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OUT NOW: Encyclopedia of Japanese Armor (and Equestrian Equipment)
Another announcement of a book that I was just able to complete. The title is as seen in the headline of this post. Again, before quoting the blurb, I would like to mention that there are three...
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OUT NOW: Japanese Swordsmiths and Their Honorary Titles
I would just like announce that another book of mine is out, titled as seen in the headline of this post. Before quoting the preface, I want to get the “technicalities” out of the way: Paperback, 264...
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Just Some Battle Statistics
Last week, I found some time to do something that I wanted to do for a while. We all basically know about many battles throughout Japanese history and when and where they took place, but I wanted to...
View ArticleA Masamune for appraisal (in the late Edo period)
This time, I would like to introduce an interesting exchange of letters that date to the late Edo period, to be precise, to the very early 1800s. It had been published in Tōken-Bijutsu No. 728...
View ArticleOUT NOW: Tosogu Classroom Volume 4
Just wanted to put this out on my website as well, Volume 4 of the Tosogu Classroom project is out. I added a menu item to my website with some background...
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Brief PSA
Prepping for the snow/ice storm coming through this weekend, we are expecting power outages here that usually last a couple of days. Accordingly, if I am unresponsive until possibly the middle of...
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HONMA’S APPRAISAL DIARY VOLUME 10
I would like to announce that we have arrived at Volume 10, the final volume of Honma’s Appraisal Diary. This volume, which covers the years 1983~1987, introduces on ca. 345 pages 255 blades, meaning...
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The Life of Honma ‘Kunzan’ Junji (本間「薫山」順治)
Finishing my translation of Honma’s entire Appraisal Diary (Kantō Hibi Shō, 鑑刀日々抄) that he maintained from 1969 to 1987, which turned out to turn into 10! volumes, I thought it would be interesting...
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HONMA’S APPRAISAL DIARY VOLUME 9
I would like to announced that we have arrived at Volume 9 of Honma’s Appraisal Diary. This volume, which covers the years 1981~1982, introduces on ca. 425 pages 295 blades, meaning we have now...
View ArticleDTI eBook Super Sale
Because of the upcoming Dai Tōken Ichi (DTI) sword fair in Japan, I was asked by several readers if I can do another eBook Super Sale with ALL of my eBooks being reduced by 50%. This offer will be...
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30 Years Anniversary
Time flies, as posted on my IG @swordtranslator last night: I am not certain about the exact month, but it was in fall of 1995 that I bought a Japanese sword (a fake), which I mark as my official...
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A dot, a dot! My kingdom for a dot!
Whilst working on the last few chapters of Volume 4 of the Tōsōgu Classroom, I came across a signature that made me scratch my head a little, but which I eventually figured out. So, I thought it is...
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HONMA’S APPRAISAL DIARY VOLUME 8
I would like to announced that we have arrived at Volume 8 of Honma’s Appraisal Diary. This volume, which covers the years 1979~1980, introduces on ca. 430 pages 317 blades, meaning we have now...
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Norimune (則宗)
The other day, I posted on my IG (@swordtranslator) one of the only five surviving signed works by Norimune (則宗), who is regarded as the founder of the prestigious Fukuoka-Ichimonji (福岡一文字) School,...
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2025 Dai Tōken Ichi
Booked, see you in Tōkyō in fall! Looking very much forward to catching up, and if we haven’t met yet, please grab me and say Hi
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NBTHK Kanshō/Kantei Blades Analysis
In a recent conversation I had with a collector, the topic of the “uneven playing field” of available blades to study between Japan and outside of Japan came up. Obviously, the chances to study more...
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Hachisuka Daimyō Patronage
The title of this short article is not really catchy, but I didn’t want to say “yet another interesting blade” again. In any case, what got the ball rolling, if you will, is the blade shown in picture...
View ArticleEaster eBook Super Sale
Continuing the tradition, an Easter eBook Super Sale where ALL of my eBooks are reduced by 50% is back on! This offer will be valid for until April 28, so you have enough time to decide what you want....
View ArticleFake Satō Kanzan Sayagaki
Whilst scanning some things, I found this interesting PSA in No. 42 of the NBTHK Tōken Bijutsu magazine (November, 1956). Therein, then 49-years-old Satō Kanzan (佐藤寒山, 1907–1987) is warning readers...
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Kuwana-uchi and Blades Made with ‘Pure’ Fire
Looking for certain references regarding Taikei Naotane (大慶直胤, 1779–1857) for an upcoming article, I came across two unrelated blades with kind of interesting inscriptions, which I thought I may share...
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