samurai exhibition in Rotterdam

[Bugyotsuji]

Just a quick footnote to say that my above comment about wanting two copies of the catalogue was picked up like a message in a bottle. (?)

 

A bucket-brigade mechanism went into action, thanks to Uwe, Luc and Jo, and these books are on their way to Japan right now, I have been told.

 

The shipping is costing the same as the books!!! I don't think I can ask my colleagues to fork out the shipping costs, as I didn't tell them in advance, so maybe time to be generous and take the hit!

[uwe]

Not at all, Piers

You will see, the catalogue is great

Greetings

Uwe

[ehk]

Today was the second meeting of the Dutch Token Society, where we were informed that the catalogues are no longer available. All have been sold. The total visitors counted until last week (Today was the last day) was about 50.000

[Bugyotsuji]

Congratulations on an obviously very successful exhibition. I wonder how many books were sold?

 

Round at a friend's place yesterday I was shown a copy of the newsletter that goes out to members of the Japanese armour society. There were two articles relating to the SAMURAI exhibition in Rotterdam. I did not have time to focus on what they were saying, but it seems that a Japanese researcher found in the recent SAMURAI catalogue a set of armour that had been gifted to the Dutch King by one of the last Tokugawa. Made by Munekane of Tsuyama, this is the first known example of his work; a great discovery as none are extant in Japan. There was a westerner mixed up in the story, possibly resident in Tokyo or Yokohama, and I remember some discussion about this armour (or a different one) having the Ken-Dai Maedate of the Matsudaira of Tsuyama Fiefdom. It was difficult to both read and take part in the conversation at the same time. (My excuse anyway.) Can anyone shed more light on this story?

[Luc T]

The Munekane story is at least as interesting as the story of the discovery.... Bas Verberk knew that this armor was a gift from the last Tokugawa shogun to the Dutch king. However, there was no evidence. After the opening of the exhibition, I sent a copy of the catalogue to Teruo Orikasa. He saw the pictures of this armor, and recognised it immediately as the royal armor. He was searching for this set since the late '90, because it was recorded in the diary of Myochin Munekane. At the latest DTI, Orikasa san, Ishida san (a well known Myochin specialist) and myself met to discuss the case. Ishida was studying the Munekane Nikki. The Japanese press jumped on the case, a few articles were published in national newspapers ,unfortunately claiming the discovery to a French resident in Japan, who helped Ishida with the research...

[Bugyotsuji]

Ah, yes Luc, thank you for filling in the details. That clarifies the matter for me. I remember the name Orikasa in the Japanese article as it is rather unusual. Don't worry, I will pass the proper story around from a different angle!

[IanB]

Piers, Luc, There were a number of gifts sent to various European monarchs and dignitaries in the final days of the shogunate. The stand of arms sent to Queen Victoria has been partially published, but the full extent of the gift is still obscure (at least to me). It included the famous o-yoroi by Myochin Muneharu in the Victoria and Albert Museum together with the horse harness now on loan from the same museum to the Royal Armouries, but there was a vast array of other stuff. The RA have about 30 matching yari with raden shafts and there are others scattered between the V&A and Windsor Castle. I suspect the total may well have been 50 or so. There are two magnificent naginata, stirrups and other bits of horse gear. Somewhere there will be swords but I have never seen them described. Similarly, on a visit to Torino in Italy I saw in stores an absolutely knockout daisho which the conservator told me was a similar gift and there used to be a magnificent do-maru, only the helmet of which now seems to survive, that may also have been a gift. I would guess that similar gifts were sent to other royalty that have now been relegated to storerooms, unrecognised and relatively unloved. There is a research project here for someone who has the time and patience to hammer away at officialdom.

Ian Bottomley

[Luc T]

precisely Ian , it is an interesting matter. The Dutch gave an old vessel to the Japanese, who in turn donated 2 armors and other items to the Dutch.

All countrys tried to gain the Japanese market.