Question about NTHK papers

[Justin]

I have recently had a sword papered by the NTHK. I notice that there are five red seals included on the paper (see attached). On other NTHK papers there are less seals. Does anyone know what this means? Is this just the number of shinsa members on the day? Does each seal correspond to an individual judge?

 

Thanks and regards

Justin

[Kevin Adams]

I'm kind of new at this so I can only infer, but according to the NBTHK/NTHK origami comparison page on http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/origami.htm, that column contains the "appraisers seals" (the example shows two). My guess is that your assumption is correct: each seal corresponds to a judge that is present.

 

Now let's see if I'm right...

[Henry Wilson]

Hi Kevin and Justin

 

Love the cat by the way Kevin. I thought I replied last night but I could have previewed my message and then closed the window with out submitting.

 

The red seals are the seals of the judges that appraised the swords and the kanji in each stamp is probably that of each judge's family name. The number of seals does not effects the worth of the papers and sometimes I have seen the seals stamped no where near the box.

 

The funny thing is that I have a Hosokawa Masachika tanto that is papered by the NTHK too.

[Justin]

Thanks Kevin and Henry.

 

Henry - do you know much about this smith? I know he's shinshinto and from the Masahide Suishinshi stable, but that's about it. There's a Hosokawa Masachika listed in Nihonto Koza (from Hachioji in Musashi) - a student of Hosokawa Masayoshi, but that's all I've got so far.

 

I'm thinking about selling if you want a wak to match your tanto

 

Regards

Justin

[Henry Wilson]

I wrote an article on him a while ago for the NTHK (NPO) magazine. I will dig it out and try to send / post some pics. I think thought you have basically summed it all up in your last post.

 

I am off swords at the moment so thanks but no thanks!!! Could you descride the hamon as being "milky" as that is what I think is one of his characteristics as well as a lose itame hada....

[Henry Wilson]

Hi Justin

 

I have taken photos and attached them to this post. I hope it is of use.

[paulb]

Hi Henry,

that is a very proffessionally presented piece of work. Did you do the oshigata as well?

[Henry Wilson]

Thank you Paul. Yes, all my own work including the oshigata. The type set is a bit off when their is an apostrophy but that was not me :x

 

I have been trying to do an oshigata of another sword for months but I am not able to get the same results for some reasons. It appears that in more ways than one each sword is unique........

[Justin]

Hi Henry,

 

Thanks heaps for posting your article. It was very informative. Will post some photos of my wakizashi when I get a chance (I am a very bad photographer).

 

My hamon is more gunome midare. Yours looks a bit more notare - is that correct? It's not the best polish, but I think I can see some kinsuji and sunagashi. Yes, the hada is itame. The boshi is a nice 'flame style' midare.

 

Cheers

Justin