Aoi Japan showato

[Rawa]

Posting this again for you to notice if someone missed it.

https://sword-auction.com/en/product/26428/as17080-katanatakeyasu-saku/

 

Prices going up?

 

And no one wanted this?

https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/50601-kurihara-akihide-katana-in-shingunto-koshirae/

[oli]

Akihide is more than double of the price of this showato. But yes Gendaito in generell there are a price falling.

[Rawa]

Not really buying showato to europe is like +25% extra for shipping and vat.

It would cost around 2900 euro to get it in hand for me. And we comparing stainless steel vs gendaito made by important figure. 

[Nicholas]

I once purchased a sword that had been polished by the same polisher that polished the Akihide for sale here on the forum. It looked good in pictures but when I got the sword in hand I couldn’t distinguish any features of the sword. It’s like the sword had 5 pounds of makeup on. I’m only sharing my experience.

[Rawa]

I dunno if there is anything better to show.

[Nicholas]

Doesn’t look like a traditional Japanese polish to me. It looks exaggerated. But that’s just my opinion.

 

[Rawa]

I dunno if this difference is all about making picture in different way. But it dsnt matter as new owner liked it.

[Rawa]

Here you have juyo 

[lonely panet]

Its aoi art. Enough said

[Bosco]

2 hours ago, lonely panet said:

Its aoi art. Enough said

Any info on them ?. Some said legit some said their price is at the highest.

[atm]

 

1 hour ago, Bosco said:

Any info on them ?. Some said legit some said their price is at the highest.

I’ve bought several nice blades from them, I’ve been to the store several times, and I’ve had lunch with Tsuruta san (the owner). Everything was exactly as described, prices were good, and communications were prompt and professional. I would not hesitate to give them more business.

[nulldevice]

I’ve bought books from Aoi at a really good deal. 2x cheaper than anywhere in the US.

 

he shipped fast and was super communicative.

[AlexiG]

5 hours ago, Bosco said:

Any info on them ?. Some said legit some said their price is at the highest.

I have bought couple of blades from Tsuruta San and am I currently contemplating another purchase. I visit the site multiple times a day  Not the only Japanese shop I have bought from. Communication is prompt and very professional.

 

Prices reflect what they have and if you follow their pieces (I do for the things I care about) they sell, so the prices are not way off fair market value. Just my 2c.

 

Best,

Alexi

 

[Rawa]

Blade was auctioned. Dunno if we should discuss price that someone wanted to pay. Definietly not in "to big/to small" manner. More like how big to notice.

[Rawa]

For mr Tsuruta fans ;]

 

[Bruno]

On 4/25/2025 at 5:03 PM, Nicholas said:

polished by the same polisher

Which polisher?

[Lewis B]

On 4/25/2025 at 4:03 PM, Nicholas said:

I once purchased a sword that had been polished by the same polisher that polished the Akihide for sale here on the forum. It looked good in pictures but when I got the sword in hand I couldn’t distinguish any features of the sword. It’s like the sword had 5 pounds of makeup on. I’m only sharing my experience.

You're not the first to find the blade was not as impressive in hand relative to the published images. They must have a very good photographer. Caveat emptor. 

[Lewis B]

On 5/3/2025 at 12:44 AM, Rawa said:

For mr Tsuruta fans ;]

 

Wow thats a LOT of uchiko. Its use is frowned on in many quarters, but who am I to critique.......

[Rawa]

After that many years you are getting addicted even to uchiko 

[Nicholas]

1 hour ago, Bruno said:

Which polisher?

David Hofhine

[Nicholas]

6 hours ago, Lewis B said:

You're not the first to find the blade was not as impressive in hand relative to the published images. They must have a very good photographer. Caveat emptor. 

I bought the sword from someone who had the sword polished by this polisher. I was still very new to collecting Japanese swords at the time. Something didn’t sit right with me about the polish on that particular sword. That’s when I really started to look into what a good polish looks like, and what goes into becoming a togishi. Needless to say I parted ways with that sword.

[atm]

On 5/2/2025 at 5:44 PM, Rawa said:

For mr Tsuruta fans ;]

 

He should update this (and the website) as he told me that he no longer recommends uchiko for cleaning polished swords.

[Rawa]

Its old yt with 3 movies