Remembrance from the NEWS
page
Dec. 21st 2004
One dealer came to our shop bringing a tanto that he found
at some old family's residence.
It is "Rai Kunimitsu" with shirasaya. It has an old registration
card published by the Occupation Army just after WWII. The habaki is solid
gold, double pieces with a base. The character of the blade looks just
like Rai Kunimitsu as its shape, steel, hamon and engravings.
The tang never smelled like a fakes as to the rust condition
nor the shape. But the chisel work of the signature does not look like
Kunimitsu's. It looks like Rai Kunitsugu's work rather than Kunimitsu's.
It is very interesting that if Kunitsugu made a signature
for his elder brother Kunimitsu. We already know that Kunimitsu and Kunitsugu
made signatures for their father, Rai Kunitoshi. Such supporting is common
in some schools.
But I am not sure between Rai Kunimitsu and Kunitsugu.
We could not get solution about this mysterious tanto
in such short time as one evening so I let it go with the dealer.
July 19th 2004
I
went to the exhibition "Bizen swords" in the Seikado museum.
There were Kobizen, Ichimonji, Osafune and other schools
in Bizen province. All of them were masterpieces.
I started studying from Kobizen to Ichimonji, Osafune
...
Of course Osafune blades are masterpieces themselves.
But in the line-up of the room, Osafune were not as interesting as comparing
Kobizen or Ichimonji.
We had to be deeply impressed that Kobizen and Ichimonji
are the best blades in sword history.
Especially, Masatsune, Tsunemitsu, Takatsuna, and Yukimitsu
in the Kobizen school were excellent masterpieces.
Feb. 28th 2003
Some days ago I saw one good blade at a kantei club.
I have met the blade twice in the past. The first contact
was about 10 years ago.
Every time it has brought me a fresh impression.
The blade has no signature by shortening, and is attributed
to the "Awataguchi" school.
But the attribution does not matter because the blade
is very good. It doesn't have any title or papers.
The shape of it means 13th century.
Regarding the steel, a little large layer pattern is
covered with full of jinie, and utsuri
appears with quite clear jifu.
The hamon is made of bright nie,
and it makes a mild lined kochoji and komidare pattern.
The blade brings a natural and powerful feeling.
Every aesthetic blade have to be ashamed of itself in
front of this blade.
I have understood that "Good blade is an instrument to
build your personality up".
We can voyage into the infinite world that has only 3cm
height from earth to heaven.
This blade is a good example of the words by General
Yamaoka who was a leader of the Japanese sword culture before WW2.
"Beauty comes on naturally without wanting it, skilfulness
comes on automatically without designing it."
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