This time, I would like to introduce an interesting exchange of letters that date to the late Edo period, to be precise, to the very early 1800s. It had been published in Tōken-Bijutsu No. 728 (September, 2017) and described in more detail there, but I just wanted to give you the gist of it as I came across it again whilst doing some research on Masamune.

The scenario is as follows: A local sword dealer, Arai Izaemon (新井伊左衛門), from the town of Sakai (境町) in Kōzuke province (present-day Gunma Prefecture), reached out to Tagaya Sadakichi/Teikichi (多賀谷貞吉, 1766–1827), a renowned calligrapher and Bakufu retainer based in Edo, asking for help regarding a signed Masamune tantō.

This is the content of the first letter Tagaya sent to Arai after receiving the blade:

“I have read your letter and am pleased to hear that the rain was light and that you are all safely together and in good health. As for Lord Kiichirō (喜一郎) here, everything is fine as well and so you may be entirely at ease. From the town of Gedōji (下道寺) [also in Kōzuke province], I have received with thanks two hitoe garments, one of which having been presented to Lord Kiichirō. Also arrived has the tantō signed ‘Masamune’ in shirasaya. Upon inspection, it does not appear to reflect Sōshū characteristics, and I believe it may be a Mihara (三原) School work. I shall examine it further and report in due course. Incidentally, the items in question have been sent via the Shimaya (島屋) courier, and for now, this brief letter shall be understood as an acknowledgement of receipt. Respectfully yours, Tagaya Teikichi/Sadakichi. Eleventh day of the fifth month, to Mr. Arai Izaemon.”

About three months later, Tagaya writes back to Arai:

“In this season of increasing heat, I hope that your household is in good health. As for Lord Kiichirō, he continues to be in good condition, so be at ease. Now, regarding the Masamune tantō that you had sent a while ago, I had it examined by the Hon’ami (本阿弥) family, and they report that it is actually a Masamune from Mino province, and, moreover, that it has a large hagire. Accordingly, they say that the blade is of no practical use, hence they can not assign a value to it. It has therefore already been returned to me and is kept at my residence. I shall, before long, have the pleasure of meeting you and will report further in person. Respectfully yours, Teikichi/Sadakichi. On the first sixth day after the end of summer [eighth month], to Mr. Izaemon. PS: Please extend my regards and that of my household to everyone.”

Ouch. Its unclear why the hagire had not been detected earlier, if it is “large,” as the Hon’ami family wrote. It is possible that the blade was too out of polish for being submitted to the Hon’ami and Tagaya had it polished (to some degree, probably not paid for a full polish out of his own pocket). Maybe he asked the polisher to forward it to the Hon’ami when he was done as otherwise, Tagaya would likely had detected the hagire himself. I cannot immagine that he would not have at least looked at it once and just sent it to the Hon’ami after getting it back from the polisher. Another question remains is: Who is the maker? There is no “Mino Masamune” listed in the meikan. Well, we also don’t know to which Hon’ami branch Tagaya had sent the blade.

In any case, I just wanted to share this little insight into the then sword world, and not much has changed since then, right. Blades bouncing at the Shinsa, hagire showing up after a polish, etc.