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Lulu Discount
As mentioned on FB, there will be another eBook Super Sale with 50% off pretty soon and in view of the upcoming DTI. So if you want to charge your tablets and phones to have some on-the-spot...
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New eBook Super Sale
As promised, I have started another -50% off eBook Super Sale, ony difference this time, it goes directly via me (i.e. I’m not going to manually change all the prices on Lulu.com and then change them...
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Another Signature Removal
Some months ago I was talking about the pitfals of removing signatures in this post. I have pretty much pointed out why it is important to check, double-check, and triple-check before even thinking...
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Nidai Oku Motohira
Over the years, I have seen several inscriptions on sword tangs that refer to the use of a special supplements/raw materials used for making the blade. Most well-known supplement is of course...
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Kasuga-taisha sword findings polished
Wataru Hara-san just shared this Yomiuri Online article (link here) on FB and I thought I have to process this for my readers. In 1939, nine swords were discovered under the ceiling of the...
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Outlook 2017
Well, 2016 passed quickly and this is gonna be an outlook for 2017. As for myself, 2016 was very busy and also what I would consider successful, although it felt like “bit off more than I could chew”...
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UNDERSTANDING THE JAPANESE SWORD
Coming up later this year… Its based on the questions I receive on a daily basis translating sword stuff for now 12 years and doing it professionally and full time for almost 10 years. Aim is to give a...
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GENDAITO PROJECT
UPDATE AND WHAT HAPPENED SO FAR: I was asked relatively early on in my path of providing translations for and writing books on Japanese swords to produce something on gendaitô. I then always promised...
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GENDAITO PROJECT HAS STARTED
Just back from my Europe trip (details on that will follow later), I launched my announced crowdfunding campaign for the GENDAITO PROJECT. Goal is $15,000 what is needed to make, maintain, update, and...
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KANTEI 4 – YAMASHIRO #27 – Nobukuni (信国) School 2
I know that by basically reverting to the old sources with my first chapter on the Nobukuni School, I didn’t make things easier but you have to be open for everything and not just regurgitate. So back...
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Theodor von Lerch
I have said this several times: Delving into the world of nihontô makes you aware of parts of Japanese history you probably wouldn’t have thought about, ever. Looking for something in particular in my...
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Easter eBook Super Sale III
I just started, like last year and the year before, an Easter eBook Super Sale where ALL of my eBooks are reduced by 50%! This offer will be valid for until the day after Easter Monday (4/18) so you...
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GVSU Lecture Report
Just back from Grand Rapids I want to give you a brief report on the trip and lecture. The lecture was held on Wednesday, April 12, at Grand Valley State University’s L.V. Eberhard Center, starting at...
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KANTEI 4 – YAMASHIRO #28 – Nobukuni (信国) School 3
This time we continue with the Nobukuni smiths who were active around Ôei (応永, 1394-1428) and of which we can at least make out two individual names, Minamoto Saemon no Jô (源左衛門尉) and Minamoto Shikibu...
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Important update to services offered
Due to an overwhelming amount of inquiries that I now receive on a daily basis, I have to change a certain service/assistance that I offer. Please don’t get me wrong, I am – honestly – very grateful to...
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Character Conundrum
In this article I am going to tell a little bit from my everyday challenges as “sword translator.” To start with, I have to say that when it comes to kanji or grammatical puzzles that I can’t solve (or...
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Tosogu Classroom Sale
At the end of last year, members of the JSS/US, NBTHK/AB, and NBTHK/EB were able to buy the first volume of our joint 5 volume Tosogu Classroom project at the actual cost of producing the books. The...
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KANTEI 4 – YAMASHIRO #29 – Nobukuni (信国) School 4
With this article, we are concluding the chapter on the Nobukuni School. Just to repeat, when it comes to traditional clasifications of works by this school, for example by the NBTHK, we are facing the...
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On the eve of another famous historical Japanese incident
About three years ago, I wrote a humble article here on sword-related “things” happening on the eve of on of Japan’s most famous historical events. Well, this time, we find ourselves a little earlier...
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Hôki no Kami Masayoshi’s (probably) last blade
From the very end of the kotô era onwards, we start to get more reliable information on the biographical data of swordsmiths, for example the dates of birth and death and what year honorary titles were...
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