The Show of Shows (Sword Shows that is)

By Robert Benson (2/2002)

            Years ago when people would talk about Gun shows or collectible shows and how big they were, I would say wait a minute. Let me tell you about the biggest and best show that ever was. When Rita and I started to take tables and attend the Great Western Gun Show at Pomona, California in the mid 80’s it was amazing because we could not get tables inside but had to take only the ones available outside around the buildings. Eventually we got inside. At that time there were nine buildings full of tables and people outside with tables. I believe building 4 would hold two football fields and all the others were about one football field in size. There were 7000 8-foot tables at the shows height so it ain’t no brainer to figure how many miles of tables you would have to walk to see everything. Now that was a Gun Show!

            I am telling you about the above so you will get an idea of what I equate large shows to when making a comparison. The show I am about to mention doesn’t come close to the Great Western in size but when it is compared to other like Sword shows it is fantastic.

            This show I am going to tell you about is the Sokendo Kurokawa Bi Annual Japanese Sword show generally held in January and May every year in Tokyo. Each year the Tokyo Japanese Sword dealers association holds their annual sword show & sale in November called the Daitoken Ichi in the Tokyo Bijitsu Club occupying the 3rd and 4th floors. There are about 30 dealers participating. The 4th floor is about half the size of the 3rd floor. Actually the third floor is about the same size as our San Francisco Sword show room. This is where Kurokawa San fills the whole 3rd floor room with his collection and swords for sale. I asked him "How many swords do you have on hand and displayed for sale?" The answer was, "about 400". This is one dealer so I equate his show to the Great Western of the Sword Shows. There is no digging through the mediocre because everything is in top condition with papers. From Hozon to Bijutsu Hin. There are swords in condition that we can only dream about. . Big Shinto swords of thickness and width that look to have never been used… Kamakura period swords that look like Shin Shinto and some even bigger than Shin Shinto.

 

 

            Here is a fast overview of some of the great pieces. On hand for looking at were eight Juyo Bijutsuhin, twenty-two Tokubetsu Juyo Token, one hundred Juyo Token and the rest Tokubetsu Hozon. There was a Juto Koto yari by Yamato Yorihisa, a Juto naginata by Shodai Kunisuke with Kanei date and a very nice Sakyodo Munemitsu yari with Bummei 15 date.             There were many daisho with their mounts. A Tokubetsu Hozon daisho by Gassan Sadakazu, Chounsai Tsunatoshi, Omi Daijo Tadahiro. On the Juto level there was Echigo Kanesada both blades dated Empo 4, Hizen Tadayoshi 3rd, and Bizen Nagamitsu mumei daisho.

Of the Yamashiro den there was an Ubu Kuniyuki tachi, several Niji mei Tokubetsu Juto Kunitoshi, Tokubetsu Juto Rai Kunimitsu, Juto Rai Kunitoshi, Jubi Minamoto Rai Kunitoshi tanto, another only Juto, a Tokubetsu Juto Ayanokoji Sadatoshi and a Juto Nobukuni.

            In the Yamato den there were Shikkake, Taema and Tegai represented of mostly the Juyo Token class.

            Bizen den was really well represented. There were numerous Kanemitsu, Tokubetsu Juto Ichimonji’s, Tokubetsu Juto Norifusa, Tokubetsu Juto Ko Bizen Masatsune, Jubi Ko Bizen Motokane, Tokubetsu Juto Motoshige with orikaishi mei, Tokubetsu Juto Nagamitsu, a very rare Juyo Token Bishu Osafune Nagashige, Tokubetsu Juto Motomitsu, and several Yosozaimon Sukesada of the Juto rank.

            The Mino den’s stand out was a Juyo Bijitsu Hin Shizu once owned by the Tokugawa. A Juto Kinju tanto. One of the only 5 known-signed pieces and numerous lessor Mino smiths were available for viewing.

            Of the Ko Aoe there was a Tokubetsu Juto by Masatsune and a Ko Aoe by Yasutsugu that was Ubu.

           There were plenty of Shinto swords with perfect nakagos and condition. I counted 22 Hizen blades of mostly Juto class. Several Hankei, about 4 Kunihiro blades, Yoshimichi, Kunimichi all Juto. One Tokubetsu Juto Echigo Kanesada and one Tokubetsu Juto Kotetsu with a cutting test. Four Sukehiro of Juto rank.

Of the Shin Shinto blades there were Taira Nobuhide, Fujiwara Kiyondo, Koyama Munetsugu, Taira Asan Motohira all of Juto rank.

            Oh Yes, There was a Juto by Go Yoshihiro that I almost forgot and hundreds of pieces of quality kodogu. Truly an astounding collection of quality swords and kodogu under one roof.

            Mr. Kurokawa has had under construction his museum that is located in Harajuku. It will be open in April of this year 2002. His idea is to have swords for sale on the first floor and the second floor is to house his collection, which will be on display for everyone to enjoy. There will be hundreds of swords to see, so if you are visiting Japan the Nihonto collector must make it a point to visit this new museum at 6-28-2 Jingumae in Harajuku. About a 5-minute walk from the Harajuku station or 10 minute from Omotesando subway. Below are some more pictures of the sword show.

 

All the great people that made this show happen .