MidareObserver

@ROKUJURO Hi Jean, I just came across this thread – what a great idea for a workshop like this. Since I’d be very interested in trying forging myself, I wanted to ask if there are any updates on a possible workshop this year. I’d definitely be interested if you decide to run it again. Best regards, Faustus

Hi @Lukrez, your post put this book on my radar, and after reading the other reviews here on the forum as well, I decided to buy it too. Since I’m based in Europe, the easiest option for me was to contact Dmitry directly and get a copy from him that way. He was very kind, and the whole process was a pleasant experience. And what can I say — this book really is one of a kind. I’m already looking forward to diving into it properly. Best regards, Faustus

Thanks, I appreciate that :-) I’m really looking forward to receiving this piece, as it’s also the first katana with koshirae that I’ve purchased. I’ll check for any marks once I have it in hand, and if both swords are from a similar series, it would be interesting to compare the jihada.

@Rawa Also, I’m not so sure about the AOI statement... Maybe with enough samples the Emura "system" can be better understood and we might get a clearer idea of how the different signatures were used (if there is any pattern at all). For the sword I purchased, it will stay in Japan for a wile since I requested a shirasaya and Hozon certification via AOI. As soon as I have it in hands I will check and give an update. The habaki look somehow similar to me - so might be a standard piece. I’ll also get in touch with AOI to ask whether the koshirae was added by them or already came with the sword.

@Rawa Hi Marcin, I’d like to contribute to this thread, as I’m also fascinated by Emura and would like to learn more about him. This is the Emura sword I recently won in AOI auction. It bears the long signature and in the AOI description there are some statements made about the different signature types. https://sword-auction.com/en/product/30296/as09330-刀-長運斉江村作/ Greetings, Faustus

Thanks, Jean. Glad you think so! Once the basic construction is a bit further along, I’d love to share my plans for the interior and get some feedback from the community. I’m sure there are plenty of tips here that could help me avoid some beginner mistakes.

Thanks, Jean! Regarding the title: I think I'm a bit too old to get my 'Dr.' now, so I’ll just stay with Faustus. As for the 'presenting' part - I might be taking your museum comment more literally than expected! I’m currently in the middle of preparing a dedicated room for the collection (see the 'blank canvas' attached). It’s a lot of work, but I want to create a controlled environment where I can focus on proper storage and study. I’m especially looking into getting the lighting and humidity just right. Maybe it'll end up being a 'private study' rather than a museum, but I’m enjoying the process of building it from the ground up. Best regards, Faustus

Hello everyone, my name is Faustus. I’ve been reading the board for a while and thought it’s time to join. I’m based in Germany and still relatively new to collecting, although I’ve already picked up some smaller pieces along the way. I’ve been fascinated by Japanese culture since I was a child, but what really got me into Nihonto was my first trip to Japan in the middle of last year — that’s where it sort of clicked and I started looking into it more seriously. Since then I’ve been trying to learn step by step, looking at different aspects of Nihonto collecting. At the moment I’m waiting to receive my first katana from Japan and I’m really looking forward to studying it in detail. At the same time, I’m starting to get into topics like lighting setup, sword care, storage, and presentation. I really appreciate the amount of knowledge shared here and I’m looking forward to learning more. Best regards, Faustus