Month: June 2022

On June 3, as the auction organizer, we held the Tsukuba Convention Sword Auction at the Hotel Edoya on Mount Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture. The first time was held for the 25th anniversary of Nodakai to show our appreciation to the participants and it has been held for six consecutive year. This year, 50 participants gathered for the event, almost all members. The yearly convention is different from an ordinary auction. There are many more attractive items up for auction. The event started from 10am and continued until 5pm without taking a break, with the exception of a short lunch. After completing the Auction, we had a good time at the banquet together.

We received visits from Fred Weissberg-san and James Lawson-san to our shop in Tokyo, who are also key figures in the American Branch of the NBTHK. The COVID restrictions coming into Japan are gradually being eased. During the last two and a half years, sword collectors and enthusiasts were not able to visit Japan and had to wait. With the eased restrictions, I am expecting an increase in international visitors coming to my shop from all over the world.  During their visit, we were able to tell various stories at the lunch we had together. Surprisingly, it was said that even in the United States, sword enthusiasts are finding it difficult to recruit younger people into the NBTHK with an eye on the future to pass on their knowledge. This problem is common to both Japan and the United States. There is no quick solution to solving this problem, but just a matter of making steady efforts.