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This is the first volume in the set to be
translated. The information contained in this volume was not in
the original publications, because in Japan in the 1930s, the
Shinshinto blades were not held to be that important. This volume
covers the period from 1772-1925. Some authors consider the
Shinshinto period as ending in 1867, but that is not the case
with the Nihon To Koza. The major schools or groups of the period
are discussed, as is the influence of certain personages that
emerged during that time. There is a short discussion of the
making of a blade, but this is covered much better in "The
Craft of the Japanese Sword" by Leon and Hiroko Kapp, and
Yoshindo Yoshihara (Kodansha). As with all of the books in the
Koza series, there is a "frontispiece" section
presenting works of representative swordsmiths of the covered
period. The number shown will vary with each volume. The photos
in the frontispiece section show very good details of the
signatures and work styles of the subject smiths. The sections of
the Shinshinto Volume that I think are the most valuable is the
detailed discussion, with illustrations, of the hamon of the
Gokaden (Five Den) of the Koto period, pointing out which of the
major Shinshinto artists copied which traditions, and what
variations they inserted in those characteristic styles.
Also,
there is a very good dissertation on Gimei, or false signatures.
This includes enlarged views of the sections of the Kanji which
are different between the genuine and the spurious. Now then,
while only a small number of actual signatures can be discussed,
the important part of this is that it helps a westerner in
learning what factors to look for in comparing signatures.
Periods in recent history when there was a flurry of
counterfeiting being done are examined. Now, when I translated
this book, the Japanese was inserted by using scissors and rubber
glue, so the usage of Kanji is minimal beyond the captions for
the oshigata and other illustrations. Contains 452 pages of text
and photos, exclusive of index and glossary.
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