Nihonto Message Board

I recently got this tsuba and wanted your opinions on it. I'm not into it for much and like the design, so if it's not authentic that's OK and won't feel like I got scammed. It seems to not have perfect shapes/lines like a cheap cast tsuba and I don't see any cast lines. If it's a repop, some effort was put in to make it look handmade. Anyway, what do you think?

Not an official tourism video for Japan but brings together and highlights the wonderful culture of Japan - basically a snapshot of everything we love about the land of the rising sun! Japan: BORN FROM CULTURE https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dck3Ksfuvpc/ What an amazing Country and Culture. Had to share.

I was very attracted to this sword and I dont know much about it.I love the way it looks and it appears to be very old. Can anyone help me discover my sword? The is a mark on the sword close to the handle.

Good things come in threes??? just found another Tanto at a flea market near my home last week end. No fancy fittings, simple yet efficient design, lacquer and dark horn. Blade is mumei and very thick (maybe a true Yoroi Doshi this time?). : 0.83 cm Hamon barely visible but still there.

First. this is for studying purposes only, I did not bid on this item. I will say it looked to be very nice work and does have modern Hozon papers, but it went for much more than I expected. It ended up going for about $6,125 USD with fees (shipping not included), and if shipped to the US it would be another $918 USD roughly. It is a quality piece, but the price surprised me. Just curious what some of the knowledgeable people on here think about the cost. Here is the link. https://www.jauce.com/auction/r1242037885 Jason

Hello everyone, I am new here and would appreciate some guidance from people who know far more than I do. I recently came into possession of four Japanese blades. All four have been cut down, and the cut surfaces look relatively modern — bright steel against the aged patina on the rest of the blade. I have been told the most likely explanation is disarmament after the war, but I would like to hear whether that reading holds up. What I can describe: Each blade is roughly 25 cm overall, with about 12–13 cm of blade above the habaki All four retain their habaki, in copper or brass The nakago each have between two and four mekugi-ana No mei is legible on any of them. I have tried raking light but have not managed to bring anything out None of them have been polished or cleaned. The surfaces are as I received them, and I have deliberately left them alone I have photographs with a ruler for scale, close-ups of the cut ends, and shots of each nakago. I can post more of anything that would help. My questions: Does the number of mekugi-ana suggest anything about age or how often these were remounted? Is there anything in the geometry — the mune, the shinogi — that might point toward a period or tradition, even in fragments this short? Is there a better technique for reading a nakago than the raking light I have tried? Is there any value in these beyond study pieces? I have had one opinion that there is not, and I am not disputing it — I would just like to understand the reasoning bett

I have a gendaito signed Chiku Uji? Shi? Norimasa (or Chikushi? ko? Norimasa). I haven't found anything about him, and Chris Bowen also says Norimasa is unlisted. Has anyone seen anything that might help? Somewhat active hamon, more nioi than nie; tight forging. I can only find 2 smiths in Showa who used Chikushu (not chikushi/etc): Nobufusa and Nobumitsu. https://photos.app.goo.gl/Wsk4bTsWAPCfh3sT9

Hi guys, I have a Meiji era tachi by Yamana Tokiyoshi, which will be offered on my site. I need Romaji and translation of one piece of the sayagaki and a paper from, I'm told, Honami Nisshu. Much appreciated, Grey

I have been doing a bit of a deeper dive into Norishige to learn a little more about this smith and try answer some questions. In so doing I wanted to find out as much as I could about him. To do this you have a few sources: 1. Modern Reference books 2. Edo period books 3. Muromachi period books 4. The traditions and stories 5. History books (not specific to Norishige) but explains the lay of the land in Etchū and Kamakura 6. The swords and Oshigata left behind Whilst we would want better references for the major Koto smiths these materials are currently all that we have and from that we try fill in the gaps. With Norishige however unlike other Koto smiths we have something very unusual. We have three very special blades that are not only dated but have his full title including where he is from. It is very unusual to see a blade signed in this manner, especially during the Kamakura period, so why did Norishige sign these blades like this? 1. They were for a particularly important commission or high-status client – Possible but unlikely unless the person was his father or the like - Norishige was a good smith but his reputation grew after his death. 2. A carefully finished or presentation blade – Potentially? But again who would have wanted such a blade. Very unlikely unless it was to showcase a Etchū smith? 3. A fully signed and dated work was intended as a formal record – This is the most probable outcome, but why? 4. Personal pride in lineage - I would suggest that this is

A friend of mine just acquired this and is asking for options on age . Thanks in advance

After the Winter Siege of Osaka, Toyotomi Hideyori had the Kai no Kuni Gō resharpened in by Hon’Ami Kōho the following spring in Genna 1(1615) and presented it to Ieyasu. What makes this sentence interesting is that Kōho was only 14 years old when he was assigned this task. Hideyori also had him sharpen the Atsushi Toshiro the same year. Either Hidetada was preventing any of the older Hon’Ami from working on Hideyori's swords or Hideyori was seriously trusting a 14 year old to polish two of his most important swords. Or at 14 Kōho was a polishing prodigy. What did you do at 14? Would you trust a 14 year old to polish your prized sword? I did say, three and yes, he also polished the Karasumaru Toshiro.

Hello, I bought this sword at the Toowoomba Arms and Armour show last weekend. I have been told it was made in 1940 and the stamp means "Made Stronger" The maker I believe ro be Fuki wara vo hisa The date on the other side has not been translated. Your assistance is appreciated. Kind regards Ash