Inami Hakusui Sayagaki

[Peter Bleed]

Today I looked a sword with Inami Hakusui sayagaki that included - among other things - one of his numeric evaluations. I have never paid much attention to these, but I wonder if someone might point me to an explanation of his system? I would also appreciate a discussion of his reputation.

Peter.

[Ken-Hawaii]

Inami Hakasui wrote what was probably the first English-language book on Nihonto back in 1948, as you probably know. Pulling from Elliott's Shibuiswords.com Web-site:

 

Inami Hakusui started issuing origami in 1927. This occured after he and others had founded the Japanese Sword Research Society (or the Hakusui Association), the only organized group in Japan engaged in the study of Nippon-to and Nippon-to makers. Hakusui realized that the strong belief in the reliability of certificates of appraisal for swords meant that a piece is absolutely genuine, or is whatever it is claimed to be. The example of a Hakusui Association origami states the following information (reading from right to left) about the Sukesada blade: (This origami is still under study)

column 1: Name of maker and home, Bizen Osafune Sukesada
column 2: Mei appears on Nakago or Mu-mei,
column 3: Era of the sword, age, 1624 - 1643, Kanei Era, Edo Period
column 4: length: ? shaku ? sun ? bu
column 5: "Absolute Guarantee" the sword is genuine, Hakusui seal for validity
column 6: Value of the sword in Koban (gold coins)
column 7: States "I certify that all of the foregoing is correct"
column 8: Signature of the person who wrote the certificate, with Kao
column 9: Year, ? month, ? day (1949)
column 10: Japanese Sword Research Society
column 11: "President Hakusui Inami" and personal seal or Kao

 

Dean Hartley also mentions him at http://drdeanhartley.com/ColHartley/Oriental/appraisa.htm

 

And even Darcy references him at https://yuhindo.com/yukimitsu-3/

[Peter Bleed]

Ken,

Thank you. Indeed, I am familiar with Inami-san's book. Once years ago I found a copy in one of the book sellers in Jimbocho and brought it over to the "Japan Sword Company" where I found the man himself. I asked him to sign my copy of the book and he did so - immediately. He was kind to me.

And he  certainly took an interesting and important approach to sword marketing. I believe that it deserves to be respected if not celebrated. I also think that it is significant that in 1948 - when times were really tough, both Inami and Honma-sensei produced ENGLISH language books on swords.

I wonder how the modern world of polite sword appreciation views his assessments. Do they add value - or are they considered embarassments that are best ignored?

Peter

[Ken-Hawaii]

I haven't read much on how his appraisals are appreciated, Peter, but I had a blade with his origami, & after I got it translated, it was spot-on accurate.

[Darcy]

Since this referenced my site and seems to say I am supporting his expertise:

 

1. that tanto is part of the "soshu daisho" which I have talked about frequently on this site before, that tanto is gimei and came from a Christie's auction that had their guarantee.

 

2. it came with an equally gimei (kinzogan) Masamune which I have spoken about and I think Reinhard has on this site. 

 

3. both were happily authenticated by Inami san 

 

I don't think that any of his paperwork or sayagaki means anything for holding any attribution weight.

 

This tanto, the thoughts out of Japan were that it is a Sadamune that has a spurious Yukimitsu added. 

 

So don't use either this tanto as a Yukimitsu reference, or as me saying Inami san had any weight as an expert. I'm sure he knew his stuff I am just not sure that the attributions he made on things he sold shortly after the war, as this tanto was, is anything that can be counted on.

 

I don't view his papers in any regard at all. That page was only documenting what was on the blade. 

 

I sold it as Nanbokucho period Soshu, as I was told the only two attributions that would be given to it if it were mumei were Soshu Sadamune or Shodai Nobukuni and I didn't let the buyer find that out until after it was bought (as I didn't want to use those names to leverage a sale, rather, leave it as a pleasant surprise). 

 

The Masamune katana was Shinto but a good Shinto, still, fake Masamune attribution on a great Shinto sword is of negligible worth.