 1907 and a Count in 1922. He died February 19, 1934. A great lover of swords he amassed a sizeable collection of over 500 from inheritance as well as purchases from the various Samurai families who after the Meiji Restoration became desperate for cash. He was a very proud man and took pride in his Samurai past which is why he was so moved to help so many Samurai who came knocking at his door. In this regard he tried to ensure all his swords were well dressed. This collection was as much a labour of love as it was a patriotic act! Among the swords he owned were the "Tachi Mei Sadatsugu" (sword inscription: Sadatsugu), which was owned by the lord of the Tsushima Fuchu Domain (present-day Tsushima City, Nagasaki Prefecture) during the Edo period, as well as the famous "Daihannya Nagamitsu" (Great Hannya Nagamitsu) that belonged to the Ashikaga Shogunate, Oda Nobunaga & Tokugawa Ieyasu. Both are now designated as national treasures and are housed in the Tokyo National Museum. Whilst he became a large land owner over the course of his life, the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 saw him stripped of a lot of his lands by the Japanese government who expropriated them for the rebuild - this is obviously something he bitterly opposed. After this he became very conservative in his views and became a strong critic of the government. Due to financial constraints after his death his family was forced to sell his the majority of his collection of swords which they did through various auctions and private sales including the two major auctions in 1937.

Francesco what a fantastic result - your work looks deserving in the place of honour! Well done!

Today marks the 50th anniversary of the Australia-Japan Basic Treaty of Friendship & Cooperation (the Nara Treaty). It is a unique and symbolic treaty that elevated the status of both countries to a level of equality in a post WWII/colonial world. The relationship between Japan and Australia has been very cordial ever since as both rely on each other for economic and security needs. Our friendship has never been stronger. Australia ❤️ Japan For more info click here.

Thank you for sharing. Brilliant to see!

Buying a blade is completely a personal thing. I like the idea that the blade chooses the owner rather than the other way round. As such one blade that tickles the fancy of one person may not tickle the fancy of others. I for example am a Soshu fan (probably the most popular category of sword collector) and others think Soshu is nice but prefer the more obscure smiths like @Jussi Ekholm. Some love blades according to their rating preferring the higher grade blades, whilst other prefer the provenance or the story behind the blade and still others (probably most again) just fall in love with the look of the blade or the smith. I can completely understand that when you start looking your list can contain blades that stretch from 1-35 million Yen. This is where the study and research into each smith starts and as such it is the start of a wonderful journey. If you do have big money available to spend then it is certainly worth being patient - there are a lot of good blades out there and the best are listed for only a short time or through friends of friends. Don't let that money burn a hole in your pocket. Find out what/who you like. Keep your ear to the ground (ask those more connected to do the same.) Follow the great apps like NihontoWatch by @Hoshi. Please do continue to share and ask questions. DM those in the community members who show the most knowledge around what you are looking at... Getting an opinion like @Andrew Ickeringill is also really worth it if you are keen on a blade. His keen eye after years of polishing great blades will give you an honest review. I can promise you most in this community are willing to share their knowledge and will help point you in the right direction. There is a blade waiting for you and I can promise you when you see it you will know. Your journey will lead you there. Excited for you bud.

Some more photos of Futasuji-hi Sadamune. Special thanks to, 畳@孖っコぐらし.

Robert that is fantastic to hear your Den Shizu Katana went Tokubetsu Juyo! That is very exciting! Out of a class of only 31 swords (another tough Shinsa) - that makes obtaining this status extra special! Congratulations!

Special Exhibit 3: Important Cultural Property Unsigned Katana (Sadamune) (Famous Sword: Futasuji-hi Sadamune) Length: 70.1cm Province: Sagami Period: Nanbokucho Period Collection: Nitroplus Katana Important Cultural Property Unsigned: SADAMUNE (Meibutsu Futasuji-hi SADAMUNE) Province: Sagami Period: Nanbokucho Period (mid 14th century) Collection: NITRO PLUS Sadamune is said to have been a disciple of Masamune and later his adopted son. His sword-making period spans from the very end of the Kamakura period to the early Nanbokucho period. He most closely inherited his master's style, but differences can be seen in his gentle style and large form. This sword, with its wide blade and uniform width from base to tip, features a large, shortened tip. Despite being significantly shortened, it exhibits characteristics of the Nanboku-cho period. The well-forged blade displays numerous ji-kei (patterns in the steel), and the hamon (temper line) is predominantly undulating, exhibiting variations in the strength of the nie (crystals) and the width of the nioi (cloudy pattern), clearly demonstrating the craftsman's style. The *Kyoho Meibutsucho* (a catalog of famous swords from the Kyoho era) states, "This is a fine sword made by Osaka," and it is also known as "Osaka Sadamune." *The front side will be on display until June 21st (Sun), and the back side from June 23rd (Tue) onwards.

A couple of pictures of the Futasuji-hi Sadamune on display at the 29th Tokubetsu Juyo Exhibition. Special thanks to 刀剣訪問ブログ. For more info on the exhibition click here.

I concur with @eternal_newbie you cannot go wrong with @Andrew Ickeringill. I know him to be an incredibly good and reputable individual. He is honest in his reviews and assessments. And his work is without question up there - being awarded Kinshō (Gold Prize) in the annual NBSK sword polishing competition as a westerner, says alot - many Japanese Togishi have not achieved the same. He has also had several swords that he has polished pass Juyo and TokuJu. Will be hard pressed to find a more qualified Togishi. Finally, he has the added advantage of speaking English so there is no lost in translation and it means you can deal direct via email, chat or video call. There are also no issues with bringing swords in and out of Australia, no license requirements etc. Andrew Ickeringill - Touken Togishi - 刀剣研師 | Japanese Sword Restoration Services – Melbourne, Australia https://touken-togishi.com/ And a trip to Australia is always well worth it!

Just finished watching the four part series called The Samurai by Tom Holland & Dominic Sandbrook part of their podcast The Rest is History. For those who don't know Tom Holland, he is a brilliant British historian who eloquently breaks down world history. This series appears to have been influenced by the current Samurai Exhibition at the British Museum. It gives a wonderful account of the early history and rise of the Samurai in Japan. A must watch for anyone interested in Japanese Swords, Early Japanese Military History & Japanese Legends. I will leave a link to the episodes here: The Samurai - Episode 1 Samurai Japan was Brutal - Episode 2 Samurai Battles Were Worse Than You Think - Episode 3 The Samurai Civil War: Japan's Greatest Epic - Episode 4 Enjoy!

[Event Information] Toyama Sword Research Society are now accepting applications for their sword appreciation event in Kanazawa in July! This event features a once-in-a-lifetime exhibition of swords and sword fittings that you might never have the chance to see again. For lunch, since the event is being held in Kanazawa, the hometown of the Maeda family of the Kaga Domain, we will be ordering a colorful bento box from a restaurant that has served as the domain's kitchen for generations since the time of Lord Maeda Toshitsune. Beginners are welcome! To apply drop them a DM via their X account.

[Event Information] The NBTHK student workshop: "Key Points for Appreciating Swords Learned from Famous Swords" is scheduled for June 6th & is still accepting applications. If you wish to participate please click here.

FYI, the Toyama Study group has now grown to 238 members! This is an increase of 18 new members since my last post less than 2 weeks ago!

Yesterday the famous sword appreciation event in Tokyo co-sponsored by the Toyama Sword Research Group and the e-Sword Research Group took place. It took 5 months to make happen. The theme Soshu-den, showed off a luxurious selection including Bizen Saburo Kunimune, Shintogo, Masamune, Norishige, Go Yoshihiro, Sa, Rai Kunitsugu, Taikei Naotane, Dewa Daijo Kunimichi, and Kashu Kiyomitsu! And even had the sword fittings, including the famous Atsuto Shiro, the sword fittings and Kaga metalwork that came with the famous Satsuamee koshirae, and the Hirata school of cloisonné! More than half the participants were female! #Sword

The Tokugawa Art Museum apparently has a signed Sadamune. Is the blade legit or gimei? The signature appears on a Kowakizashi recovered from the excavated tomb of Tokugawa Mitsutomo (2nd lord of Owari.) It has a rather long inscription: "By Sadamune of Sagami, New Year's day of the 2nd month of Kenmu, 42 years old." Would a forger go out his way to make a long inscription and even include an age - very unusual. I don't know if this is real but it certainly very interesting. Tokugawa Mitsutomo obviously felt it must have been real else why would he want it buried with himself? Has anyone seen this blade or know more about it?

The Toyama Sword Research Society brings together young people and women from all over the country. In recent years, the Toyama Sword Research Association, a sword enthusiast group based in Toyama Prefecture, has seen an increase in its membership among young people and women. Due to the influence of online games such as "Touken Ranbu ONLINE," the number of young people becoming interested in swords is increasing, and the company has made great efforts to make the game more approachable for beginners and to spread the word on social media. This initiative, which is rare nationwide in the world of swords, where middle-aged and elderly men have been the main fan base, has paid off, and the sword is becoming a popular choice for "sword beginners" from a wide range of regions, not just within the prefecture. The Toyama Sword Research Society was formed in 2017 by Yasunori Sawada (57) (Nanto City, civil servant), an enthusiast and former director of the Sword Museum (Tokyo). He holds sword appreciation events about five times a year and visits art museums both within and outside the prefecture. The study group, which began with around 20 members, has now grown to 220, 70% of whom are women. By age group, the most common age group is those in their 30s, followed by those in their 20s and 40s. 40% of people live in the three Hokuriku prefectures, with many in the Kanto, Kansai, and Chukyo regions. Some members are from Hokkaido and Kagoshima prefectures. In order to encourage young people and women to join, the study group has put in place a number of measures to make it easy for beginners to participate. This new sword study group has proven itself to be very successful and is quickly showing the way forward for Japanese Sword Societies in local communities.

This is the kind of thing that makes me wish I lived in Japan... A famous sword appreciation event co-sponsored by the Toyama Sword Research Association and the branch e-Sword Research Association will be held on the 30th May. At the sword fittings exhibition, you will be able to see the sword fittings that came with the mountings of Satsuki Amee and Atsuto Shiro. This time, the sword lineup is also luxurious, including Bizen Saburo Kunimune, Shindo Go, Masamune, Norishige, Go, Hidari, Kunitsugu Rai, Naotane Daikei, Dewa Daijo Kunimichi, and Kashu Kiyomitsu, and it's already packed to capacity. Getting to hold and examine this calibre of sword is the stuff of legend. No wonder it is already fully subscribed. Sounds like the kind of meetup that Honma writes about in his memoirs. The next one is in July - for those interested and able to get to Toyama.

Noted this post from @toushin1 at https://www.nihontou.jp/ on X and thought it worth seeing what others are experiencing in their recent interactions with the Japanese Sword and Tsuba Market. Are you buying? Are you selling? Have you noticed swords are moving or prices are rising?Having you noticed a shift in market sentiment in the west or in Japan? Worth finding out what others think. 美術刀剣 刀心: "Recently, the market price of Japanese swords has been rising again. While inflation and other cost increases are contributing factors, I personally believe that increased overseas demand is a major driving force behind the price increase. Our sword shop is small, so we don't experience this to the same extent, but from what I've heard from various people, larger sword shops seem to be selling a considerable number of swords overseas. The weaker yen has increased the purchasing power of people overseas, leading to a rise in demand and prices. In recent years, it's estimated that several thousand to 10,000 swords leave Japan each year and go to people overseas. I think it's very gratifying that people overseas are showing interest in Japanese swords, which can be considered symbols of Japanese spirit and culture. Furthermore, considering the current situation in Japan where interest in Japanese culture and swords has waned and fewer people own them, I feel it's wonderful that people overseas are purchasing and cherishing them. On the other hand, I worry that if this continues, excellent Japanese swords will become unattainable for Japanese people. Or perhaps, the future where people travel abroad to admire famous Japanese swords... I fear that such a future may be closer than we think. In order to prevent Japanese swords, which can be considered the very soul of Japanese culture, from becoming something distant, I hope that more people will learn about them, actually touch them, and become interested in them. We will do our best, however small our contribution may be, and we would be grateful for your support. #ProtectJapan #MadeInJapan #JapaneseCulture #JapaneseSword #JapaneseSoul"

Latest Yamanaka Newsletter has dropped: Yamanaka V4 NL 11 & 12

Appreciate the correction and input Hoshi. Look forward to having the Artist section of Nihontowatch updated 100% - it will prove a very valuable resource going forward.