Introduction & Advice Request

[jjames22]

Hi Everybody,

I am a philosophy student and I am visiting Japan late this year as I am interested in Japanese culture, and have always been fascinated by Japanese swords, however I confess I know nothing about them. If possible could somebody direct me to good a website or book that I can learn the basics from? I am also looking to purchase a decent sword whilst in Japan and obviously I want to buy a reputable sword. I have between now and then ( 6 months ) to learn as much as possible and so would appreciate any advice on this, in particular a decent place to buy and laws and regulations I need to be aware of.

 

Looking forward to learning a lot, thanks for taking the time to read and respond.

 

Kind regards,

 

Jack

[nagamaki - Franco]

Greetings,

 

6 months, hmm, you'd better get started!

 

A few suggestions:

 

books;

The Craft of the Japanese Sword

Leon Kapp, Hiroko Kapp, Yoshindo Yoshihara - 1987

 

The samurai sword: a handbook -

John M. Yumoto - 1989

 

The Connoisseurs Book of Japanese Swords (Hardcover)

by Kokan Nagayama

 

online;

 

http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/glossary.htm

 

http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/gdsword.htm

 

http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/viewforum.php?f=17

 

http://www.arscives.com/historysteel/japaneseintroduction.htm

 

http://www.hitachi-metals.co.jp/e/tatara/index.htm#TOP

 

http://wiki.samurai-archives.com/index.php?title=Japanese_Swords

 

places to explore;

 

http://www.jssus.org/

 

http://www.samurai-archives.com/

 

http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~dee/ANCJAPAN/HEIAN.HTM

 

other; http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=How+to+make+samurai+katana+swords&search_type=&aq=f

[Brian]

Jack,

By all means study as much as you can, but are you aware that you cannot bring a purchased sword in Japan back with you until after it is deregistered (takes about 2 weeks) and a "decent sword" could cost you $5000 or $10,000 or up to whatever you want to spend. What is your budget, and what kind of sword are you after? Be sure to read the article here: http://www.nihontomessageboard.com/arti ... rd_law.pdf and the others in our article section.

I suggest holding off on the purchase until you have developed your own preferences and interests. At this stage, you don't know if you prefer Koto, Shinto or Shinsakuto, and what traits you like in a sword. Takes time to develop these preferences.

 

Brian

[doug e lewis]

Hello Jack, i hope you have great trip. if you need a body guard, i have trained in Shotokan since 1972 and know basics in a few weapons .... and i am cheap, air fare and per diem so i can eat.

 

to be serious, i natually concur with what Brian said. take heed of all the senior members. and it takes time to distinguish between good copies of old sword by 18th century smith and old sword by a Koto master. plus recognize good China fakes from the real McCoy. their wall hangers are getting better all the time.

 

fakes should not, judging by what our members who live in Japan and those who have traveled there have said, be an issue in most sword shops. Price, well ,,, it is Japan, and they do pretty much set the standard for value apprasal of nihonto for the rest of world.

 

i will carry your bags and shine your shoes!

 

 

lots of luck, doug e