If you would...

[Jussi Ekholm]

I know my collecting and appreciation is crazy niche focused. This Yosōzaemon Sukesada naginata was probably my favorite item alongside tha absolutely superb Ō-Kanehira tachi at Tokyo National Museum this summer (including the Maeda exhibition).

 

To me none of the 3 Masamune or 2 Gō on display came anywhere close to this naginata. Well I have to admit the Kotegiri Masamune is very nice sword.

 

I do genuinely think that for most people this particular item does not probably evoke any strong feelings at all. However I am extremely happy TNM always has a naginata on display on 2nd floor. On my visits over the years I have seen many incredible naginata they have in their collection.

[Gakusee]

17 hours ago, Takezo said:

Umetada is of interest to me since he had so few works and was such a good metal worker and trained Tadayoshi 1 and others. That Go is otherworldly though. I have seen Hiromitsu or even some Ichimonji get close to this, but not that level.

 

[Rivkin]

2 hours ago, Jussi Ekholm said:

I know my collecting and appreciation is crazy niche focused. This Yosōzaemon Sukesada naginata was probably my favorite item alongside tha absolutely superb Ō-Kanehira tachi at Tokyo National Museum this summer (including the Maeda exhibition).

To me none of the 3 Masamune or 2 Gō on display came anywhere close to this naginata. Well I have to admit the Kotegiri Masamune is very nice sword.

I do genuinely think that for most people this particular item does not probably evoke any strong feelings at all. However I am extremely happy TNM always has a naginata on display on 2nd floor. On my visits over the years I have seen many incredible naginata they have in their collection.

 

So which shrine do you place up high? Katsuga Taisha, Atsuta Jinja, Omishima Oyamazumi?

[buchtas]

Well after some nice philosofical debates back to the photos, I have though of one more thing that might be interesting if it was photographed.

I have a thing for before and after restoration photos, Having a really nice photos of before and after quality polish could be really interesting... at least to me.

You know see the differences and between the healthy and out of polish before and after pictures. This is probably very niche but could be interesting.

 

[Gakusee]

On 6/29/2026 at 4:17 PM, Lewis B said:

 

 

Some specific blades I would like to see in high Rez glory are the Dojigiri Yasutsuna, 

 

[Gakusee]

Just now, Gakusee said:

 

[Jussi Ekholm]

My 2 absolutely favorite places for swords are Futarasan-jinja and Ōyamazumi-jinja. They do house the most amazing collections of ōdachi and naginata and because of my personal research focus I place them far above anything else.

 

Photography related stuff, the 2 books I own of Futarasan-jinja swords do have great closeup pictures of the items, while the Ōyamazumi-jinja swords book has the more typical Japanese sword book style pictures.

[Jacques]

Nothing will ever replace studying a sword in hands; it is the one and only way to appreciate all its subtleties. Even the swords on display in museums cannot be studied fully and seriously. Everything else is just hot air. 

[Bugyotsuji]

This thread is dreaming of better photography. I think we should be allowed to dream.

[Brano]

1 hour ago, Jacques said:

Nothing will ever replace studying a sword in hands; it is the one and only way to appreciate all its subtleties. Even the swords on display in museums cannot be studied fully and seriously. Everything else is just hot air. 

I totally agree with you Jacques
However, the reality is that access to studying the blade in hand is very limited
Just look at our European collectors (and not only them)
Many don't even share photos of their collections - including you
Not to allow the study of their blades in hand

 

Great photos or video are not the same as a blade in hand
However, they can please the eye of a nihonto enthusiast

[Rivkin]

I don't know, would I be able to see everything here just holding the blade under random overhead light with someone breathing down my neck.

This being said, photograph is like polish... I can make photographs that are very technical and border on oshigata or those that focus on blade's brightness and first impression.

 

Edited Friday at 10:34 AM by Rivkin