Welcome to the Japanese Sword Society of the United States Online Archive



This page is a work in progress.  We are currently producing html versions of all of the articles contained in the full catalogue of JSSUS newsletters.  The end goal is to have all 63 years of material here for all to use.   We will include the article titles and author in each issue link below, for ease of finding keywords (control+f) and search indexing. Please check back regularly for newly added content.  




1959 Volume 1 Number 1

Retrospect and Prospect - Page 1

Juyo Token Nado Zufu, Index, translated by John M. Yumoto - Page 5

The Kaido (old Highways) and Kuni (Provinces) by John M. Yumoto - Page 9

Lectures on the Sword: I, by Albert Yamanaka - Page 12

Flaws in Sword Blades (diagram from Joly) - Page 16




1969 Volume 8 Number 1 - SURVEY OF THE HISTORY OF JAPANESE SWORD FITTINGS

[Translated from the German by Helga E. Reap and Alan L. Harvie,
and taken from Shinkichi Hara's Die Meister der japan- ischen Schwertzieraten (Hamburg: Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe in Hamburg, 1931).] - Page 1

1969 Volume 8 Number 1 The Kodogu (Sword Fittings) of Kano Natsuo

THE KODOGU (SWORD-FITTINGS) OF KANO NATSUO by Albert Yamanaka - Page 19

1969 Volume 8 Number 1 Tosogu Diagram - Translated and Redrawn by Alvan L. Harvie

Diagram of the Most Important Schools Whose Influence Determined the Beginning of Styles after 1750- Page 24

1969 Volume 8 Number 1 Yasuchika

Yasuchika - A Lecture by John Yumoto -Page 25

1969 Volume 8 Number 1 Sword Sentiment

Sword Sentiment- Page 42

1969 Volume 8 Number 1 History of Kendo

A BRIEF HISTORY OF KENDO by Benjamin H. Hazard, Jr- Page 45




1970 Volume 8 Number 2

Shinkichi Hara by Otto Kuymmel
Translated by Helga E. Reap and Alan L. Harvie

1970 Volume 8 Number 2

Contributions to the Register of the Masters of Japanese Sword Mountings by Shinkichi Hara
By Edgar Franckel Translated by Helga E. Reap and Alan L. Harvie

1970 Volume 8 Number 2

A Collection of Artists Seals (Han and Kakihan)
in Microphotographic Reproduction
by Martin Kuznitzky, translated from the German by Alan L. Harvie - Pg 46




1971 Volume 9 Number 1

A Collection of Artists Seals (Han and Kakihan)
in Microphotographic Reproduction
by Martin Kuznitzky, translated from the German by Alan L. Harvie - Pg 7

1971 Volume 9 Number 1

MARKETING PATTERNS PAST PRESENT AND FUTURE
by Randolph B. Caldwell

1971 Volume 9 Number 1 Pg 17

JAPANESE SWORDS IDOLIZED BY JAPANESE WOMEN
by Naohiro Takahashi

1971 Volume 9 Number 1 Pg 19

JAPANESE PATINAS AND METAL COLOURING
by H Wilson

1971 Volume 9 Number 1 Pg 26

JAPANESE METAL WORKING
A lecture Delivered to the Students of the Central School of Arts and Crafts
by Prof. Unno Bisel of the Fine Art College, Tokyo

1971 Volume 9 Number 1 Pg 31

An Interview with Morihiro Ogawa(NBTHK)

Transcribed by R.C. Hartman (JSS/US)

1971 Volume 9 Number 1 Pg 36

How to Make a Habaki (Nakajima Muneyoshi)

by James Mitchell




1972 Volume 4 Number 2 Newsletter March-April

Masazane, Saneyuki, Yamanaka QandA and more


1972 Volume 4 Number 3 Newsletter May-June

Morihiro Ogawa, a Joint work by Kiyomitsu and Sukesada, and more...


1972 Volume 4 Number 4 Newsletter July-August

Kawaji Hiromiitsu, Yamanaka Info Pool and more...


1972 Volume 4 Number 5 Newsletter September-October

Commentary, Yamanaka Info Pool, Bungo Masumori, Izumo_no_Kami_Yoshitake and more...


1972 Volume 4 Number 6 Newsletter November-December

Board Meeting, Token KenKyu Kai, Yukimitsu, Stolen Swords and more...


34 Page BULLETIN December 1972

Bulletin Muramasa,Titles of Swordsmiths, Kakihan, Gendato and Tanto.





1973 Volume 5 Number 1 Newsletter January-February

Pricing Guidelines, Sasano Masayuki Book Review, Hizen Tadahiro and more.


1973 Volume 5 Number 2 Newsletter March-April

Misc. and Akasaka Tsuba


1973 Volume 5 Number 3 Newsletter May-June

Misc. Owari Tsuba, Onin Tsuba and Hizen Tadahiro


1973 Volume 5 Number 4 Newsletter July-August

Meeting Minutes, Sendai Yamagane tsuba, Owari tsuba, Chikuzen Nobukuni Yoshikuni Tanto


1973 Volume 5 Number 5 Newsletter September-October

Truman Masamune, Bizen Norimitsu


1973 Volume 5 Number 6 Newsletter November-December

Tanto Translation, Report on the times by Caldwell, Cutting test blade by Sadayuki


1973 50 Page Bulletin

Museo Orientale, Beginning Tsuba Collecting, Token Kenkyu Kai, Kao Artists Seals





1974 Vol 6 Nunmber 1 January-February

Making of the Samurai, Smithsonian Collection, Chikei Inazuma Kinsuji Sunagashi, Mishina Study, Reprort on the Times, Ikkansai Shigetsugu


1974 Vol 6 Number 2 March-April

Tanto book by Suzuki, John Yumoto, Inoue Shinkai, Yamanaka


1974 Vol 6 Number 3 May-June

Colonel Cadwell Bust Dedication, Report on Yamada Hide


1974 Vol 6 Number 4 July-August

Yasukuni Shrine Yasunori Gendaito, Hizen Yondai Tadayoshi


1974 Vol 6 Number 5 September-October

Officers Meeting, Owari Nobutsugu, Kaga Iyetada


1974 Vol 6 Number 6 November-December

Auction Report, Kaifu Ujiyoshi,Yamanaka on Polishing


1974 57 Page BULLETIN

Mishina Oshigata US NBTHK Shinsa Christian Theme.(missing part)







1975 Vol 7 Number 1 Newsletter January-February

Election Results, Prospects, Christian Tsuba


1975 Vol 7 Number 2 Newsletter March-April

Sadateru, JSSUS meeting, Japan Trip etc...


1975 Vol 7 Number 3 Newsletter May-June

Letter from the New Chairman, How To Make Oshigata, Christian Tsuba..


1975 Vol 7 Number 4 Newsletter July-August

Peabody Museum Tsuba Book, Polishing Talk by Bob Benson, Mud used in Forging by Ed Dobrzanski..


1975 Vol 7 Number 5 Newsletter September-October

Chairman Report by Arnold Frenzel, Sashikomi Polish by Bob Benson, NBTHK Annual Meeting


1975 Vol 7 Number 6 Newsletter November-December

Chairman Report by Arnold Frenzel, Nidai Monju Shigekuni by Bob Benson, Q and A, NBTHK Annual Meeting


1975 42 Page BULLETIN (Part 1)

Kaneiye Tsuba, Sword Etiquette and Care, Japanese Lacquer, A Swords Travels, How to make Oshigata, Artist Seals...


pages 43-52 of the BULLETIN (Part 2) December 1975

The Inaka (waikmono) Smiths by Yamanaka, Three Years in the Land of the Tycoon by David Pepper





1976 Vol 8 Number 1 Newsletter January-February

Society Questionnaire Report, Sword Show, Stolen Tachi, Tsuguhira

1976 Vol 8 Number 2 Newsletter March-April

Compton Collection, Birmingham Sword Show, Sword Tour of Japan by David Pepper

1976 Vol 8 Number 3 Newsletter May-June

STL 1976 Show, Study of Nie and Nioi, Yamashiro Daijo Kunitsugu with Cutting Test

1976 Vol 8 Number 4 Newsletter July-August

1976 Token Taikai, Nie and Nioi, Ishido Korekazu, Armour Stand

1976 Vol 8 Number 5 Newsletter September-October

Gensaemon Nobukuni, Beginning Collectors Reading list, Nie and Nioi

1976 Vol 8 Number 6 Newsletter November-December

1976 Chicago Show Report, Japan Trip Report, Bizen Yukimitsu Tanto, Nie and Nioi






2016 Volume 48 Number 1

Tsuba Signed Bushu Ju Yasuchika by Robert Hanyes Page 6

Forgotten Moments In History Rare Photos Emerge From Collection Archive By Robert Earhart - Page 38




2016 Volume 48 Number 2 Kantei

Real Life Kantei of swords , part 8: Oei Bizen Swords – What we read and what we see. By W.B. Tanner and F.A. B. Coutinho Page 6

2016 Volume 48 Number 2 Koshirae Restoration

Restoring Armour and Swords – By I. Bottomley, F. A. B. Coutinho, B. Hennick and W. B. Tanner - Contrasting Points of View Part D: Koshirae Page 19

2016 Volume 48 Number 2 Soten Tsuba

Study of a SŌTEN Tsuba By Luca Zanichelli Page 33




2016 Volume 48 Number 3 Kantei

Real Life Kantei of swords , part 9: The History of Two Tanto. By W.B. Tanner and F.A. B. Coutinho Page 6

2016 Volume 48 Number 3 Higo Misumi Menuki

Study of Excellence: Misumi Menuki by David Stiles Page 12

2016 Volume 48 Number 3 GUSOKU CHOCHIN KABUTO

EXPLORING THE TATAMI - GUSOKU CHOCHIN KABUTO (The folding armor collapsible helmet ) by Robert Earhart Page 17




2016 Volume 48 Number 4 BECAUSE I SAID SO.. by Robert E. Haynes

BECAUSE I SAID SO AND OTHER MENDACIOUS PREDILECTIONS by Robert E. Haynes

2016 Volume 48 Number 4 Kaifu Wakimono

Real-Life kantei-of swords , part 10: A real challenge : kantei Wakimono Swords by W.B. Tanner and F.A.B. Coutinho - Page 34




2016 Volume 48 Number 5 CURATOR or COLLECTOR?

CURATOR or COLLECTOR? A RIPOSTE by James L. McElhinney - Page 6




2018 Volume 50 Number 1

Connoisseur’s Notebook: Chinese Carvers Working In Japan During The Edo Perio, Part One James L. McElhinney - Page 6

Kanesada Tsuba (金定鐔) David Stiles - Page 10

Real Life Kantei Of Swords 15: Is It Japanese? F. A. B. Coutinho And W.b. Tanner - Page 15

Connoisseur’s Notebook: Kiyou Toujin Tsuba James Lancel McElhinney - Page 22




2018 Volume 50 Number 2

Connoisseur’s Notebook: Chinese Carvers Working In Japan During The Edo Period, Part Two James L. McElhinney Page 6

Connoisseur’s Notebook: What’s In A Name? How “Chinese” Swordguards Became “barbaric” James L. McElhinney Page 11

Connoisseur’s Notebook: Sword-guards From Vietnam James L. McElhinney Page 15




2018 Volume 50 Number 3

Connoisseur’s Notebook: Saying Goodbye To Nanban Tsuba James L. McElhinney Page 6

The George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum Springfield, Ma Mark Ceskavich Page 7

A Story Of The Tosa - Myôchin 土佐 明珍 Mark Ceskavich Page 9




2023 Volume 54 Number 1

Swords that we like: 2) Hida (no) kami Ujifusa by W. Brent Tanner and F. A. B Coutinho

2023 Volume 54 Number 2

Real Life Kantei of swords #18: An intellectual escapade by F. A. B Coutinho