Tiger & Dragon Tadakuni
Quick post. Wanted to share something I came across a while ago whilst look up a blade in Satō Kanzan’s Shintō Oshigata. The book features a blade by Hizen Tadakuni (肥前忠国), which shows a hardening...
View ArticleeBook Summer Super Sale
Upon increased request recently, I am happy to do another 50% off eBook Super Sale. As usual, it works directly via me. I provide a list of all my eBooks below, showing the regular and the reduced...
View ArticleThe Kabutowari-Kanesada (甲割り兼㝎)
The Kabutowari-Kanesada (甲割り兼㝎), lit. “Helmet Splitter Kanesada,” is a work of the famous late fifteenth and early sixteenth century Seki smith Izumi no Kami Kanesada (No-Sada) (和泉守兼㝎), by whom dated...
View ArticleJuyo Quantities – Ebb and Flow
I was looking at some quantities of objects passing in specific NBTHK Jūyō and Tokubetsu-Jūyō Shinsa and so I thought it might be interesting for the one and other to see the ebb and flow of numbers...
View ArticleHONMA’S APPRAISAL DIARY VOLUME 4
Well, we have arrived at Volume 4 of Honma’s Appraisal Diary. This volume, which covers the year 1975, introduces on ca. 380 pages 275 blades, meaning we have now arrived at a total of about 1,580...
View ArticleTen years in writing about Japanese swords…
Earlier this year, I passed the milestone of writing ten years about Japanese swords and related subjects here on this site. In order to safe things for posterity, if ever something happens to me or...
View ArticleeBook Fall Super Sale
Entering fall season, I am happy to do another 50% off eBook Super Sale. As usual, it works directly via me. I provide a list of all my eBooks below, showing the regular and the reduced prices. I also...
View ArticleForgotten Masters – Haruakira (治剣)
Sometimes you come across a wonderful work by an obscure maker who has either fallen through the cracks of historic swordsmith recording (such an unrecorded smith is referred to as meikan-more, 銘鑑漏れ),...
View ArticleTosogu Classroom Volume 3
Dear Readers, After a too long gap, which is all on me and not on anyone else involved with this project, I am happy to announce that Volume 3 of the series is finished! Yes, this is not a drill; I...
View ArticleHONMA’S APPRAISAL DIARY VOLUME 5
Well, we have arrived at Volume 5 of Honma’s Appraisal Diary. This volume, which covers the year 1976, introduces on ca. 385 pages 285 blades, meaning we have now arrived at a total of about 1,970...
View ArticleHONMA’S APPRAISAL DIARY VOLUME 6
Whilst working on the last two volumes of the Tosogu Classroom to bring this project over the finish line by the end of this year, I would like to announce that we have arrived at Volume 6 of Honma’s...
View ArticleeBook End of Summer Sale
The end of summer is already approaching, so I am happy to do another 50% off eBook sale. This shall be the last one for 2024. As usual, it works directly via me. I provide a list of all my eBooks...
View ArticleHONMA’S APPRAISAL DIARY VOLUME 7
I would like to announce that we have arrived at Volume 7 of Honma’s Appraisal Diary. This volume, which covers the year 1978, introduces on ca. 360 pages 257 blades, meaning we have now arrived at a...
View ArticleKuwana-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...
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...
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 ArticleHachisuka 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 ArticleNBTHK 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...
View Article2025 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
View ArticleNorimune (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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