samurai shokai (サムライ商会)

[swordnoob]

I just wanted to post my brief exchange with this seller as I haven't found much about them on this site or elsewhere

 

TL;DR I wouldn't recommend buying from them

 

 

Their reply after I sent a few questions via their order form:

hello
First of all, is it an order or a question?
Payment in USD is OK
>Do you have any additional pictures of the sword or koshirae at different angles and lighting?
no additional images
>Does the item come with tsunagi?
yes
>When the sword is mounted in the koshirae, how's the fit? Is anything loose?
no problem

 

Me:

Hello,

I was thinking about ordering once I found out more about the swords.

What would be the total price in USD?

Them:

thank you for the order

 

When shipping to _, the shipping company will be _

 

In the case of _, _JPY will be added for shipping and insurance.

 

Total price will be _USD

 

Charge _USD on Paypal

 

Thank you

**Two minutes afterwards, I was sent a PayPal request for money (I guess there was some miscommunication there)**

 

Me:

Hello,

Before I place the order would it be possible to take more pictures? I can't tell if there are any issues due to the picture of it being too whitened, nor can I tell it's polish condition

 

 

Them:

there is no problem with the product

Do not buy if you have questions

 

 

**They cancelled their PayPal request a minute afterwards**

 

 

I found it kind of alarming that the seller immediately told me to not buy if I had questions. For reference, this is what I was looking at https://www.samuraishokai.jp/sword/22101.html

[francois2605]

I bought once from them, indeed their communication is a bit blunt probably because they're not very comfortable with english. I paid them via PayPal, everything went fine, they even declared the sword as an antique one for the customs even though I never asked them to do it.

[Nihontocollector752]

Don't see what else was required in the way of pictures this place is fine for transactions 

[swordnoob]

Compare these:

https://www.samuraishokai.jp/sword/21137.html

https://www.e-sword.jp/katana/2210-1083.htm

https://sword-auction.com/en/product/13851/as22359-刀：備前国住長船清光（五郎左衞門）特別保存-2/

 

The first two sites have full sugata images that look more blanched, but the second site offers more pictures further below. Aside from the picture of the sugata, the third site also has another that highlights different sections of the blade. Finally, I just noticed that in the image of the sword in the first site, there appears to be a small discoloured patch near the munemachi of the image with the edge facing left (although that could be my eyes playing tricks on me).

 

1 hour ago, Nihontocollector752 said:

Don't see what else was required in the way of pictures this place is fine for transactions 

 

I personally like having more pictures (and information) on an item before committing to a purchase, but that's just my preference

 

[Nihontocollector752]

1 hour ago, swordnoob said:

Compare these:

https://www.samuraishokai.jp/sword/21137.html

https://www.e-sword.jp/katana/2210-1083.htm

https://sword-auction.com/en/product/13851/as22359-刀：備前国住長船清光（五郎左衞門）特別保存-2/

 

The first two sites have full sugata images that look more blanched, but the second site offers more pictures further below. Aside from the picture of the sugata, the third site also has another that highlights different sections of the blade. Finally, I just noticed that in the image of the sword in the first site, there appears to be a small discoloured patch near the munemachi of the image with the edge facing left (although that could be my eyes playing tricks on me).

 

 

I personally like having more pictures (and information) on an item before committing to a purchase, but that's just my preference

 

Buy books and you'll eventually get to a point if confidence where you know what you're actually looking at

[Xander Chia]

Personally I find their comments for their nihonto a bit vague. It seems like they aren’t too popular on Google reviews as well. Heard they occasionally have some items at quite a good price though.

[Curran]

They are fine.

Dependable for a steady stream of fairly priced items.

Having been on the other side of the equation, having listened to my fellow USA citizens sound impossibly rude in another language... stomping all over any sense of decorum... AND this was in Europe- give them a pass for their bluntness in English. After many years studying Japanese, I am still embarrassed by how (intermediate at best) is my communication level. That East-West divide is particularly tough with Japanese. Even Korean feels like a walk in the park vs trying to really communicate in Japanese.

 

[swordnoob]

Hmm, maybe it is just the language barrier, but still off-putting regardless. That said, it's good to know that they're not like e-bay scammers

[Rivkin]

90% of sword dealers in Japan don't want to deal with Gaijin. 90% of quality swords even those offered by dealers from the US came originally from just two dealers in Japan. There are in total three dealers who are Gaijin-proof by choice.

 

Gaijin collectors are "browsers".

They don't understand the subject, they don't know what they want, they feel asking for a photograph of the kasane makes them "sophisticated" since, well, they heard somewhere kasane is important.

 

They are in a permanent state of utter panic.

The papers might be fake. Look the zero number looks different from zero on another TH from the web!!

There could be so many bad things about the sword! They need to make sure! But they have no clue what exactly they are looking for. 

Even if they buy a blade they will show it to 30 people until one says it has a hagire, to the great satisfaction of the buyer who finally figured out what is wrong with a papered blade.

 

[Bugyotsuji]

Dealing with Westerners is an emotional commitment, requiring a decision either way. It IS a big deal. If yes, then it’s ALL yes, all the way; as such a dealer though, you may be incidentally isolating yourself emotionally from the domestic dealer fraternity. 
 

Many dealers prefer (feel more comfortable) to stay within the domestic market with all the known advantages and disadvantages therein. Language is one part of the equation, but there are cultural and practical factors too. ‘No, too much hassle, NOT for me.” Their decision may also be based on real experiences or shared horror stories.
 

Customer and dealer will surely find each other eventually, with luck! It’s never smooth sailing. Relax, enjoy, and shop around. Ultimately despite their pride it is a live-or-die business for most of them. Start small. Buy something small and show the colo(u)r of your money. Etc., etc.

[Curran]

I had reason to do business with samurai shokai (サムライ商会) recently.

 

While he is gruff due to language limitations, it was an incredibly smooth efficient transaction where he even warned me about the ivory component on a shirasaya and how we could avoid the customer issues associated with ivory.

 

If reason arises, I'll gladly do business with him. He isn't Mr. Warm-n-Fuzzy, but my experience with him was very positive.

 

Curran

 

[Baba Yaga]

On 10/25/2022 at 5:58 PM, Rivkin said:

90% of sword dealers in Japan don't want to deal with Gaijin. 90% of quality swords even those offered by dealers from the US came originally from just two dealers in Japan. There are in total three dealers who are Gaijin-proof by choice.

 

Gaijin collectors are "browsers".

They don't understand the subject, they don't know what they want, they feel asking for a photograph of the kasane makes them "sophisticated" since, well, they heard somewhere kasane is important.

 

They are in a permanent state of utter panic.

The papers might be fake. Look the zero number looks different from zero on another TH from the web!!

There could be so many bad things about the sword! They need to make sure! But they have no clue what exactly they are looking for. 

Even if they buy a blade they will show it to 30 people until one says it has a hagire, to the great satisfaction of the buyer who finally figured out what is wrong with a papered blade.

 

 

So true!    If you're buying a big name blade, it "pays" to have an oversea broker.