Moses Becerra Polish Taikei Naotane

[Brano]

8 hours ago, Rawa said:

Why We even comment togishi whose work was officially evaluated?

Can foreigner get mukansa title?

 

What does mukansa have in common with full education and training from a traditional togishi? ( BTW - such education takes 5 years or more )

[Marcin]

Full education?
Mukansa isn’t subject for any assessment.

In many occupation after You are able to proove real experience - actual active work for example as paralegal You can go straight for final exams.

Here we have togishi whoose work is accepted by Top of nihonto organizations.

[SwordGuyJoe]

Full education for a trained togishi is closer to 10 years.  Swordsmiths start at 5, but typically closer to 7 by the time they pass their exams. Can a foreigner make mukansa? Technically speaking, they can, but it has never happened.  Also consider that this honor is bestowed by the NBTHK, the same body that issues the license to professionally practice the trade - read this as unlicensed foreigners would be at a steep disadvantage.  The area that I believe a foreigner would have the best opportunity would be tosogu, but I am admitted ignorant to that area of modern craftsmanship, so it may be just as hard or harder, but know that foreigners have won prizes in those contests.

Edited May 6 by SwordGuyJoe

[SwordGuyJoe]

...I should also add.  While there is not a set rule of how many contests you need to take a top - or the top - prize before earning Mukansa, they have repeatedly and consistently earned top places in the contests.  This is what makes their work beyond judgement or not needing to be judged - because it is known that it will be excellent.  There is no test to take and the only opinion that matters is that of the NBTHK.  This also adds the element of politics, since if you have in some way begrudged the NBTHK, your chances of earning the Mukansa title is likely to drop.  This goes for the other crafts as well.

[Sukaira]

16 hours ago, Raiden631 said:

Moses was my kendo teacher for well over a decade and spent many years visiting his workshop, mostly to see my blades being polished.  His level of polishing skill is on par or better than many “fully apprenticed” togishi I have sent swords to or have seen.  He’s also willing to work on swords that many would turn away.  I had one such sword with deep kizu that he fixed and subsequently received TH.  He’s in no way an “amateur”. Yes, it’s true that he didn’t do a full apprenticeship, but that doesn’t affect his workmanship.  I haven’t spoken to him in some time, but there’s no one else I’d send my swords to.  Just my 2 cents.

Totally agree. All of my interactions with Moses have given me strong signals that he is a dedicated and highly talented craftsman.

[cookiemonstah47]

Dear forum,

 

Moses did my first restoration on a sword several years back. I was in my late 20s at the time. I am now 31 years old. Age wise almost the entire forum and Moses knew and still know more than me. This was the sword that I picked to restore (see link bellow). The sword was a beginners level sword and the restoration was commensurate to that. I believe that Moses is capable of substantial work through his experience more so than by formal training. I wouldn't send him anything capable of papering as juyo or above because what he charges does not reflect the same level of skill as that can be found in Japan. He's a gentleman to deal with and is straight forward in his work. Would I use him again, yes, but not for the caliber of swords in my crosshairs.

 

https://nihontoantiques.com/project/bizen-sword-fss-896/

 

Be well,

Khalid

[eternal_newbie]

On 5/31/2026 at 12:05 PM, cookiemonstah47 said:

Dear forum,

 

Moses did my first restoration on a sword several years back. I was in my late 20s at the time. I am now 31 years old. Age wise almost the entire forum and Moses knew and still know more than me. This was the sword that I picked to restore (see link bellow). The sword was a beginners level sword and the restoration was commensurate to that. I believe that Moses is capable of substantial work through his experience more so than by formal training. I wouldn't send him anything capable of papering as juyo or above because what he charges does not reflect the same level of skill as that can be found in Japan. He's a gentleman to deal with and is straight forward in his work. Would I use him again, yes, but not for the caliber of swords in my crosshairs.

 

https://nihontoantiques.com/project/bizen-sword-fss-896/

 

Be well,

Khalid

 

That's fair feedback; even in Japan there are those polishers who are considered of sufficient skill to polish Juyo (or higher) level work, and those who are not (or as yet unproven).

[Sukaira]

I have two Jûyô Tôken, from session 48 and session 12 in flawless polish from Japan and I can tell you the polish on this Naotane is easily, without hesitation on par with those. I also have a newly polished TokuHo hitatsura blade in Japan that was polished by Sugihara (mukansa) and I would say the Naotane is better, although the Naotane itself is just more of a masterpiece in general. Though, I did see @Rivkin post that he had seen a gradient of work from Moses, so maybe that is at play here.

Edited Tuesday at 08:16 PM by Sukaira