
Exhibition Highlights Part 3

Akasaka Tsuba
decorated with reeds, dewdrops and a lost stirrup on the Musashi fields.

Akasaka Tsuba
Tadatora kiku.

“We hope that the various examples shown in these updates give you an indication of what will be on show at Samurai Art expo as part of the exhibition programme.”
This is the last part of our comprehensive list of exhibits, which has been published in three parts over the last few weeks. Even so, it is still incomplete and further exhibits will be added as they are confirmed.
Alongside the excellent display of Iron Tsuba, we will have some beautiful examples of soft metal workmanship.
Nobuiye Tsuba
decorated with Morning Glory flowers and scrolls, Momoyama Period.
Previously within the collections of Noda Kiyoshige and Kobayashi Hideo.
Appears in the following publications:
Token Kinko “Mei-saku Shu Nobuiye Hen” Amiya Okura Soemon,1937.
“Tsuba Kansho” by Noda Kiyoshige, 1963, p. 100, 101.
“Kobayashi Hideo Bi o Nagameru Kokoro” (The Heart in Search of Beauty) by Kobayashi Hideo, 2002.

Tsuba Kiyo Sukashi Matsu

Tsuba ko-Katchushi
Swirling clouds Nambokucho.

Shiho-Suhama
consisting of four modified trefoils, steel, middle Muromachi period.
Previously within the collections of Sasano Masayuki, as well as of the Tosogu Bijutsukan and the Museum of Japanese Sword Fittings in Tokyo.
Appears in the following publications:
Sasano Masayuki, “Early Japanese Sword Guards – Sukashi Tsuba” Japan Publications, Inc., 1972.
Exhibited at the Sano Museum.

Sangi
Crossbars, steel, Muromachi – Momoyama period.
Previously within the collections of Akiyama Kyusaku, Sasano Masayuki and the Museum of Japanese Sword Fittings Tokyo.
Appears in the following publications:
Sasano Masayuki, “The Sasano Collection Part One” 1994.
“Bushi no Ito Sukashi Tsuba” Sano Museum Mishima, 1999.
This tsuba was also exhibited at the Sano Museum, Mishima in 1999 and the Nihon Tosogu Bijutsukan (The Japanese Museum of Sword Fittings, Tokyo) in 1995.

Yagyu-Tsuba “Nami ni Torii”
showing waves and a shrine gate, steel.
Previously in the collections of Sasano Masayuki, Nihon Tosogu Bijutsukan (the Japanese Museum of Sword Fittings, Tokyo).
Appears within the following publications:
Sasano Masayuki, “Early Japanese Sword Guards – Sukashi Tsuba”Japan Publications, Inc., 1972, Sasano Masayuki,
“The Sasano Collection Part One” exhibited at the Nihon Tosogu Bijutsukan (the Japanese Museum of Sword Fittings, Tokyo) 1995
Exhibited at The Museum of Japanese Sword Fittings Tokyo (Nihon Tosogu Bijutsukan).

Akasaka-Tsuba “Shiguretei”
depicting an autumnal drizzle, first master Shozaemon.
Tadamasa, early Edo period, Juyo Tosogu.
Previously in the collection of Sasano Masayuki.
Appears in the following publications:
E. Kremers, “Tsuba in European Collections” 1993.
Juyo Token Zufu, 2012, Tosogu p. 11. Nihon Token Hakubutsukan.
Exhibited in the Nihon Token Hakubutsukan, 2013.

Akasaka-Tsuba “Karigane Musashi-no”
Showing a goose, reeds and dewdrops on the battlefields of Musashi. By the 2nd master Tadamasa.
Previously within the collection of Sasano Masayuki.
Appears within the following publications: Tosogu Yuhin Zufu Shoyu Kai, Vol. 8, 1989.

Hirata Jinbei “Taka no Zu”
decorated with a hawk on a pine tree, early Edo period by the 1st master Shimizu family.
Previously within the collections of Hosokawa Gyobu-ke, Komemo Kenichi, Sasano Masayuki and Ito Mitsuru.
Appears in the following publications:
Ito Mitsuru, “Works of Hirata and Shimizu” 2007.

Hirata Jinbei
decorated with an owl on a pine tree. By 1st master Shimizu family, from early Edo period. Juyo Tosogu 1964.
Previously within the collections of Hosokawa Gyobu-ke, Komeno Kenichi and Komeno Fumio.
Appears within the following publications:
“Higo Kinko Taikan”, 1964.
“Higo no Kinko”, 1978, exhibition catalogue of the Kumamoto Bijutsukan.
Ito Mitsuru “Works of Hirata and Shimizu” 2007.
Exhibited at “Tsuba no Bijutsu Ten Matsusakaya” Tokyo in 1952 and at the first exhibition of Kodogu after WW2 at the Tokyo National Museum in 1963. Thereafter exhibited at the Kumamoto Art Museum in 1978.

Hirata Jinbei “Ama-ryu to Tama”
decorated with a sky dragon holding a jewel. From the early Edo period, by the 1st master of the Shimizu family.
Previously within the collections of Hosokawa Gyobu-ke, Komeno Kenichi and Komeno Fumio.
Appears in the following publications:
“Higo Kinko Taikan”, 1964.
“Higo no Kinko”, 1978, exhibition catalogue of the Kumamoto Bijutsukan.
Ito Mitsuru “Works of Hirata and Shimizu” 2007.
Exhibited at “Tsuba no Bijutsu Ten” Matsusakaya in Tokyo, 1952, as well as in the first exhibition of Kodogu after WW2 at the Tokyo National Museum in 1963. Also exhibited at the Kumamoto Art Museum in 1978.

We hope that the various examples shown in these updates give you an indication of what will be on show at Samurai Art expo as part of the exhibition programme. As previously mentioned this list is not complete, but amongst the work already identified there is a Tokubetsu Juyo daito, 6 Juyo blades and an equal number of Juyo Koshirae and fittings. Alongside these are other examples of craftsmanship, many of which have been illustrated in Japanese reference texts, which are exceptional works. There is a great deal to be gained from studying them first hand.
We hope to see you there and will be happy to discuss any of the work on show with you.