Yoshihara
Kuniie, Tsukamoto Okimasa, Kasama Shgetsugu, Miyaguchi Toshihiro and others-one
of whom may wel be the first Gendaito Juyo Token designated in the not too
distant future- and secondly, the real relative rise in the financial value of
gendaito.This work new by Fred Fimio joins a number of recent publications spurred on by the interest in Gendaito. With the exception of very early Gewndaito smiths, such as Gassan Sadakazu, Horii Taneyoshi, Miyamoto Kanenori, Sakurai Masatsugu, Rayama Enshin, Kasama Shigetsugu and Takahashi Sadatsugu, few are illustrated in the standard comprehensive books featuring oshigata.
The foregoing omissions make this a useful reference volume. In addition to numerous oshigata, Fred has included a brief historical outline, some personal observations, kanji tables, a glossary, and indux of 1500 gendai smiths, and what I believe will be particularly helpful, a sort of rosetta stone for reading nakago inscriptions, or at least understanding the kind of information often found there. This book is a useful contribution to a rapidly growing literature.