Akabane To being restored

[george trotter]

hi all,

Just a few lines to say why I've been silent since October 2010...been travelling in England, Scotland and Japan. I haven't been on-line since then so still have to catch up...I'm sure to have missed lots of good discussion.

On Japan...saw the sumo...great fun, even saw a few great big westerners win a few bouts. Saw a few good sword and armour displays, one I would like to mention is the "Akabane Swords" exhibition in Hiroshima Castle.

As has been mentioned on NMB, the allies confiscated some 700-800,000 swords in 1946-47 and stored them at Akabane Arsenal in Tokyo. All, except 5500 or so were destroyed. The survivors had been shinsa'd and deemed national art objects so were saved. These swords lay in the basement of NBTHK? and/or Tokyo Kokuritsu Hakubutsukan gathering rust for many decades. Well it seems that they are being slowly re-polished and returned (at least temporarily) to the prefectures of their historical association for display. 83 were sent back to 3 sites in Hiroshima Ken. I saw about 9 in the castle, together with another 6 or 7 having historical association, but not Akabaneto. Most Akabane To are mu-mei, but the ones I viewed included signed Edo period Bizen Osafune, Bizen Yokoyama. Masamitsu. Koto Muramasa (mumei) and some Edo Jidai Harima Teruhiro, Muneshige. Also some non-Akabaneto such as more modern 1957, 1992 blades. One enormous blade was still unpolished but was 2 metres overall. Because of condition/lighting I could not read the very long mei. I must say it is nice to think that the Akabaneto are being dealt with after so long.

Had lots of chats in sword shops all over...Miss Sato at Aoi Art is particularly nice and let me watch her doing oshigata as we chatted. Saw lots of swords but sadly, no Senso toki gendaito (my favourite) except two newly acquired? Yasukunito by Yasumitsu at the Shrine museum there. Feedback on this gunto/gendaito subject varied widely, some suggesting that the star stamp or na, saka, ko stamps be ground off and then all would be well as they would then be regarded as "real" swords...well I can't do this, nor do I think it is necessary. From this apparent indifference to RJT swords etc, I conclude that the Japanese sword scene is just not interested...it will be after my lifetime that these swords will reach the respect they truly deserve...it must be just a few of us crazy westerners who esteem these quality blades...the last true fighting Nihonto ever made.

I must say, even at the risk of invoking the wrath of Khan, that I just can't get excited about swords polished in hadori. They are everywhere, even koto national treasures etc, all polished since WWII in the new fad hadori...IMHO very boring to look at. I am showing my age of course, but being brought up on swords polished in WWII sashi-komi or pre-war sashikomi, I am immediately drawn to the few remaining sashi-komi polished swords on display (long may they survive).

Anyway, nice to be home to an Australian summer. Have only been home a day and have already seen 3 gunto and an unbelievably good armour, complete with box and all parts having Ikeda mon. What a beauty! I think certainly Meiji period or earlier. The only replacement part that I could see was the stand which looked quite recent. This will come up for sale soon I am told, so, keep eyes peeled all you armour lovers in Australia...I'll let you know when it comes up if you would like?

Regards to all, especially those members who asked after me thinking I may have been "beamed up". (it's worse than that Jim, he's not dead!).

George.

PS I searched all the old book shops I could find but couldn't get a copy of

 

"Gunto Kumiai Shiamatsu" (Rikugun Jumei Tosho no Shuen)

Publisher: Aizu Bunkazai Chosa Kenkyu Kai.

 

If anyone has a copy, or can scan or photocopy this work I would be pleased if you could contact me.

[Aloof Pegasus]

Hello George,

 

Welcome back. Sounds like a great trip.

 

I was in Hiroshima castle 2 years ago and well remember how much I enjoyed it despite the re-build. The sword collection on the second floor was quite small but I remember a Rai Kunimitsu tanto and a slightly bedraggled Kanesada katana which was full of あじ

 

After your report sounds like a second trip is in order. Hiroshima is one of my favorite places in Japan, especially mitaki-ji the winding mountainside temple on the way to Miyajima. (and Hiroshima-yaki).

 

cheers

Philip