Kantei
SAMBON NYUSATSU KANTEI
Kantei is the attribution of a blade without looking at the signature. It is a traditional exercise for developing an eye for Japanese swords. In the form we practice, sambon nyusatsu kantei (three bid attribution), participants study a blade and submit up to three bids on the time, place of manufacture, tradition/school, and maker. A judge comments on each bid to indicate which components of the bid are correct. Participants use the comments to refine their bids. After all bids have been submitted, there is a discussion of the bids and the key identifying characteristics of the blade.
NCJSC OPPORTUNITIES FOR KANTEI
1
In-person Kantei
At monthly meetings, an exquisite blade, which has usually received at least one authoritative attribution, is presented with the signature covered. Bids are submitted and feedback is given immediately.
2
Online Kantei
A picture and description of a blade are emailed to members. Bids and feedback are through email and a discussion is held through Zoom on the Monday after the general meeting.
3
Paper Kantei
A picture and description of a blade is published in the monthly newsletter and solutions are published in the following newsletter.
In Japan, there is usually a competitive system of awarding points for correct answers, depending on how many bids were required. Also, multiple blades may be evaluated in a single session.
At the NCJSC club meetings, we typically use a more informal approach without scoring and focus on a single blade to emphasize the educational opportunity of seeing a blade in good condition and learning about its distinguishing features. Participants can work in teams and more experienced members lead new members through the process. We use a kantei worksheet to organize the features observed in the blade. The focus is on learning how to look at blades. Reference books are allowed. The reference book most often used is The Connoisseur's Book of Japanese Swords, by Kokan Nagayama.
While this can still sound intimidating to a novice, nothing can replace the experience of looking at a blade with an expert pointing out its features.