tokashikibob Posted October 20, 2015 Report Posted October 20, 2015 Gentlemen, I've come across a clean wakazashi here, mumei, excellent fittings, nice rich colour tsuba, gold over copper habaki and seppas, kiri yasurime. After some study this afternoon, late Muromachi Mino or maybe Shimada school piece. Am I again way out in left field as always? Best regards, Bob Quote
Ken-Hawaii Posted October 20, 2015 Report Posted October 20, 2015 Well, Bob, the sugata should tell you a bit about its lineage. Hira-zukuri were more popular in Koto times, but the sori indicates it's probably later than that. Itame & mokume hada should at least point you toward a school...is it Mino? I can't see much in the hamon, but don't see signs of togari...so is it Mino? Is the hamon nie- or nioi-deki? The yakidashi I can see indicates it's probably ubu. Does this help you think through the identification process?Ken Quote
Peter Bleed Posted October 21, 2015 Report Posted October 21, 2015 I was going to say Shimada even before I saw that you were aiming that way. Sure isn't a Mino nakago. Looks like a nice sword. Peter Quote
Kai-Gunto Posted October 22, 2015 Report Posted October 22, 2015 Nice one. Love the fittings. Is the kojiri matching? Quote
tokashikibob Posted October 24, 2015 Author Report Posted October 24, 2015 Thomas, I think they be a set on the samurai theme, not sure what to call the menuki, do you think it is a tobacco bag. The fuchi has a banner with for diamonds, and the other side what seems to be a fan. I did not look up the signature. I'll order some 7mm and rewrap it. Quote
Tanto54 Posted October 24, 2015 Report Posted October 24, 2015 Dear Bob, The menuki are Sode (Samurai Armor Shoulder Guards). 1 Quote
tokashikibob Posted October 26, 2015 Author Report Posted October 26, 2015 Dear Bob, The menuki are Sode (Samurai Armor Shoulder Guards). Thanks George! I never would have figured that out on my own! Quote
tokashikibob Posted October 27, 2015 Author Report Posted October 27, 2015 For any Japanese history buffs, I was poking around a bit this afternoon for a bit of information on the koshirae of this wak. It seems the mon depicted on the flag is for Korenori Kamei who was a capable fighter and favored by Hideyoshi. Kamei was given Okinawa after Hideyoshi's 1587 campaign in Kyushu. Additionally he was given a golden battle fan as a reward which I think is depicted on the fuchi. Today this fan is missing somewhere between Seoul and Tokyo, so keep a look out, I need it to complete this set! Best regards, Bob http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2998322 In another case of obscured ownership of cultural assets, over four centuries ago, Korean Joseon-era naval commander Adm. Yi Sun-shin seized a golden fan of Hideyoshi Toyotomi, who ordered the Japanese invasions of Korea from 1592 to 1598.This fan was taken from a Japanese vessel following Korea’s victory in the 1592 Battle of Dangpo, a naval skirmish between the two countries.The fan had been a present from Toyotomi to Korenori Kamei, a naval official during the battle who fled once defeat was imminent, leaving behind the fan.The fan was stored in a secret Joseon royal family vault for centuries.But ahead of the 1910 annexation of Korea by Japan, the fan was transferred to the hands of a Japanese architect named Tadasu Sekino. Then it was reported to be passed onto the Japanese imperial family.A Japanese imperial household spokesperson responded to the JoongAng Ilbo’s recent question on the whereabouts of the golden fan: “The person in charge said that the golden fan in question cannot be found.”The Venerable Hyemoon, a Buddhist monk who heads the Committee for the Return of Korean Cultural Property, said, “The golden fan seized by Admiral Yi during the Japanese invasions is not only symbolic but is a great cultural asset that embodies the spirit of our people. At that time, the spoils of war belonged to the victor country, and furthermore, the fan was seized on Joseon soil, thus it should of course belong to Korea.”He added, “Regardless of whether it should be returned or not, it is the responsibility of the Korean government to check with the Japanese imperial household to check if the golden fan seized by Admiral Yi is in its possession.” Kamei Early lifeHis father, Kamei Hidetsuna, was killed in battle against the Mōri clan when the Mōri invaded and seized the Amago clan's lands, leaving no heir to the Kamei name. Korenori then took on this name, and in 1566, together with his brother-in-law, Yamanaka Shikanosuke, to whom he was related by virtue of marrying the younger sister of Shikanosuke's wife, he made efforts to reclaim these lands for the Amago, and to destroy Mōri Motonari and his army. However, the Amago clan fell in 1578, leaving Korenori without his lords; he then entered the service of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. DaimyoReceiving Shikano castle in Inaba province as a reward for his notable service in 1578, Korenori ascended to higher rank as he assisted in Hideyoshi's 1587 invasion of Kyūshū. Interested in earning further fortunes in foreign trade, he requested to obtain lands in the coastal domains of Izumo province, which possessed high quality harbors, in recognition of his past service against the Mōri and other clans of Kyūshū. However, his request was denied, as Izumo had already been given to the Mōri as a part of the truce agreements between the Mōri and Hideyoshi. Korenori then asked for the Ryukyu Islands instead; a paper fan inscribed with the date, Hideyoshi's signature, and the title "Kamei, Lord of Ryukyu" (亀井琉球の守, Kamei Ryūkyū no kami), found by Korean forces on a ship captured during Hideyoshi's invasions of Korea serves as evidence that Hideyoshi at least nominally offered the post to Korenori.[2] However, Hideyoshi had no rightful claim to the islands, which were at the time the independent Ryūkyū Kingdom. Korenori sent a small force to take control of the islands, but was blocked by the Shimazu clan of Satsuma province,[2] who jealously guarded a special relationship, including exclusive trading rights, with the kingdom. Korenori was thus unable to wield any actual claim or control over the islands, and following Hideyoshi's death in 1598, entered the service of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Following the Sekigahara Campaign of 1600, his income was raised from 13,000 to 43,000 koku as a reward for his service to the Tokugawa clan. Korenori died of natural causes in 1612. Korenori's descendants were eventually made daimyo (lords) of the Tsuwano Domain, which they ruled until the Meiji Restoration (1868). Quote
Greg F Posted October 28, 2015 Report Posted October 28, 2015 Hi Bob, nice waki. Interesting story. Greg. Ps. Im loving the mega teeth. I gave one to a fellow member as a gift for having my family over for lunch and sword study. Cheers mate Quote
tokashikibob Posted October 28, 2015 Author Report Posted October 28, 2015 Hi Bob, nice waki. Interesting story. Greg. Ps. Im loving the mega teeth. I gave one to a fellow member as a gift for having my family over for lunch and sword study. Cheers mate Greg, I am glad you like them! I did my probable last dive of the season last Friday and got a couple of nice 5's and some smaller ones. Let me know if your interested and I'll take some pictures. It's almost Xmas and you need to treat yourself! Quote
mdiddy Posted October 28, 2015 Report Posted October 28, 2015 Late Muromachi Shitahara school may be worth looking into given the length and shape of the blade, the style of nakago, and most importantly the prevalent mokume. Quote
tokashikibob Posted October 29, 2015 Author Report Posted October 29, 2015 Matt, Shitahara, Didn't think to look there, and I had one of those shitahara swirl tanto's a few years ago. Thanks for the tip! Best Regards, Bob Quote
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