Sayagaki

[BIG]

Hi all,

 

Recently bought a katana with Sayagaki.

 

Some guys Told me a Sayagaki Means "Nothing", others Said, Sayagaki from a well known

 

Sensei, here Yoshikawa Koen, is gold Worth.

 

 

Best Regards

[Brian]

I think a well done sayagaki by a well known expert adds significant value to a sword. In this case, I consider yours well done and an asset. Just my opinion (as is the writer's too)

By putting it "out there" the writer is putting his reputation on the line, and I don't think they are done casually.

 

Brian

[cabowen]

I think you will find that the value associated with them depends on who you ask as well as who did the sayagaki.

[Ken-Hawaii]

Pretty much anything that adds provenance to a blade is valuable, Peter, but I agree with Brian & Chris that it does matter a lot on who did the sayagaki, & his reputation.

 

Ken

[Soshin]

Hi Peter R.,

 

I have a hakogaki for a tsuba by a well know late nihonto expert Kanzan Satō. I don't think it adds anything of value to it as it is a tsuba box and not a sayagaki. I am basically just agreeing with what others have already said and citing a personal example.

[seattle1]

Hello:

Yes there are sayagaki and there are sayagaki, however any by Yoshikawa Koen would certainly be value adding in my opinion. He was a polisher, a recognized sword scholar with publications to his name, he headed, at the time of his death, the unified NTHK, the oldest sword group in Japan to the best of my knowledge, and he was the Keeper of the Imperial Collection. His group was a pioneer at doing shinsa in the USA, and his sayagaki are uncommon in number, if not on the rare side, and they usually contained useful additional information about the blade and or smith.

Arnold F.

[BIG]

Thanks for your opinions,

 

and I remember his "honest" Kantei interview.

 

Share a seller's pic ...

 

Best Regards

[b.hennick]

I treasure the one and only sayagaki that John Yamoto wrote. His teacher balled him out after writing this sayagaki and he never did another - so I have been told. So some are indeed special. I think that Tanobe's sayagaki add value otherwise why would people pay to have them done. He really writes a lot when he likes a blade. 

OTH a sayagaki by an unknown source does not add value and may detract especially if poorly written or incorrect. An incorrect sayagaki by  a sword scholar to me is valuable even if currently not considered correct. It gives you a good reason to study your sword and see what he saw that lead to that conclusion. Perhaps he was correct and the current shinsa team incorrect. 

[seattle1]

Hello:

I agree with Barry, but I would like to point out that my preceding comments about Yoshikawa Koen were restricted to him as it is his sayagaki that is shown. There are other excellent value adding writers of course. Those of Homma Kunzan sensei are highly regarded, though usually only minimal information is provided. Those of Tanobe Tanzan sensei are also well regarded and full of substantial detail, particularly the more recent ones. Other commonly seen writers are Sato Kanzan sensei and Hon'ami Koson sensei.

Arnold F.