"Arts and Arms of the Samurai"
-A Major Japanese Cultural Event-
June 15, 16, 17 2007
Minneapolis, MN
Shinsa
A shinsa, or appraisal, will be held during the event for swords and sword fittings which can be submitted for judgement by advanced reservation. The group of experts coming from Japan to perform the appraisals are from the non-profit Nihon Token Hozon Kai (NTHK-NPO) which is the oldest sword appraisal group in Japan, dating back to the Meiji period.
The 5 member team is led by Mr. Miyano Teiji, the current head of the organization and perhaps the most famous kantei (appraisal) expert in Japan today. The rest of the team consists of several members who have come to the U.S. on several occasions in the past with the former head of the organization, Mr. Yoshikawa Kentaro, who is now deceased.
This shinsa team is highly experienced and well respected in Japan, second only to the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai (NBTHK) in the number of swords they appraise every month.
Those wishing to submit swords and/or fittings for shinsa must first reserve a space and pay a $100 deposit. Items passing shinsa will require an additional fee of $150 payable at the completion of the shinsa.
A kantei-sho, or appraisal certificate, with a picture and description of the item will be sent to the owner from Japan following the shinsa. The owner will also receive a copy of the shinsa team's worksheet which will describe the sword/fitting and indicate the period, maker (or school), and point score.
Kantei-sho will be issued according to the following system:
60-69 points: Shintei-sho (equivalent to the NBTHK Hozon level)
70-79 points: Kantei-sho (equivalent to the NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon)
80+ points: Kantei-sho (plus eligible for the yearly Yushu shinsa held only in Japan)
Additionally, each person submitting an item for shinsa will receive a one year membership in the NTHK-NPO which entitles the member to a year's subscription to the organization's bi-monthly sword journal, "Token to Rekishi".
We encourage those interested to make their reservations sooner rather than later as space is limited and usually sells out well in advance of the event.
For further information and to make reservations, please contact the Midwest Token Kenkyu Kai through either of the following individuals:
Larry Klahn
123 S. 6th St.
La Crosse, WI 54601
608-784-9900
lklahn@aol.com
Chris Bowen
PO Box 99
Mt. Hope, WI 53816
608-994-2538
swords@ejapaneseswords.com