Mogito Review: 'Rick James' Shoes'
Sept 9, 2010 9:50:19 GMT
Post by Midori Kawakami on Sept 9, 2010 9:50:19 GMT
Disclosure
I bought this sword from a gun show for a good price; however, I really hate orange and I've always felt it was awkward and unwieldy.
Introduction
Konbanwa SBG!
Last time, I reviewed my favorite iaito, a Hanwei Nami. For comparison's sake, I decided to review my first iaito today, which is a Japanese-made aluminum alloy mogito. We found this sword (actually, we found the whole daisho) at a gun show for $100.00 for both the daito and shoto. At the time, I really needed something I could use as an iaito because we had just started our classes. We purchased the set, but since I never used the wakizashi, I'll be focusing only on the katana.
I picked up the swords at a time when the market wasn't as competitive as it is now, though $100.00 for both these swords still isn't bad. The katana was in service as my iaito for quite some time, until the Nami was gifted to me. It has served its purpose and will remain a part of my collection infinitely.
The master of the dojo we first attended for iaido (it was actually a dojang, and the master was not our sensei; he was a Kuk Sool Kwan master whom graciously opened the doors of his dojang for other masters and their students to use) was amused by the garish orange paint on the sword. He mentioned it reminded him of Rick James' shoes, and the moniker has stuck ever since.
These mogito can be found all over the place; gunshows, asian markets, and even some martial arts suppliers carry them.
Historical overview
Traditionally, mogito was an umbrella term used for any sword that could not be used as a sword, such as iaito, Boy's Day tachi, tourist pieces and display swords. Mogito means "imitation sword". There's no real way of knowing how long mogito have been around for, as most would have either been sharpened or destroyed by this time.
This mogito was made in Japan, as all mogito are. It compares pretty reasonably to other mogito I have seen and owned. Not the nicest, but certainly not the worst. It was this blade that made me fall in love with shobu zukuri and with heavy blades in general. Don't care for the orange saya (never have), but it is traditional, depending upon the time period. The fact the blade is made of aluminum alloy of course is not.
Initial Impressions
My first thought of this sword was "Man is it orange!", and I still think that every time I see it. It really stands out among our collection. Fortunately for those who haven't encountered "Rick James' Shoes" face-to-face, it is unapologetically photogenic, and I just wish it looked so good in natural lighting. The second thing is something I at first attributed to weight, but now know is balance. The balance is very far forward, making this medium-weighted blade both feel and perform very sluggishly, like a much heavier sword. As a result, this instilled some very bad habits and flaws in my technique that I've really had to work to rid myself of.
Also notable is the dragon tsuba that used to rub blisters onto the back of my thumb, the chromed aluminum alloy blade and the--brace yourselves--plastic tsuka. Yes, you read that right; the entire handle is cast plastic. If you swing the sword, you can feel it give ever so slightly beneath the ito, which is why I eventually stopped using this sword.
Statistics
Nagasa Length: 27.5"
Tsuka Length: 10"
Overall Length: 39"
Tsuba Width: 2.5"
Point of Balance: 7" From Tsuba
Weight: 2.1 Lb.
Components
Toshin
The blade is chromed aluminum alloy with a 27.5" nagasa, medium niku and fairly well defined shobu zukuri geometry. The makers did a decent job of shaping the blade correctly.
However, if the sword is disassembled, part of this blades' balance problems become apparent. There is only one mekugi pin, which is fine, and is in fact traditional. However, once the tsuka is removed, it becomes clear there's not enough nakago material for a second pin to be placed through, which makes this mogito feel ungainly and heavy. There's still enough nakago material for a good hand full of nakago in the tsuka, and if this sword were refitted with a proper wooden tsuka, this would no longer be an issue.
Tsuka
The tsuka has brown chemical fiber ito which seems to compliment the saya. It has a decent taper to it and only has one mekugi. The menuki are copper plaited alloy dragons that match the rest of the koshirae. So the overall aesthetic is pretty good,though the ito is loose to the point that the menuki wiggle beneath it. However, the entire tsuka core is made of plastic, cast to look like samegawa. This, when paired with the short nakago, creates a safety hazard.
Since there's only one mekugi to hold the short nakago in place, it has a tendency to shift vertically when the sword is swung and place pressure on the seam of the tsuka core. With a wooden core this wouldn't matter as much, but a plastic one is more likely to give way. A friend and fellow practitioner was using one of these swords when it failed and the blade went flying. Luckily, no one was injured.
Tsuba
The tsuba is made of an unknown alloy, but it has a copper coating and is kind of cool. It has a sukashi-ish design of a dragon in the clouds. While it fits the overall theming of the sword, it is very uncomfortable to use. While I was using this sword, I constantly had blisters on my thumb knuckle from rubbing on the tsuba.
Fuchigashira
The fuchigashira are also alloy and share the dragon and cloud design pattern with the tsuba and menuki, so they round out the theme. They look decent on the sword.
Saya
I can sum up this saya with one word: loud. It's very bright and is fidget-inducing. When I noticed the paint beginning to peel, I hoped it would peel faster. The peeling remains in one small area and nowhere else, so I'm stuck with orange. The kurigata is also wooden. I took the sageo off of this sword and put it on my practical plus wakizashi.
Handling Characteristics
The balance on this sword is very off and makes it feel much heavier than it really is. Based on other shobu zukuri swords I've handled, as well as swords both heavier and lighter than this one, it does not handle well. At all. It's a chore to wield it and isn't much fun, not to mention painful at times. It does no favors to technique and as I've mentioned, severely hindered mine before I really had a chance to develop it. It also doesn't handle like any nihonto or traditional blade I've handled, so I have to come to the conclusion that the handling is all wrong and, as a result of the tsuka, unsafe.
Conclusions
At any rate, the sword feels like a lead weight when swung, and while this may be good for suburi practice, I wouldn't recommend something of a similar balance or a weight that felt like this balance does for a beginner or someone trying to refine their kata. The overall package is okay-ish aesthetically, but would not be a personal preference of mine. I would not invest in one of these swords again, unless the tsuka was made of wood and the nakago lengthened to make these swords safe and better balanced. I would also have to have a need for one, which I don't. This sword really does nothing but take up space.
Pros
- Made in Japan
-Overall blade shape is correct for shobu zukuri
- fittings match and form a cohesive, overarching theme
-Reasonably priced
Cons
- Tsuba uncomfortable
- Short nakago affects balance
- Plastic tsuka a safety hazard when paired with short nakago
-*Personal taste* Ugly as sin saya
The Bottom Line
I could only recommend this sword to someone looking for a display piece. I cannot recommend it to a practitioner or enthusiast, as there are safety risks involved.
I bought this sword from a gun show for a good price; however, I really hate orange and I've always felt it was awkward and unwieldy.
Introduction
Konbanwa SBG!
Last time, I reviewed my favorite iaito, a Hanwei Nami. For comparison's sake, I decided to review my first iaito today, which is a Japanese-made aluminum alloy mogito. We found this sword (actually, we found the whole daisho) at a gun show for $100.00 for both the daito and shoto. At the time, I really needed something I could use as an iaito because we had just started our classes. We purchased the set, but since I never used the wakizashi, I'll be focusing only on the katana.
I picked up the swords at a time when the market wasn't as competitive as it is now, though $100.00 for both these swords still isn't bad. The katana was in service as my iaito for quite some time, until the Nami was gifted to me. It has served its purpose and will remain a part of my collection infinitely.
The master of the dojo we first attended for iaido (it was actually a dojang, and the master was not our sensei; he was a Kuk Sool Kwan master whom graciously opened the doors of his dojang for other masters and their students to use) was amused by the garish orange paint on the sword. He mentioned it reminded him of Rick James' shoes, and the moniker has stuck ever since.
These mogito can be found all over the place; gunshows, asian markets, and even some martial arts suppliers carry them.
Historical overview
Traditionally, mogito was an umbrella term used for any sword that could not be used as a sword, such as iaito, Boy's Day tachi, tourist pieces and display swords. Mogito means "imitation sword". There's no real way of knowing how long mogito have been around for, as most would have either been sharpened or destroyed by this time.
This mogito was made in Japan, as all mogito are. It compares pretty reasonably to other mogito I have seen and owned. Not the nicest, but certainly not the worst. It was this blade that made me fall in love with shobu zukuri and with heavy blades in general. Don't care for the orange saya (never have), but it is traditional, depending upon the time period. The fact the blade is made of aluminum alloy of course is not.
Initial Impressions
My first thought of this sword was "Man is it orange!", and I still think that every time I see it. It really stands out among our collection. Fortunately for those who haven't encountered "Rick James' Shoes" face-to-face, it is unapologetically photogenic, and I just wish it looked so good in natural lighting. The second thing is something I at first attributed to weight, but now know is balance. The balance is very far forward, making this medium-weighted blade both feel and perform very sluggishly, like a much heavier sword. As a result, this instilled some very bad habits and flaws in my technique that I've really had to work to rid myself of.
Also notable is the dragon tsuba that used to rub blisters onto the back of my thumb, the chromed aluminum alloy blade and the--brace yourselves--plastic tsuka. Yes, you read that right; the entire handle is cast plastic. If you swing the sword, you can feel it give ever so slightly beneath the ito, which is why I eventually stopped using this sword.
Statistics
Nagasa Length: 27.5"
Tsuka Length: 10"
Overall Length: 39"
Tsuba Width: 2.5"
Point of Balance: 7" From Tsuba
Weight: 2.1 Lb.
Components
Toshin
The blade is chromed aluminum alloy with a 27.5" nagasa, medium niku and fairly well defined shobu zukuri geometry. The makers did a decent job of shaping the blade correctly.
However, if the sword is disassembled, part of this blades' balance problems become apparent. There is only one mekugi pin, which is fine, and is in fact traditional. However, once the tsuka is removed, it becomes clear there's not enough nakago material for a second pin to be placed through, which makes this mogito feel ungainly and heavy. There's still enough nakago material for a good hand full of nakago in the tsuka, and if this sword were refitted with a proper wooden tsuka, this would no longer be an issue.
Tsuka
The tsuka has brown chemical fiber ito which seems to compliment the saya. It has a decent taper to it and only has one mekugi. The menuki are copper plaited alloy dragons that match the rest of the koshirae. So the overall aesthetic is pretty good,though the ito is loose to the point that the menuki wiggle beneath it. However, the entire tsuka core is made of plastic, cast to look like samegawa. This, when paired with the short nakago, creates a safety hazard.
Since there's only one mekugi to hold the short nakago in place, it has a tendency to shift vertically when the sword is swung and place pressure on the seam of the tsuka core. With a wooden core this wouldn't matter as much, but a plastic one is more likely to give way. A friend and fellow practitioner was using one of these swords when it failed and the blade went flying. Luckily, no one was injured.
Tsuba
The tsuba is made of an unknown alloy, but it has a copper coating and is kind of cool. It has a sukashi-ish design of a dragon in the clouds. While it fits the overall theming of the sword, it is very uncomfortable to use. While I was using this sword, I constantly had blisters on my thumb knuckle from rubbing on the tsuba.
Fuchigashira
The fuchigashira are also alloy and share the dragon and cloud design pattern with the tsuba and menuki, so they round out the theme. They look decent on the sword.
Saya
I can sum up this saya with one word: loud. It's very bright and is fidget-inducing. When I noticed the paint beginning to peel, I hoped it would peel faster. The peeling remains in one small area and nowhere else, so I'm stuck with orange. The kurigata is also wooden. I took the sageo off of this sword and put it on my practical plus wakizashi.
Handling Characteristics
The balance on this sword is very off and makes it feel much heavier than it really is. Based on other shobu zukuri swords I've handled, as well as swords both heavier and lighter than this one, it does not handle well. At all. It's a chore to wield it and isn't much fun, not to mention painful at times. It does no favors to technique and as I've mentioned, severely hindered mine before I really had a chance to develop it. It also doesn't handle like any nihonto or traditional blade I've handled, so I have to come to the conclusion that the handling is all wrong and, as a result of the tsuka, unsafe.
Conclusions
At any rate, the sword feels like a lead weight when swung, and while this may be good for suburi practice, I wouldn't recommend something of a similar balance or a weight that felt like this balance does for a beginner or someone trying to refine their kata. The overall package is okay-ish aesthetically, but would not be a personal preference of mine. I would not invest in one of these swords again, unless the tsuka was made of wood and the nakago lengthened to make these swords safe and better balanced. I would also have to have a need for one, which I don't. This sword really does nothing but take up space.
Pros
- Made in Japan
-Overall blade shape is correct for shobu zukuri
- fittings match and form a cohesive, overarching theme
-Reasonably priced
Cons
- Tsuba uncomfortable
- Short nakago affects balance
- Plastic tsuka a safety hazard when paired with short nakago
-*Personal taste* Ugly as sin saya
The Bottom Line
I could only recommend this sword to someone looking for a display piece. I cannot recommend it to a practitioner or enthusiast, as there are safety risks involved.