Yamano Ka'emon Nagahisa setsudan-mei

[Negroni-san]

Recently I came across this wakizashi and something grabbed my attention...

 

When reading this article on cutting test inlays two questions come to mind that some of you might be able to answer…

 

 

1. The inlay on this wakizashi states Kanbun 2 (1662) Yamano Ka’emon Nagahisa 61…. But from other inlays shouldn’t he be 65 in this year?

 

2. Could it be true that this is actually the only Koto/pre 1596  that has a gold inlay (this is claimed by Aoi in the item description…)?

I thought I’ had seen a few over the years… one that I could find online sold at an Italian auction 

 

 

I would be delighted if you could give me some color on this situation and what I'm missing and/or overseeing!?

 

[Ray Singer]

I am surprised to see Aoi's comments about this being the only koto blade with a saidan-mei. I have personally handled koto with this feature, and there are juyo examples with cutting tests (in kinzoganmei) as far back as Nanbokucho and Kamakura period. 

[Shugyosha]

Hi Negroni san,

The kinzogan mei and paper says he was 66 not 61 but there is a discrepancy between the paper which says the test was done in Kanbun 3 and the blade which says Kanbun 2. Maybe a “typo”? 
 

 

 

 

[Jussi Ekholm]

It is actually Kanbun 3 like in the paper, it seems the gold inlay is missing on the middle stroke on 三.

 

Aoi has lots of incorrect things on the description of this particular item. As Ray pointed out there are some older blades with cutting tests too.

[SteveM]

Another very careless and sloppy description from Aoi.  (Some redundancy in my comments. Jussi was faster than I was). 

 

1. Saidan mei says 66 years, as is reflected correctly on the Jūyō paper. Aoi's description (61 years) is wrong, and I think they misread it because of some missing inlay. 

2. Saidan mei says the cut was made in Kanbun 3, as is reflected correctly on the Jūyō paper. As above, Aoi overlooked some missing gold inlay. 

3. Sayagaki says Kunzan wrote it in in 1971 (辛亥 in zodiac), but Aoi lists this as a question mark. 

4. Took me about 2 seconds to find another koto with gold inlay saidanmei. https://www.seiyudo.com/ka-080116.htm

 

The text errors are minor (ish) errors, but you'd want someone selling a US$45,000 sword to pay a bit more attention to detail. The marketing fluff about this sword being a one-of-a-kind koto sword with gold inlay saidanmei is just wrong, in a reputation-damaging sort of way. 

 

I also don't like the way the oshigata leaves off the middle stroke in the Kanbun date, changing it from 3 to 2. Its as if the person doing the oshigata wasn't really looking at the nakago that closely. 

[Negroni-san]

Thank you Ray, John, Jussi, and Steve for your swift and comprehensive replies. 

 

And Steve you are correct even though they are minor errors that could be blamed on translation it is enough to keep a lot of buyers at bay...

[Negroni-san]

Again I find a blade for sale by a dealer who is this time 'only' stating his personal opinion/experience:

 

"I must say that in over 40+ years of collecting and dealing in Japanese swords, this is the first Kotô blade that I have seen with a cutting test.  I highly recommend this beautiful blade."  

 

Yet from prior blogs and other writings on his website it is quite clear that he is aware of kinzogan on earlier blades. Isn't it harmful for the overseas industry when dealers make exaggerated claims about items in this manner...

[Jussi Ekholm]

Not really regarding the cutting test but that particular sword in general. High papered swords are super easy to track down as I do follow old swords perhaps way too much. Now Jūyō 64 session was only in 2018. Yet this is the 4th time I see this particular sword being sold online. 3 times were by 2 Japanese dealers and now it is with Fred. Also the sword has gotten a koshirae in 2023, as when it was sold in late 2022 in Japan it was only in shirasaya. So while the koshirae is most likely old from Edo period as mentioned, it was not made for this particular sword, it is good to look at the tsuka for more information.

 

Fred knows his stuff and way more than me, he has great knowledge. Not wanting anyone think negatively about him, just wanting to point out some background of the item. I admit I am personally bit puzzled when swords get sold over and over in short time span but people are aiming to make profit.