The Token Society of Great Britain

Directions Website Contact the organisation

The Token Society of Great Britain Since 1964 the role of The Token Society of Great Britain has been to support the study, appreciation and preservation of Japanese swords and fittings

Presentations from the Hassocks meeting.Thank you to all who attended last weeks meeting in Hassocks. It was our first m...
10/10/2026

Presentations from the Hassocks meeting.
Thank you to all who attended last weeks meeting in Hassocks. It was our first meeting at a new venue and I think all agreed it offered excellent facilities and everyone enjoyed the day. Unfortunately we were unable to video the presentations, which regrettably meant the ecellent "hands on session" discussing koshirae by Ian Chapman has not been recorded. Perhaps we can persuade him to do a repeat performance at some point in the futre and we will have more luck with technology! However Michael Spasov's excellent talk of Nakago can be seen as a Youtube video and Paul Bowman's presentation on differences in steel has been uploaded as a pdf article. Both can be found in the members area on the wbsite.

From a visit to the A Wakizashi, signed "Tsunetsugu, resident of Bicchu Province; February 1345".Made during the Nanbo...
04/10/2026

From a visit to the

A Wakizashi, signed "Tsunetsugu, resident of Bicchu Province; February 1345".
Made during the Nanbokucho period, 14th century, in Bicchu Province (Today's Okayama Prefecture).

Tsunetsugu was a master of the Aoe School, which succeeded the Ko-Aoe School. His name was passed down through several generations of the main line Aoe School smiths. Originally a naginata, this blade was shortened to be used as a wakizashi, giving it its shobuzukuri (Iris-leaf) shape. Named as it resembles a Japanese iris, it becomes gradually narrower towards the tip and does not have a yokote line, which usually defines the tip section.

The steel grain pattern (jigane) is itame (irregular grain) near the spine and almost masame (straight grain pattern) at the cutting edge. It displays dark sumihada (charcoal skin) steel, which is typical for the Aoe school.
Capped by a bright, tight border, the hamon is typical of Nanbokucho Aoe blades, mostly suguha (straight) in nioi (fine Martensite crystals, indiscernible to the naked eye), and becoming ko-gunome (low, small wave pattern) towards the point.

Nagasa (edge length): 38.1cm
Sori (curvature): 0.9 cm

25/09/2026

We are pleased to confirm we are holding a southern area regional meeting. This will take place on the 3rd of October in the Sussex town of Hassocks. We are finalising the agenda which will include presentations on both swords and fittings and offer members the opportunity to view and discuss swords.

As always there will also be sales tables available for members. Full details will be sent to the membership via email and posted on our website shortly.

Provisional agenda (details of content are being finalised and may be subject to change)

Attendance Fee: £10 per person
10.00- 10.45. Arrival coffee and registration
10.45-11.00. Introduction to the day
11.00. 11.45. The importance of studying Nakago
12.00- 13.30 Lunch and viewing.
13.30-2.15. Changes in Steel from Koto to Shinto
2.15- 3.00. The Art of Soft metal koshirae
3.00-3.30 Panel Q and A session

Top Drawer display- swords from the collections of Token members.
Members are invited to bring a favourite piece to display and discuss

presentations and articles posted.Copies of the three PowerPoint presentations given at the Leeds Armouries meeting and ...
24/09/2026

presentations and articles posted.
Copies of the three PowerPoint presentations given at the Leeds Armouries meeting and an article describing one of the blades on display have been posted in the members area of the Society website

From a visit to the A Tachi, signed "Aoe Sanetsugu, resident of Bicchu Province".Made in the Nanbokucho period, 14th c...
20/09/2026

From a visit to the

A Tachi, signed "Aoe Sanetsugu, resident of Bicchu Province".
Made in the Nanbokucho period, 14th century, in Bicchu Province (Today's Okayama Prefecture).

Sanetsugu, the maker of this blade, belonged to the famed Aoe School. The school's smiths forged many fine works from the Kamakura to the Muromachi Period. They often carved their signatures, as with this blade, on the side that faces the body when worn (ura). while almost all other schools signed the outside face (omote).

This blade features a an even width along its length, thin and curved mostly close to the handle (koshi-zori), a classic 14th century shape.
A Horimono has been carved into the blade itself, representing "Fudo Myoo" the Buddhist god of of war, a double edged sword and two thin lines.

The steel grain pattern (jigane) is tight and displays "sumihada" (charcoal skin) a dark steel colour typical of the Aoe school. While the hamon is a bright straight suguha.

Nagasa (edge length): 71.9cm
Sori (curvature): 2.1 cm

On display at our regional meeting in Leeds today. A Naginata Naoshi by Bizen Osafune Nagamori, made during the Nanbokuc...
19/09/2026

On display at our regional meeting in Leeds today.
A Naginata Naoshi by Bizen Osafune Nagamori, made during the Nanbokucho period around 1360.

Greatly shortened. Massive O-Kissaki. And see the Nie particles of the Harmon.

On display at our regional meeting in Leeds today. An amazing gendaito blade by Minamoto Moriyoshi, made in 1982 as a Ki...
19/09/2026

On display at our regional meeting in Leeds today.
An amazing gendaito blade by Minamoto Moriyoshi, made in 1982 as a Kiyomaro utsushimono.

Third presentation of today. Ian Bottomley giving us a presentation on the use of guns in Japanese warfare in the past. ...
19/09/2026

Third presentation of today. Ian Bottomley giving us a presentation on the use of guns in Japanese warfare in the past. Just starting right now.

The oldest blade on display today. A Ko-Hoki blade from the Heian period, around 1050AD. Very classical shape. And amazi...
19/09/2026

The oldest blade on display today.
A Ko-Hoki blade from the Heian period, around 1050AD.

Very classical shape. And amazing jihada.

Our regional meeting at the Royal Armouries today. Continued with a presentation by Michael Spasov on the evolution of t...
19/09/2026

Our regional meeting at the Royal Armouries today. Continued with a presentation by Michael Spasov on the evolution of the shape of Japanese swords from the early beginnings till today. Supported by a selection of blades brought along by our members.

Address

Wargrave

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Token Society of Great Britain posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organisation

Send a message to The Token Society of Great Britain:

Shortcuts

Share

Category