Touken Matsumoto (English)

The Suwa Shrine was founded in the year 807 and is located in Chiba Prefecture Nagareyama City, next to our shop.  The story of the Shrine, is that Hachiman Taro Yoshiie made a visit to this shrine before he went to the battle of the Go Sannen War, also referred to as the Later Three-year War in the late 1080s in the Mutsu Province.  After defeating his enemies, he returned for another visit and presented his horse as a gift to the shrine. Because of this history is remains an revered and historical shrine in this area. This time Touken Matsumoto received an order to polish many of the swords there at the Suwa Shrine. I arrived early in the morning so I had time to walk the length of the entire shrine before meeting the customers. The shrine was very clean and was in immaculate order. A very nice visit.

We wish everyone a very happy New Year.
Just as the new year’s sun rises next to Mt. Fuji, I wish everyone a refreshing and prosperous 2019.
Touken Matsumoto, myself and all of our staff, will endeavor to provide even better services to all sword enthusiasts around the world.
Let’s make it a wonderful 2019 for everyone.

As a member of the Japan Sword Trader’s Association, I attended the NBTHK’s Second National Convention on November 24th at the Daiichi Hotel in Ryugaku where the NBTHK celebrated its 70-year anniversary and the 40th year of the NBTHK’s Tatara, the traditional Japanese furnace used for smelting iron. In attendance there were many people related to the Japanese sword, such as NBTHK branch members, sword traders, swordsmiths and polishers. The Princess Akiko of Mikasa, from the Imperial family of Japan also attended. I was impressed by the speech from a member of the Japanese Diet, who, according to him, some of the Diet members made an in-house Japanese Sword Group for the purpose of enhancing the culture relating to the Japanese sword this past June.  I look forward to hearing more about their activities.

This year’s Dai Token Ichi has concluded. Over the three-day event we welcomed over 3,300 people. This was a 10 percent increase from last year, showing an increase in interest in Japanese swords. We, Touken Matsumoto, did our best to boost our sales and activities this year. We were able to sell many pieces of Menuki, kata-menuki, and hanare-fuchi as well as larger sword sales. It was a very busy three-day event not allowing much time for even a rest. but I am very happy to have been involved in this year’s event and to meet many sword enthusiasts. Next year’s event has been scheduled for three days from November 1st at the same locations, the Tokyo Art Club. My staff and I will try hard again next year.

I visited and ineterviewed Mr. Takashi Iiyama who is a Tsukamakishi, handle wrapper, in Ohanajaya, Tokyo. The interview was for an article in the Token-kai. Mr. Iiyama is an expert in the traditional skill of handle wrapping and has even won the Excellence Award rank 1 for Contemporary Sword and Artworks this year. During my visit, he took the time to teach me about the variations of Tsukamaki from the various provinces and eras. I enjoyed my time and had a good study with Mr. Iiyama.

Joichi Tsunatori form Fukuryu Bijutsu Kogei visited our shop in his riding gear by bicycle to conduct an interview for the newspaper ‘Tokenkai’ published by All Japan Sword Trader’s Association.
It was a fine Autum day between the several rainy weather. Joichi rode from Ginza for his visit to Noda, over 50 km, taking two and a half hours. His day was a hard-core ride traveling 100 km for visiting and returning home.
It was impressed that even after turning 60, he is still so youthful!

The first editing meeting for the Dai Token Ichi catalog was held. 13 memers of the catalog committee joined reading each page and giving their advice. It took until late in the evening.
After we finished the meeting, we all went to an Izakaya restaurant near closing time. We are really hoping for this year’s successful Dai Token Ichi Event, with everyone’s cooperation, from the young to the seasoned Japanease sword traders.
This year’s Dai Token Ichi will be held at the Tokyo Art Club from November 16 (Friday) for three days.

From Friday, September 7 for three days, we held the 19th Ningyocho Token Ichi at the Callery Shimuco. We started sword events at this location since Septermber 2012. However, this time is the final events since this Gallery will close for rebuilding. Although it was a small venue, we had a good relationship with the owner so we could continue the events for 6 years with many sword enthusiasts visiting. I was able to learn a lot from the customers and I greatly appreciate the opportunities to study and use the place. Next year, we will be moving the event to a gallery in Kyobashi, where we hold the 1st Kyobashi Token Ichi. I really hope to see everyone at this new location.

 

This year as well we have started the Japanese sword class from July 2018.
We will hold the class once a month until April next year for a total of 10 classes to learn the basics of Japanese sword knowledge.
For every class, it will start with 1) basic explanation of that day’s theme, 2) sword appreciation, 3) explanation about the appreciation of each sword, 4) second appreciation by students of each sword after hearing the details.
This will be repeated each month for the 10 times for the students to increase their experience and overall knowledge. I will do my best to make certain all students will improve their skills in sword appreciation.

A former staff, Roger, who supported me for four years from 2012 for English-related support for my business came to Japan with his student for his Iai training.
I remember well the days when we worked together and had a lot of fun talking about it. I was able to set up a meeting with him at an izakaya before he returns home.

June is the end of the fiscal year for Touken Matsumoto. Every year as a way of expressing my gratitude to my staff and business partners and to wish for the next successful year we take an overseas trip. This year, we went to Taipei, Taiwan. We visited many famous places and enjoyed these attractions; Jiufen, where we saw the paper lantern night view, Longshan temple, which is the oldest temple in Taipei and famous for receiving power, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall where we saw the guard change ceremony, and the most impressive sight was the Gugong, where there were many national treasures. The tour guide, Mr. To, was 85 years old. He was very energetic and did not appear his age at all. He explained many things with abundant knowledge including Taiwan’s history, culture and economy. I learned of the strong connection between Japan and Taiwan, and even to Mr. To who was born who was born in 1933 and seemed even prouder of the Japanese people more than us. From now, refreshed with this great trip, I will do my best for another year and will look forward to our next overseas adventure in 2019!

The result of the 25th Tokubetsu Juyo Token Shinsa were received and my application for the “Tachi made by Jitsua” passed the exam!
This time, 41 swords items, 3 sword koshirae and 4 sword fittings were able to pass. These items will be exhibited at the sword museum as designated Tokubestu-juyo items from May 26 to July 16, 2018.
I purchased the Tachi made by Jitsua from a family with links to the ancient Daimiyo. Then I had made the shira-saya, habaki, and had it polished. After all this work I applied for the Hozon token and the Tokubetsu-hozon token together. After it passed, I applied for the Juyo token and when it passed two years ago I applied for the Tokubetsu-juyo token and it passed. It was a long process but as a sword trader, it was also a very enjoyable process to discover a potentially good sword and making it a great sword and passing the highest rank of the NBTHK. I will do my best to find many more.

I had a gathering with my friend from the Czech Republic and his ten students. He started visiting our shop more than twenty years ago. Every time he and his students are close, they would stop by and say hello. English is both of our second language, so we did our best to communicate and enjoyed our time together. They asked me “When will I visit Prague?” and I answered “Next Year.” However, they said that last year and two years ago I had said the same thing but did not go. I would like to try to make a trip sometime in the near future.

We held the 5th Chiba Token Ichi at the Keiyo Bank Cultural Plaza in Chiba City from March 23rd to 25th. We were blessed with many visitors mostly becouse of the great efforts with the advertisement publicity, the wounderful weather for the blooming of the cherry blossoms.
There were customers that could say “I will buy a Japanese sword for the first time” and this made me very happy since they became an enthusiast.
Unfortunately, the Keiyo Bank Cultural Plaza was closed in March. The 6th Chiba Token Ichi will be held in October and is scheduled to be located in “Chiba Seminar Room” that is 3 minutes on foot from the Chiba Station North Exit.

This month’s Japanese sword class, we invited the swordsmith, Mr. Ozawa Shigenori, who is a diciple of Takano Yukimitsu, who was diciple of Ohno Yoshimitsu.
Mr. Ozawa gave a lecture on how to forge Japanese sword. His unique tempering is referred to as “Hadaka-yaki” which mean he doesn’t place Tsuchioki on the edge of the blade. Using this process, he has been awarded many prizes recently. Because this was Mr. Ozawa’s 4th year with us, the question and answer session with the students was very active. His experience and lectures that are based on actural practice were very valuable stories that we would not be able to get by just reading books.