POLISHING VIDEOS/DVD AVAILABILTY??

[Bazza]

Dear All,,

I am a paid up member of a military museum and I have just received their Annual Report. It will become clear why this Museum should remain anonymous.

 

This museum has a man who, as part of his Edged Weapons charter, "restores" swords, all kinds of swords, and brings in considerable $$$$$ (so noted in the Annual Report) from the public to the Museum for his sword restoration services outside the Museum's Charter. Unfortunately, he also "restores" Nihonto. It is abundantly clear to me that this man has no idea what he is doing, no idea at all. What is more galling to me is that I am well enough known to the Manager and others as a knowledgeable person with Nihonto, yet despite this it is also well known that the "restorer" in question is known to be a person of inadequate expertise in the matter of Nihonto. I put continued acceptance of this man in his role down to the complete lack of knowledge on the part of the Manager and the Board. Of course, I'm working to change this without treading on sensitivities or crumpling the personal image of otherwise well-intentioned and good people.

 

It is not this I want to dwell on, but rather to ask the following question:

 

I have two videos/DVDs on sword forging - (1) "The Secret World of the Japanese Swordsmith" from Fred Chang at swordsmithsecret@hotmail.com featuring Yoshindo Yoshihara, and (2) "Takumi" ("Artisan"), featuring Ono Yoshimitsu, a video courtesy of Paul Martin http://www.users.on.net/~coxm/3.%20articles.html. I show these two videos to whomsoever I can wherever I can to advance knowledge and appreciation of the Japanese sword as a Fine Art. Can anyone tell me of similar video/DVD material on polishing as an art??????

 

Hopefully,

Barry Thomas.

[Stephen]

Not to hijack your thread as I don't have a led on your request for DVD's.

This is the very reason I steer nihonto away from being donated to museum's, I have worked with two local myself, the Gold Star military museum, and Iowa historical society. Blades found in neglect to the point of rust. Please do your research for museums such as Boston and NYC who have a good background it the subject. That's really scary Barry to what may happen to their blades, I hope/pray you can turn that around. If you think letters from the NMB members would help id be glad to post one to them.

[huntershooter]

I have seen videos on "Youtube" featuring Gassan Sadaichi and others. At one time there was a video featuring a Mukansa togishi (whose name escapes me).

Don't know if this is any help. Best of luck in your task.

[Ford Hallam]

Hi Barry,

 

there are at least 2 videos in the Takumi series that feature polishers. I dig around in my cupboards tomorrow and see what I can add.

 

regards,

 

f

[Ed Harbulak]

Token Konno has a DVD on Japanese Sword Polishing that sells for $60 or at least that's the price listed on the flier I picked up at the 2006 Tampa Sword Show. Try http://www.tokenkonnoart.com. Konno san also is a sword polisher and shows up at the U.S. sword shows. I've seen the older VCR verson of this DVD and it presents an excellent overview of just what is involved in properly polishing a Japanese blade.

Ed

[Andi B.]

there are at least 2 videos in the Takumi series that feature polishers.

 

I know one video from TAKUMI, featuring Hon-ami Nisshu (26min) and on Youtube "KATANA TOGISHI-Japanese Traditional Sword Polisher".