Guido

An alternative might be "Fusahira", but I think the name (or, rather, the bearer of it) is "too young" for this old-fashioned reading.

I read the name "Koura Sôhei".

I'm embarrassed that I forgot the name of the gentlemen next to Paul (who's president of the American NBTHK branch), especially since I had the nicest conversation with him at the NBTHK today - anyone can fill in the name? This year I met quite a few Australians - and am relieved that they are kept on their own continent far away from the rest of us . Go to a karaoke place with Australians, and let slip the dogs of mayhem!!!

A quick and dirty job without my desktop available:Edited: That's Sue Fortescue next to Alan in the third photo, and to the left of Adrian sits David Flynn - sorry for the confusion, guys!

Lee, do you really think I need mod's previleges to put things straight?

I don't know what you guys are up to, but don't make me coming down on you with fire and brimstone ... ... the young lady in the photo is Lisa from Canada; that closes the topic, I hope!

Everybody had 30 seconds to introduce oneself - lot's of opportunities to embarrass oneself and others!

In the third photo Bob announces that Mr. Aoki (standing next to him) and Ted Tenold sponsored part of the party - thanks a lot, Ted!

Erol is right - I just woke up , and before having some *very* strong coffee and heading to the second day of the DTI, I thought I'd post some pics of yesterday's party. While I continue drooling over swords and fittings, you guys can play the "who's-that-in-the-photo?" game! :D

So far we are 36 participants; the room holds 40, so sign up now or regret it for the rest of your miserable lives! I also received a very generous donation from Ted Tenold (who unfortunately isn't able to make it to Japan this year) that buys us another hour or so of "all you can drink" - you won't refuse to have a drink in his honor, will you?

鯨髭巻 (くじらひげまき). And don't feel bad about not coming up with "Fujimaki", because it is not: it's not 藤 (wisteria) but 籐 (rattan), so it reads とうまき; the kanji look very similar, so it's easy to confuse them.

My evil twin stole it, but gave it back after I chained him up in the basement.

Thank you all for the kind words, both on- and offline. Although some of them sound a little like an obituary, I'm in fact still alive and kicking, just no mod kicks anymore . I surely will drop by from time to time, so don't let your guard down just yet ...

I have the same problem under Windows XP (although no freezing happens). I therefore think it's a problem with phpBB, not the Windows version you're running.

Go play outside. Thread locked.

Glad we have *you* on board, Jacques, to set us all straight. OTOH, if you were less abrasive people would take you more serious - but I guess that's science fiction ...

I think the placement of the Mekugiana is a little odd if it's indeed Ubu - I'm more under the impression that it was shortened if the Ana is original.

This is getting silly. Darcy makes some very valid points - as did others in this thread. Let's leave it at that, o.k.? And btw, according to a statistic by Ginza Chôshûya, Kiyomaro fetches on average higher prices than Masamune. But how many of us are in the market for such as sword?

Since my daughter occupies the guest room at my in-laws house, I'll stay at this hotel. Rather new, clean, conveniently located, and a real bargain (considering hotel prices in Tokyo).

I'm sorry if this sounds offensive (or arrogant) but I'm reasonably sure that luck didn't play that much of a role.

You guys are obviously living in a perfect world where all collectors can judge quality and don't need papers. I have to admit that I myself am confident (cocky?) enough to recognize quality, and that I couldn't care less if a sword or Tsuba has papers or not. However, in the less than perfect world I'm living in I sometimes sell pieces to upgrade my collection. And guess what, items with papers almost fly off the shelves while unpaperd (quality) items remain unsold. I'll not go into a lengthy monolog why that may be as it is, but for that reason alone I have all my stuff papered. And never sold at a loss, quite to the contrary, I always made more than up for the paper expenses in my sales. Cynical? Maybe, but my wallet (and my wife, who's the Lord Keeper of my wallet) speak a clear language. :D

I thought you meant *after* WWII, but in the thirties a well-paid factory worker in the US earned $125 a month. Still a good deal indeed.

At that ime the exchange rate was fixed at 360 Yen to one US $ - and one US $ bought you what 12.- US $ buy you now. All in all, a great deal at US $ 3.33 current purchase power! :D

If it's pre-Muromachi it even might go as high as Tokubetsu Jûyô - depending on the quality, of course.