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




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




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