Advice regarding Echizen Shigetaka wakizashi

[mywei]

Hi all,

 

My name is Matt from Melbourne Australia, a long time enthusiast of nihonto/kodogu and lurker of this site that has recently starting to collect pieces.

I've decided to play it safe and get my first major acquisition from a reputable dealer (Aoi Art)

 

This wak from the early shinto smith Harima Daijo Fujiwara Shigetaka (shodai) caught my eye and I've decided to buy it (link below)

http://www.aoijapan.com/wakizashi-harimadaijyo-fujiwara-shigetaka-first-generation

 

From some limited research, the features of this blade ie the jihada (?mokume hada with masame more noticeable towards shinogiji) and hamon seems pretty typical of this line. Not sure about the mei though.

 

As this blade comes with old tokubetsu kicho papers, Tsuruta-san has kindly agreed to submit it for shinsa in July. I'm fairly confident that Hozon papers shouldn't be a problem here.

It probably needs a touch up polish, but do you guys think it has enough for a Tokubetsu Hozon? I'm not really seeking to sell in the near future, just for personal gratification really

 

Interestingly, the Japanese version of the webpage seems to state (from the Kanji at least) that this blade has a high chance of getting Tokubetsu Hozon.

Also, can you apply for Tokubetsu Hozon straight away from old toku kicho papers, and if it fails can it get bumped down to Hozon or is another submission required?

 

Thanks guys for the input.

[Jean]

http://www.nihontocraft.com/Nihonto_Shi ... dards.html

 

You can directly submit a blade to Tokubetsu Hozon. However, to pass Juyo shinsa a sword now must be Tokubetsu Hozon.

 

Shinsa nowadays is harder than by recent past.

[mywei]

Thanks for that info Jean.

 

What is your experienced opinion regarding this blade just from the pictures supplied?

[nagamaki - Franco]

Have been up all night, so my mind along with my vision may not be exactly all clear. Be that as it may, I'm not reading details of the nakago in AOI's listing, ubu(?), suriage (?) (which it looks to me), and if such is the case, according to http://www.nihontocraft.com/Nihonto_Shinsa_Standards.html , no TokuHo, know these standards!

If that is the only reason, otherwise it would pass, that still makes a good 1st sword to collect for a beginer imo, all else set aside.

[Jean]

Matt,

 

I cannot judge from pictures, this blade seems fine, the smith has a good rating, no major defaults so it "could" pass TH theoratically... But I am not a shinsa member. It is hard to have Shinto blades passed TH. Much easier with Koto blades (when they are good). I would not focuss too much on the paper. For reasons that we cannot fully understand or see, a blade seeming perfect can failed TH Shinsa.

 

I have always be convinced that a shinsa level should exist between H and TH. H is not too difficult to obtain. TH is now very difficult. Juyo is even more complicated, taking into account that some blades which are Juyo would not pass today the Juyo shinsa.

 

I have a TH Yasumitsu. When I discussed the price, I got a 5% discount, the seller would not lower further the price taking ino account it had just passed TH.

 

All is subjective, once all the criteria are met (prerequisite but not sufficient)

 

Edit to add: ask Tsuruta san if the blade is suriage, I cannot tell from the picture. If not ubu it won't pass TH.

[mywei]

Alright thanks for that guys

 

Much appreciated!

 

Matt

[mywei]

Just out of curiosity for further study, was shodai Echizen Shigetaka (SHI 505) rated as Chu-jo or Jo -saku in Fujishiro?

 

I dont have a copy of this obviously, and the online resources seem to differ, with the nihonto club database listing as Jo-saku

 

Another question is regarding his school - I understand his master was Kanenori (KAN 1858) of the Mino/Echizen Seki, but his works seem to conform with the Shimosaka school (Yasutsugu I, Higo Daijo Sadakuni in particular)?

 

Cheers,

 

Matt