Yamanaka & Company

“ No sword in Europe ever came through such an ordeal; indeed, it is doubtful whether its shape and constitution would have allowed a similar test to be successful. Looked upon as a cutting weapon, the Japanese blade has been pronounced perfect by all experts; that perfection is the result of thorough work undertaken with only one aim in view: to turn out a sword which was not only reliable, but a credit to the maker as well ”

“ To study a blade and appreciate its points is a matter of considerable interest, the various portions of the blade have their names and their peculiarities; one must pay attention to every part of the body, of its edge, of the handle, etc., and with practice an expert may become able to recognise the technique and style of a smith by the peculiarities of the blade, silent witnesses left in the metal itself. Thus, in Japan, the Honami [Pg 3] family of sword experts were professionally engaged for over 350 years in examining and certifying blades. ”

“ Far back in the Sung Dynasty a Chinese Poet sang its praises, later the Mediæval European writers spoke in wonderment of the Katana, of its keenness of edge, of its swift stroke, of the respect paid to it; later still, folks were awed by the form of suicide we call seppuku, some saw in it only a barbarous disembowelment, few, perhaps, grasped that other important feature—the test of the truest friendship—that confidence in the bosom friend one entrusted with the cutting of one's head. ”

“ A blade given by a father to his daughter on her wedding day was the emblem of that purity of life which the woman was expected to keep, and it was also the weapon with which she might seek repose in death, should occasion arise. The Restoration breaking up the old feudal system compelled the Samurai to part with their worldly goods to secure the necessities of life, the rich became poor, the poor lost all support, hence anything which might tempt the foreign buyer went swiftly out of the country ”

“ Both in Europe and in America articles on the sword have been published, most of which, based upon the paper of Hutterott and nearly all inadequate. It is to be hoped that some more comprehensive work will soon appear to give the Western public a better knowledge of the ancient swords. In Japan, there are hundreds of books dealing with their makers, from ancient books now rare and costly to modern works crammed with information and obtainable for a few pence. What then is there about the Japanese blade which compels admiration? ”

“ Collecting swords has become a national propensity, and the modern sword lover may have more blades, carefully kept and oft admired, than his ancestor of a century ago who could only wear two at a time. Magazines have sprung into existence dealing only with the sword and its accessories. ”

“ Gunomé midare yakiba, signed Sukemuné, engraved with Taishakuten as a Chinese warrior, sword in hand, standing on a dragon, and on the other side the characters Taishakuten, fittings of shakudo, and silver, with dragon and waves design. Red and black lacquer scabbard with dragon in silver and gold lacquer in relief. ”

“ WAKIZASHI. Bizen blade. 1 shaku, 6 sun, 5 bu. 637, 495, 10. Grooved on both sides, midare yakiba, Kaku muné, tanzaku, signature, Bizen Osafuné Norimitsu, dated Kiotoku, fifth year, [Pg 9] second month (1456) , interesting blade. WAKIZASHI. 1 shaku, 6 sun, 8 bu. 645, 510, 17. With midare yakiba, signed Kuninaga, attributed to Senjiuin in Shoō period, 1288-1292. WAKIZASHI. 580, 435, 12. With remarkable kiku-sui yakiba, signed Setsuyo Okamoto Yasutomo, dated Bunkwa third year, eighth month. Shakudo fittings, nanako, red sparrows, and man walking on a path. ”