kanobo masatsugu

[drjoe]

saw a blade by kanobo masatsugu at the token kai that caught my eye as a jsa practitioner based upon it's imposing sugata.

 

i had not heard of this smith before and would like to learn more. i found the following links with a basic google search, but i'd like to know more and i am wondering what features specifically make these once apparently much sought after-blades now considered to be "brusque" and "lacking in elegance." nagayama calls them "stout rather than smart or elegant" as well. perhaps it's just a matter of translation and what i'm calling "imposing sugata" is similar to "unelegant," but i'm reading it as a disparaging remark.

 

http://www.japaneseswordcollector.com/kanabo/kan1.html

http://www.samuraisword.com/nihontodisp ... /index.htm

http://www007.upp.so-net.ne.jp/m-kenji/ ... koto6.html

 

can someone comment on how collectors now tend to view kanobo school works?

[Jacques D.]

Hi,

 

 

Not easy to explain that with words only (at least for me), i think you should let the practitionner feeling sideways. I remind a long Omi yari (more than 70cm) by Kanabo Masatsugu i had in hand. It had an elegant sugata and didn't look stout nor massive. I would add it was without any ware which is rare on blade where there is much masame.

[Geraint]

Hi Joe.

 

Interesting question. At the simplest level it depends if you own Kanabo sword or not. Non owners will subscribe to the accepted judgement which is that they were made in a period when there was a sense of urgency about making swords and are therefore not the finest; comments about coarse hada and the sugata evidence this. Owners will more likely describe them as undervalued and point out the virtues of a sword appreciated by the Samurai for their cutting ability and battle worthiness. You will have done the search and found out the history of the school and you will probably have noticed that there are a number for sale, some at quite steep prices.

 

The bigger question is how you want to collect. As a practitioner of sword arts you might well feel that swords valued by Samurai as good weapons have an interest for you, in which case swords which are described as functional rather than artistic will appeal; Kanabo and Takada blades for example. There will be those who will advise against this because there is another view which is that you should aspire to the best and these schools are not it.

 

There are several articles about how people collect relevant section of the board, However I have to admit that I have seen several Kanabo blades that I would be very happy to have owned, if you like one then buy it.

 

Have fun!

[Eric H]

Kanabo Masatsugu - 3 Generations

 

http://www.nihonto.com/abtartkanabomasatsugu.html

 

Eric

[cabowen]

Like any other group that worked to satisfy the large demand for swords that existed in sue koto (Sukesada, Takeda, etc.), they made a lot of utilitarian blades with little to no artistic merit. That is not to say you will not find one worthy of collecting, simply they have a rather poor reputation among collectors and you will have to look hard and be patient if you hope to find something better than mediocre.

[drjoe]

thanks all for the answers, i believe i understand well now.

 

i think this description also provides a nice perspective on the school (and seems to be the blade i was looking at):

 

http://nihonto.onihonto.com/onihonto111copy111_006.htm

[nihonto1001]

Dr. Joe.

 

Thanks for the positive feedback on my web page.

 

I have had the opportunity to see a more than a few Kanabo nihonto. Also, there was a really nice Kanabo Masatsugu Juyo Token with horimono that came up in some Japanese Publication a while back.

 

Although the Kanabo school will never have the same appreciation as Den like Ichimonji, etc., it is interesting to collect nihonto that the Bushu would have actually preferred in the type of battle of the time. Kanabo swords were made to cut through tough armor... and, if it did not cut through, it would probably stun the adversary. In fact, a kanabo is a long club like weapon. Maybe that is how the school got its name?

 

I wish I had the opportunity to see that Yari, referred to above.

 

I believe Gordon Robson, is an expert on the Kanabo Den. In fact, much of the information out there is a regurgitation of his research.

[drjoe]

Dr. Joe.

 

Thanks for the positive feedback on my web page.

 

I have had the opportunity to see a more than a few Kanabo nihonto. Also, there was a really nice Kanabo Masatsugu Juyo Token with horimono that came up in some Japanese Publication a while back.

 

Although the Kanabo school will never have the same appreciation as Den like Ichimonji, etc., it is interesting to collect nihonto that the Bushu would have actually preferred in the type of battle of the time. Kanabo swords were made to cut through tough armor... and, if it did not cut through, it would probably stun the adversary. In fact, a kanabo is a long club like weapon. Maybe that is how the school got its name?

 

I wish I had the opportunity to see that Yari, referred to above.

 

I believe Gordon Robson, is an expert on the Kanabo Den. In fact, much of the information out there is a regurgitation of his research.

 

if that was you at the show, thanks again for letting me see the blade. i enjoyed it very much.

[nihonto1001]

Hi DrJoe:

 

That was probably David B you spoke with. I no longer have the Daisho. If his table had a nice display of Armor, it was probably him. Good guy. PM me if you want his contact info.

[runagmc]

In fact, a kanabo is a long club like weapon. Maybe that is how the school got its name?

 

I think Kanabo may have been the name of the area where the school was formed...

[Jean]

http://www.japaneseswordcollector.com/kanabo/kan1.html

[nihonto1001]

Is there an "area" called Kanabo? I do not remember this from any of my research.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanab%C5%8D

This is perhaps, a more likely postulate.

[DirkO]

While looking for something else I came across this in Yamanaka's Newsletters - sorry for the bad picture quality: