Survey, Custom Made Bizen Osafune Japanese Sword

[javier]

 

Interesting survey from a tourism and export coordinator of Setouchi city of Okayama prefecture in Japan.

 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdd6x7o55Ivslh1KbRUWCTor9jA19jDWRJ1iH-P68bqsk6dbw/viewform?edit_requested=true

 

 

Javier

[Ken-Hawaii]

There is a huge problem that Piers & I have been discussing for several years, Javier: There isn't much of a market for shinsakuto (modern-made swords) in Japan, but the swordsmiths haven't been willing to market their blades in the U.S. (& elsewhere).

 

For example, a few years ago when I was president of our sword club, we held the first sword exhibition in Hawaii in 50 years, & Piers & I tried to convince one young, talented smith to bring a few blades to show & market during our 2-day event. He claimed to be interested, but was too unsure of himself to participate, & so missed out on a thousand people seeing his talents. With a diminishing market, how long will swords continue to be made in the traditional way? In 100 or so years, today's shinsakuto will become tomorrow's treasure swords, but only if they continue to be manufactured. There are only a few hundred tosho (smiths) working in Japan today, by the way, far fewer than in earlier times.

 

I'm very interested in a well-made shinsakuto like the one in the survey, Javier, but $20,000 is out of my budget, so I am "forced" to buy $5,000 Kamakura & Nambokucho Nihonto.

 

Ken

 

[Jussi Ekholm]

I think they should have included brackets for 5k and 10k for this survey too.

 

I think investing 20k is a major investment for most of collectors. I know for sure that if/when I have that much savings to put on a sword it will be towards a neat antique. However I do know that there luckily are serious collectors of new swords that help to keep the craft alive.

 

Unfortunately the survey didn't have much questions for me as I couldn't afford 20k blade. I'd think they would have gotten more usable data by including lower tier options too.

[Greg F]

I agree Jussi, it would be great if they had included $5000-$10,000 sword options.

 

Greg

[javier]

Hi Ken, Jussi and Greg

 

I agree with your comments 100%.

 

In my case spending 20k in a blade in my current economic status (married with two kids) would involve a significant investment, in addition I am currently focused on Koto swords.

 

Disregarding that I considered that it was interesting to find a survey from Japan in connection with Nihonto.

 

Javier

[Surfson]

One thing is that for $5 -10K you can buy a Gassan Sadakazu, one of the first national treasures, so the modern guys are competing with past shinsakuto makers of this level of skill.