The 1999 San Francisco Bay Area Japanese Sword Show
The Northern California Japanese Sword Club Token Kai

Article and Photographs by Adrian Ko

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Being that there is so much interest among the public with respect to Japanese swords (nihon-to) perhaps the best way to familiarize onself with a plethora of historical katana is at a Japanese Sword Show.

This year's Token Kai was a gathering place of dealers and collectors, featuring commonplace to exotic Japanese arms and armor, as well as a variety of art such as paintings and sculpture. The San Francisco Token Kai is sponsored by the NCJSC (Northern California Japanese Sword Club) and coordinated by its president Ralph Bell, and Fred Weissberg (see www.nihonto.com for more information).

While there are many hundreds upon hundreds of Japanese swords of varying conditions, I have this time decided to photograph more topically as well as visually interesting pieces. My heartfelt thanks to those who participated with Sword Forum Magazine Online and warmly opening up their collections for us to photograph. Not all displays are represented in this article. The following pages of this article are divided by display table.

Also note that this article is divided into multiple pages so be sure to click on "Click HERE for NEXT Page" at the bottom to see more!

The Robert Hughes Display

The Robert Hughes Display was one of my personal favorites, featuring some fine examples of Late Edo Period Japanese armor as well as other fine tachi.

To begin, SFMO is honored to have exclusive coverage of a private exhibit of a fine Late Edo Period armor (photo, right) circa 1780, valued at US$20,000.

The helmet is of high quality, being constructed of 32 plates (in terms of Japanese helmets, the higher the plate count, the greater the degree of workmanship and thus the higher the intrinsic value). The plates are joined by soft metal ridges, covering the edges.

Also, the plates themselves are iron with a surface of lacquer made to resemble russet iron.

Silver lining adorns the visor of the helmet. Robert Hughes states that much of the armor has been relaced.

Photograph: Left Another late Edo Period armor (before Meiji Restoration), circa 1840-1860 valued at $20,000. This suit of armor was based on yet an earlier design, and thus it is likely that this was worn on public display in parades.

Photograph: Left Late Edo Period helmet showing a high number plate construction.

Contact Information

Robert Hughes
Director, Japan Branch
Keichodo Swords and Fittings
1-49-10 Kanamecho
Toshima-ku, Tokyo, 171-0043
Phone: 03-3554-6047

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