Month: November 2016

The theme of the 6th Token Lecture was sword polishing.
As the same as last year, the lecturer was the polisher named Kawakami Yoichiro.

He explained how to polish and the process of using sharpening stones “toishi’. He used seven different sharpening stones appropriate for various conditions of the blade.
The students who participated enjoyed his lecture and asked many questions.

During the second half of the class was about sword appreciation.
Udagawa Sensei carefully explained about kataochi-gunome hamon of Kanemitsu, Sudareba-hamon by Yoshimichi, and Imozuru of Satsuma blades.

 

The students all appeared to be satisfied with the explanations and class.

 

The Dai Token Ichi of this year has been successfully completed. The number of visitors was nearly 3,000 people. This number is slightly increased compared to the year before. I feel a lot of the sword traders were smiling with the large turnout. As a member of the organizing group, this time we changed the rules where instead of a couple requiring two separate tickets to enter the event, we allowed couples to enter with only one ticket. We also changed the lottery system where before the items that could be won were of lower value, but this year it was budgeted to include better and more expensive items that could be won. These changes were much appreciated by the visitors. At this year’s event there were three TV crews walking around and conducting interviews with the visitors. Next year’s Event will be November 17-19 and is scheduled the same place, the Tokyo Bijutsu Club.

On October 31st I submitted the English translation of the Dai Token Ichi catalog. I grew worried about how I could translate all of it because our international staff returned to his country. However, my American friend agreed to support my efforts. Some international visitors have been waiting for the English translation of this catalog. Because of my friends huge support I was able to complete the work on time. Please take a look at the catalog and I hope the English translation will help international visitors to better understand all the items. Please see the link below;
http://www.zentosho.com/daitokenichi/pdf/the_annual_dai_token_ichi_2016.pdf

 

The result of the 26th Jyuyo Examination arrived. This year one Tachi which was Mei ‘Jitsua’ passed the examination. I remember when I purchased this blade about 5 years ago. The previous owner was related to an old Feudal Daimiyo family and I overpriced the blade otherwise he would not have sold it to me.  This year 888 blades were submitted to the Examination but only 149 blades were able to pass. Only 14 of the blades that passed were made after the Shinto Era. As a sword trader, finding a good sword that might pass a high examination is a good feeling of success.