September 28, 2026
Learn what yasurime reveal about Japanese sword tangs, how common file-mark patterns differ, and why collectors examine them...
Learn what yasurime reveal about Japanese sword tangs, how common file-mark patterns differ, and why collectors examine them...
Discover how a Japanese sword habaki secures the blade in its scabbard, how copper and gold-covered examples differ,...
Discover the Japanese katana-kake: traditional sword stands that can combine lacquer, raden, aogai and seasonal imagery to become...
A practical, caution-first primer on preparing a sword for shinsa. Learn respectful handling, safe packaging, paperwork basics, and...
A practical, judge-style visual guide to separating nie from nioi, reading the nioiguchi and yakiba, and documenting kinsuji,...
A collector’s guide to common kizu (flaws) in Japanese blades—how to recognize hagire, fukure and kitae-ware, what they...
Polish is the lens through which we study a Japanese sword. This article explains how sashikomi and hadori...
A clear, cautious guide to NBTHK and NTHK sword papers. Understand shinsa, read an origami certificate, and balance...
Move beyond hamon and train your eye to read jihada with judge-level care. This guide explains itame, mokume...
A neutral, practical guide to reading Japanese sword papers. Learn how NBTHK and NTHK certificates, legacy Kicho documents...
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