Descriptive Mei Masahide On Aoi

[Vermithrax16]

This mei is amazing:

http://www.sword-auction.jp/en/content/as10115-%E5%88%80%EF%BC%9A%E5%B7%9D%E9%83%A8%E8%97%A4%E4%B8%89%E9%83%8E%E6%B0%B4%E5%BF%83%E5%AD%90%E6%AD%A3%E7%A7%80%E8%8A%B1%E6%8A%BC3%E4%BB%A3-katana-kawabe-fujisaburo-suishinshi-masahidekao

[Ray Singer]

A shame that Aoi recommends using this sword for martial arts.

[Brian]

Surely that is a copy/paste error from another auction??
Is that sentence in the Japanese description too?

[AndyMcK]

Maybe more of a meaning lost in translation? Possibly meant that a practitioner of the arts would appreciate the meaning of the descriptive mei?

 

-Antti

[Geraint]

At the auction starting price one would need to be a pretty committed practitioner to invest in this sword, not to mention the cost of koshirae to suit it.  I think Antti may have hot on the intent behind the wording.

 

All the best.

[Ray Singer]

Unfortunately it is in the Japanese as well. Refers specifically to recommending the sword for for those who practice Kendo (剣道).

 

是非剣道などを行う方にお薦めしたい名品です。

 

Surely that is a copy/paste error from another auction??
Is that sentence in the Japanese description too?

[Katsujinken]

Strange. Haven’t seen that recommendation on a sword above ¥300,000-400,000. And it’s usually on tired/gimei/flawed swords, which in my opinion are just fine for training in qualified hands.

 

There are definitely people practicing with $12,000 shinsakuto, but an old sword, even at the same value, is a different situation in my humble opinion.

[Vermithrax16]

I had skipped over that part as I thought it was like Brian suggested, a copy/paste deal from another listing. Weird, but I doubt the buyer would use it for actual practice.

[Guido]

 

是非剣道などを行う方にお薦めしたい名品です。

 

The way I read it, he thinks that practitioners of kendō etc. might like this masterpiece (because of the inscription), not that he recommends it for actual use in martial arts.

[Stephen]

Somewhere in our vast storage is a master sensei using a famous koto blade for his kata.

[Ray Singer]

Thanks Guido, I stand corrected.

 

Stephen, if we are thinking of the same story Chris Bowen gave an account of a martial artist he met who used an Ichimonji for his practice and had a large hakobore due to hitting a staple in the tatami.

[Katsujinken]

I just died a little inside.

 

Thanks Guido, I stand corrected.

 

Stephen, if we are thinking of the same story Chris Bowen gave an account of a martial artist he met who used an Ichimonji for his practice and had a large hakobore due to hitting a staple in the tatami.

[Stephen]

Yes yes

Ray thats it!!

[charlie1]

I’m at a loss for words...

[leo]

Hi,

i do not see a reason, why this sword should not be used for practise by an experienced martial artist. If you not try to chop everything within reach or constantly draw it from a sheath iaidostyle, there will be no harm done to the blade(provided you really are experienced!). In the vast field of Kenjutsu there are many kata which you perform with a sword already drawn. I am not a Kendo practitioner myself, but maybe AoiArt consideres them a more "sophisticated" community    .

 

Best,

Martin

[Surfson]

I would think that it is a bit silly to use it for cutting.  This is made by one of the greatest shinshinto artists and has an amazing inscription.  Using it to cut, even if it doesn't damage the blade outright, will lead to the necessity of having it polished, a process that degrades the sword by removing steel.  It appears to be in perfect polish, but would not be after using it to cut for a period of time.  On a more practical note, a polish on this blade would cost a few thousand dollars as well.