myochin

Darcy: thanks for the shisha results Pete: here are the volumes I have Jûyô Tôken Nado Zufu 重要刀剣等図譜 Volumes 第1-->38 + 40-->51 Tokubetsu Jûyô Tôken Nado Zufu 特別重要刀剣等図譜 Volumes 第1 --> 22 (yes, every single one) You are welcome to bring the sake :-) Paul

Hello, I am looking for 4 articles on Umetada Myôju that were written by Sasano Masayuki and published in the Japanese edition of Tôken Bijutsu. The issues are: 284-285 & 289-290 If anybody has some, or all, of these issues I would very much appreciate a (PDF) scan if possible. Many thanks for your time & help Paul

I seem to have missed this thread, please count me in as well. Thanks. Paul.

Hello, Very nice & informative thread. Here is a simple/plain fuchi-kashira that I am quite fond of: Shakudô nanako with kikusui design, late Edo. Paul.

Dear Randy, Could you please also count me in for a digital copy. Many thanks. Paul.

Hi Ford, I have this book. What do you need ? Paul. (paulgill@softek.fr)

Hello James, I sent you a PM as I am also interested. Thanks. Paul.

Hi Justin, Since 2009 a small booklet of the English translation was published and offered with the catalogue (at DTI and by some vendors of the catalogue). This is the first time (to my knowledge) that they have published a PDF, maybe for budget restrictions?? Paul.

Hello Barry, The translation was only available on-line this year: http://www.zentosho.com/daitokenichi/th ... i_2014.pdf Best regards. Paul.

Hello, I have just found out about the following Samurai exhibition that will be taking place end of June in Nantes (north-west of France); http://www.chateau-nantes.fr/fr/expositions/samourai/ I am rather intrigued that such an exhibition is taking part in a rather "remote" part of France. I also understand that some items are loaned from the Osaka museum (??) Does anyone know who may be lending items and who is organising this exhibition? I wouldn't mind going but it is still 1000km away.... Thanks. Paul.

Merci Jean! One has to always read through the lines. Paul.

Hello, I am a little intrigued by 2 daishô (1124 & 1142). For a true daishô I would have expected the papers to have been attributed to BOTH blades at the same time. But in both cases they have been attributed at different times (1124: 38 years apart; 1142: 13 years apart). Would this be considered normal ? Thanks. Paul.

As a small side note, I fell upon an article by Robert Burawoy on Tsuba in Arts of Asia (March-April 1985) where the 2nd tsuba picture at the very start of this thread is illustrated. He states that "the design is symmetrical on both sides". Paul.

An interesting conference coming up organised by the Royal Armouries in Leeds: CONFERENCE: EAST MEETS WEST Saturday 14 September 2013 at Tower of London DIPLOMATIC GIFTS OF ARMS AND ARMOUR BETWEEN EUROPE AND ASIA http://www.royalarmouries.org/what-we-d ... meets-west Paul.

Deaar Barry, Many thanks for sharing. Do you have more information to share on the, what seems like an Unkai school helmet, in picture 11 & 12 of your Picasaweb album. Thanks. Paul.

Then again, the hitsu could be just a little too elongated for Kyô... Paul.

This a very nice and intriguing tsuba Mariuszk. It almost seems that the attribution is to the mimi alone. As you point out, the seppa-dai and the ryô-hitsu both point towards a Kyô, as well as the fine design. What I find most interesting is the comment by Curran regarding a Shôami attribution. Have a look at Sasano's Masterpiece book p121. What would we do without Shôami, lol. Paul.

I do not believe either that a tsuba with a "square" nagako-ana was intended to be mounted on a naginata. Afterall, the cross section of the tang on a naginata, yari, katana-wakizashi-tantô are of the same shape --> triangular. I have a Norisuke tsuba with a square nakago-ana, it is obvious that the tsuba has been rotated 180° to suit the fancy of an owner, but in no way was it intended for a naginata: In "The Picture Book of Old Tsuba" there is a Negoro tsuba that was probably mounted on a nagamaki-koshirae. The boldness, the flat square-raised mimi and the lack of kozuka/kôgai ana do seem to point towards a tsuba specifically dersigned for a naginata (sadly there are no dimensions given: Christian, thanks for those 2 PDF's, I also have an interest in Bannermen ! Paul.

Hi Dave, I sent you an e-mail last night via your web site. Paul.

In Token Bijutsu n°656 there was an interesting article on Menuki: Menuki – Sono rekishi to igi ni tsuite 目貫・その歴史と意義について About the History and Meaning of menuki Paul.

Fantastic work! Many thanks Dave, Many thanks Ian. Paul.

Slightly off-topis but on the same subject, a new publication on koshirae (december 2012): http://www.amazon.co.jp/%E5%B0%BE%E5%BC ... 157&sr=8-1 Paul.

Here is a link from the Gunma web site (hope it wasn't posted above already...): http://www.pref.gunma.jp/03/x4500038.html Paul

Hi Curran, There are 6 pages of Tadashige in the Akasaka book, I can scan them for you tomorrow at work. Paul.

Nice Hambo, reminds me of Hôrai work. The deep profile (protection extends behind the ears) and the colour of the internal lacquer (brown) also points to an early date (pre-Edo). I guess the hole marks along the upper chin area are from someone adding an upper part to form a sômen (sadly). Paul.