by Jim Kurraschfrom the January 1999 Nanka Token Kai Newsletter The Meitô Fushimi Masamune TantôAs I had mentioned earlier when Katsu Fujimoto was visiting him, Kajiwara san had in his possession the Fushimi Masamune tantô. So Katsu was allowed to study it. After talking with him about this Juyo Bunkasai tantô I decided to look…
Masamune
The most important of the missing Nihontô is with out a doubt the Honjo Masamune. This was the katana that represented the Shogunate during most of the Tokugawa Era. Think of that! The Tokugawa were able to have virtually any sword in Japan to pass between Shogun, when the power transferred. And they picked the…
Masahiro
Tachi signed Sôshû Ju Masahiro. Designated Juyo Bijutsu on September 24th 1941, and 2 shaku 1 sun 6 bu long. JB set # 237, and Yamanaka JB # 12. This had a different owner than the rest but was also turned into the Tsuchiua Police, who turned it over to Lt. Col. Ward on October…
Kuwana Uchi
by Jim Kurrasch Well finding out the following was just one of those projects that one steps in every once in a while. It started about 10 years ago when I purchased a wakizashi in poor polish. It was signed Bishu Osafune Norimitsu . It has bô hi with soe hi on both sides. A…
Kuniyasu
A katana signed Kuniyasu. It became Jûyô Bunkasai on July 6th, 1944, and is 2 shaku 2 sun, 8 bu long – 79.1 cm. This blade was submitted to the Yatsushiro Police of Kumamoto Prefecture on October 22nd, 1945, and then it went to the Occupying Forces. The Regimental Commander was Colonel Mc Farland. Lieutenant…
Kunimune
The formerly missing Kokuhô by Kunimune IMAGE LOST. Unfortunately some of the information on this page from Jim Kurrasch’s website has been lost. Please contact me if you have a Nanka Token Kai copy that I can re-construct it from or any images of the missing sword The tachi on the previous pages shows some…
Kikuchi Yari
by Jim Kurrasch The kikuchi yari is a Nambokucho Period yari. It is shaped like a kanmuriotoshi tanto – Cormorant Head tanto, with a yari tang. They are rather rare in the U.S., but since they were utilitarian weapons they are probably still more common in Japan. Many of them have been converted into tanto.…
Kanzan Ôshigata Scrolls
Kanzan Ôshigata Scrollsby Jim Kurraschfrom the August 1999 Nanka Token Kai Newsletter Two months ago we used the Natsu no Maki scroll of Kanzan Ôshigata to help us study the Bizen den. To be honest in the past I felt that unrolling these scrolls were seldom worth the trouble. They are each about 20 meters…
Kantei is Easy
by Jim Kurrasch Every basic book on Japanese Swords gives basic methods of how to kantei a sword. They tell you to first look at the shape to determine the age. And then look at the grain to determine which school. And look at the hamon to determine which smith made it. And finally look…
Index to the Yushu to zu Roku
Index to the Yushu to zu Roku Superior Swords papered by the Nihon Token Hozon Kai (NTHK) volumes I to IIIindexed by Jim Kurrasch Akihiro Moto Mito-ke zo Soshu Akihiro origami ari (kao) about Shitoku 1385 Sagami Katana vol. III – 12 page 24 Yushu-saku Chikakage Bishu Osafune ju Chikakage about Kenmu 1335 Nagamaki Naoshivol.…