Henry Wilson

Does any one have any pics of the "Heishi-shorin-ken" or point me in a direction where I can find some? Thanks PS. DTI weekend coming up

What was the episode? I would like to know more....

That is all very well but 10 years down the line, you might find it hard to sell it when you want to tighten your collection and shore up funds for that one big buy....

Eric 99.99% I am not sure that this is on topic and I am not sure I like the direction this quote could take the thread. If a fight is brewing please take if off the forum. I think this thread has turned into something educational. Let's not make people like me regret that I ever participated....

If I you found them, would you tell....? http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/ ... 028f2.html

I am not so sure if kogai are associated with higher-ranking bushi. I think they are more associated with uchigatana which was a weapon developed for the foot soldiers and then became a weapon of choice with the higher class. The shape of kogai ana developed differently to the kozuka ana becasue in the early days the ear scoop (mimi kaki) was tilted more forward so there was a wider space needed for the kogai to move through the tsuba. This forward tilt decreased through time but the kogai ana shape stayed the same. Also I think that through out history the use of kozuka and kogai have been over thought. I have a feeling that they might not have had an actual intended use as we find with the likes of habaki or tsuba. Possibly the kogai was developed early as an all round practical tool that could be used for what ever purpose the owner saw fit, such as scratching, pinning a tent canopy, stirring a pot of stew etc. The kogatana as well might have developed this way with no fixed intended use but as something might become useful for a "no set task" moment. Maybe because it is a mini blade attached to a sword is why it developed later as people might have thought at one time who needs two blades. Just my thoughts.

I think this sounds plausible. If we assume that the uchigatana developed with the emergence of foot soldiers, I can't see a large standing army needing to draw their swords suddenly.

From what I understand, from Muromach (Oei period) to early Edo, kogai was believed to be the main accessory for uchigatana and were accompanied frequently with another fixture (another kogai or kozuka) on the other side if anything was attached at all to the saya. From the Edo period onwards when the functions of the accessories (especially the kogai) was forgot it became less popular and a kozuka became the trend. Just my thoughts but I feel that there is no conclusive answer this particular question.... which is, what the heck kogai / kozuka were really for, (I think)

Any thoughts on this? http://www.aoi-art.com/fittings/tsuba/F10231.html A style that does not come up often, especially in the lower price range. I personally don't think it is very good (hence the price) but someone has appeared to have been very fond of it.

If we are talking about kogai, I think we can surely say it was used at one time as an ear cleaner. Sasano "Tosogu no Kigen" gives a thorough rendition of what the kogai might have been used for. In TnK he basically summaries plenty of differenet theories and does not give much of an opinion on what he thinks. My take is as follows which is basically what I have learnt from TnK: *It appears kogai were worn on swords a long time before kozuka were. *There appears to be a lot more old kogai in existence than there are kozuka which could be because of the point above or it could suggest that kogai were not used in a manner that made them wear out and disintegrate and ultimately become lost. *considering that koagi (and kozuka) probably could get in the way of drawing a sword, they must have had some function that was deemed useful AND / OR they were only worn by people who would not be expecting to have to draw their sword quickly in emergency. *There is a theory which says that kogai were worn on both sides of a sword when in camp but on campaign they were both replaced with kozuka. I personally believe that they were used to clean the ears, scratch under the warriors helmet and to tidy hair.

It is a typo but I shall leave it there as it is about the funniest thing i have ever done in my life. Here is Bob. Top right with a red tassel on his nipple. http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/download/file.php?id=8168&sid=ca199d9fe8474b06e899cfd6da8f7352

Jean I think you will be able to find Robert easy enough. Possibly the only non Japanese operating a table. The venue is not that big either so we are likely to dump into each other no matter how hard you try to avoid me........ :D

Can't wait

I think you are saying that Akasaka are abstract? In my opinion, from what I have seen, Akasaka are not really abstract (but I am waiting to be corrected). They are usually well composed thought. If you like abstract, you might like Kanayama tsuba. They are probably as about as abstract as you can get. For my collecting, personally for me, the older and more rustic, the better. Give me a Nobuie any day. I used to hate ji sukashi but I am slowly turning to it. I am a big sucker for Ko Katchushi and Ko Tosho as well with nice mon sukashi. I don't rate papers that much for reasons that I think other members have mentioned in other threads. Basically, they tend to inflate a price and usually confirm what can be guessed with a bit of self study or they just give a middle-of-the-line call. Don't rate dealers much either (sorry boys ) as people making a buck can make this hobby very cut throat. There is nothing worse than that ripped off feeling which I am sure a lot of us have experienced. I display some of my iron tsuba. 5 max and I study them when on display and keep circulating them in and out of boxes. I keep koshirae and swords wrapped and stored. Swords for obvious reasons. Koshirae can chip easily as well as dryout and I don't want that happening. I have thought about this a lot so I have decided to save my "little petal" a heap of trouble. Here is what I am going to do. When I die I am going to come back as a ghost and track down all the families that previously owned all my collection items and return them with a big wad of cash. Here is a picture of me with my collection under my arm. http://www.pinktentacle.com/images/ghostscroll6_small.jpg. :D

You can buy books that give explanations of the plots which makes the plays a lot more easy to understand.

Personally I love Noh. I compare it to watching a game of cricket on a lazy Sunday afternoon. http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/ft20101015a1.html

I personally don't like putting a tsuba in a pocket to develop the patina for the following reasons: a. It can buff-up sekigane, making the copper unnaturally bright for the age of it. b. It can buff-up soft metal plugs inserted into the hitsu ana. c. It can remove rust from sukashi / nakago ana, which is a bit like removing rust from a sword nakago IMHO. d. The heat / sweat of your body could loosen zogan making it more likely to fall out. Careful rubbing with a soft clean cotton cloth (not blue jeans) I think is enough.

I think the swords should be stored in the saya in the drawers. That is what I do with my katana tansu for safety reasons as you cited and to cover and protect the blades as much as possible. If this takes up to much room, you might need more tansu.

The koshirae appreciation sounds nice. I would be interested if any minutes / report / handouts are produced.

Reminds me of this. Which is still for sale http://www.nihontomessageboard.com/nmb/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=7167&sid=8cbc3ce6248b8630453e216dbe4a2cfd

Any dimensions? Also I am not so sure I would call the finish yakite shitate...

Thank you Bob and Guido for organising the activites again. I can't make the 29th as I work in Kawagoe and will not be able to get to Shinagawa before the boat sails unless Guido can let me borrow his U-Boat :D But the 30th sounds great. However what exactly is going on that night? An auction pre-view then reception then another place? All this after the show? Is there enough time in the day? Followed by the auction on the 3rd? Looking forward to getting the details and many thanks again gentlemen.

I should be there for the Saturday. I have Japanese class on the Sunday Put me down for Schiller's List as well if there is one in the making as I missed the last party as I had work

Kappa Zushi: http://www.sushi-tsu.info/recipes-sushi.html I think this thread will be locked soon

Here is the story in the Japan Times. http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/ ... 930a5.html It seems a bit silly. The NBTHK are hardly gun-runners are they?