'Caveat emptor' buying tsuba from Japan on eBay

[Guest When Necessary]

First some personal good news. Some of you might have figured that I really like big, chunky iron sukashi guards (especially without inlay) so I was real happy to have just got this Efu no Akao Yoshitsugu!

 

I got it on Mercari, which is a Japanese 'buy it now' site which I get to use thanks to my little brother based over In Japan. Usually I don't talk cash but I want to warn you folks about a pretty obvious scam. 
It was on Mercari for ¥17,000 but I negotiated it down to 15,000. Meanwhile lots of 'shops' based in Japan already had it advertised on eBay for over double that. Obviously they were gonna get a bite from the States or Europe and then quickly buy the thing from Mercari.

 

This is the listing as I bought it:

(Remember, ¥15,000 is $99)

 

Dee
 

Edited December 10, 2024 by KungFooey
Forgot my name again 🙄

[Guest When Necessary]

And these are some of the 'shops' waiting to buy it if someone takes the bait first.

[ROKUJURO]

Yes Deanne,

this is a well known procedure. One has to be careful and well informed - unless you have too much money.

Good catch in my opinion, I also like AKAO TSUBA, especially round ones.

[Stephen]

Been out of the game, I used to figure take off 00 and the price would be close but now $50 difference wow.

 

Deanna nice to have a brother in country. 

[Guest When Necessary]

On 12/10/2024 at 11:35 PM, ROKUJURO said:

Yes Deanne,

this is a well known procedure. One has to be careful and well informed - unless you have too much money.

Good catch in my opinion, I also like AKAO TSUBA, especially round ones.

Yes Jean! After seeing the first one I'm spotting them everywhere now!

I know what you mean about the round Akao tsuba - the ones made out of shakudo can take your breath away (like Akasaka for super-refined samurai)!

 

Mine is just a big old iron example and I'm not even sure if it's a fake signature. But, as long as I'm not paying big prices, I buy because I like the object - plain and simple.

 

Dee

[Guest When Necessary]

On 12/11/2024 at 3:31 AM, Stephen said:

Been out of the game, I used to figure take off 00 and the price would be close but now $50 difference wow.

 

Deanna nice to have a brother in country. 

Hi Stephen! Yep, they try to fleece you head to toes nowadays - that's for sure!

My brother is a real boon when it comes to getting stuff on auctions but he will probably get moved next year.

 

Dee

[ROKUJURO]

6 hours ago, KungFooey said:

....I know what you mean about the round Akao tsuba -.....I like the object - plain and simple....

Deanne,

I like them round and simple, and of course made of iron!

[Guest When Necessary]

20 hours ago, ROKUJURO said:

Deanne,

I like them round and simple, and of course made of iron!

That's absolutely beautiful!!!

I'm so jealous!

[ROKUJURO]

Yes, there are a few styles/traditions/schools (especially with OWARI influence) with rather simple designs, but they can have a special elegance although they would not be seen as refined or sophisticated. I like those a lot, as well as the early iron TSUBA.

Look for KANAYAMA, ONO, HOAN, OWARI, AKAO and its offspring TATSUTOSHI, TEIMEI a.s.o.

Your YOSHITSUGU TSUBA should be researched as there were six generations.