Viper6924

Thanks a lot for Your quick answer, Moriyama-san! It´s so easy to make further research when You get some help in the beginning. At first I thought the headdresses of the two flanking bodhisattvas looked a bit strange. Almost european. But I found a reproduction thats almost spot on. One difference is that the bodhisattvas on my talisman has what appears to be long dresses. Using a magnifying glass I can even make out the five smaller figures around the Amidas head. Starting to get the feel that this little market-find could actually have quite some years to it. I guess the matr is either bronze or copper. Perhaps some samurai belonging to the Pure Land-sect had this as a lucky charm. Thanks again, Moriyama-san! Jan

Hi guys! Have a small artifact that a friend of mine picked up on a market in Japan. The old guy who sold it, said it was a talisman/amulet that the samurai placed inside their armour for protection. Knowing my interest, my friend bought it. Didn´t cost much. Well, that story would be great if true. But I guess it could have many different purposes. I would like to know more about the motif. The size is about 6 cm high and 3,5 cm wide. Very thin. Made from some kind of metal. Looks old but who knows Any suggestions? Thanks! Jan

Very nice display, Christophe! I would love to use real tatamis in my armor-room, but they are really expensive in Scandinavia. Good luck with the second half of the room. Jean, perhaps Christophe is at war with a neighboring clan. I´ve read somewhere that placing your swords with the handles pointing right, is a sign that the owner is preparing (or is already involved) in a war/armed conflict... Thanks for sharing, Christophe! Jan

Dear Morita-san! Only one word: WOW NMB:s living nation treasure, hands down. Your knowledge is beyond fantastic. Thanks a lot for taking Your time in helping me and Anthony. Jan

Classic Confucius. Looking at the possible date for this gun, the middle of the 19th century, You could perhaps even stretch it to mean "Don´t dishonour the emperor" The no 1 "parent" of Japan. Black clouds were sweeping over the islands of the Gods, in shape of the southern barbarians. Your duty as a samurai was to protect the country with all possible means. Well, thats my take on it Jan

Hi Guys! Helping fellow boardmember Anthony with a teppo he just added to his collection. It´s a massive 10 monme-type gun of almost 14 kilo. Length 92,7 cm. Mei: Goshu Kunitomo Ju Udayu Noriyasu Made around 1840-1850. On the barrel is a Tokugawa-mon. There is also silver kanjis on top of the barrel. Would be fantastic to know the meaning? Thanks! Jan

Thanks a lot, Morita-san. As always, Your help is invaluable for us non Japanese speaking members of this forum. Very interesting story behind this little scroll. I love the simplicity of it. Thanks again, Morita-san Jan

Hi guys! Have a nice scroll showing Fuji. On this scroll is a text that I would love to know the meaning of. Gives the picture an extra dimension, so to speak. Thanks!!! Jan

Thanks, Chris! Sounds like the correct slogan on a tessen! Thanks again! Jan

Hi guys! I have seen this kanjis on several tessens. I would love to know the meaning. I guess the smaller kanjis on the side is a signature with a kao. Thanks!!! Jan

CSI Wladiwostok is def better at this then CSI Stockholm, I must say. Thats the best version so far, by a mile. I guess we can conclude that kanji no 1+3 is 元. Both Ian and Kunitaro have spotted it. Kanji no 2 治 is a def possibility as Kunitaro says. The fourth one is a tricky on. Well, almost everyone is in this case :D Genji (元治) being the emperor for only one year 1864. Followed by Keio 65-68. What does this Gan-nen (元年 ?) means in this context? Thanks again for moving this forward, guys!!! Jan

Always go with the russians, Uwe If You could call them back about the "date" side of this signature... At this point any help is of great value. Would love a timeframe here. Jan

Wow, we got a name. I was pretty sure that the name part of this signature would be close to impossible to read. But using a magnifying glass I can only agree with Your reading, Kunitaro. And Piers, I belive you also was on the right track. to both of you. Trying to find any useful info in english about old Japanese saddle makers is almost impossible, I guess. A quick search on the net and in my books gilded nothing. How about the date? Justin is as far as I can see (magnifying glass again) right about "ni gatsu suiyoubi" (2nd month, Wednesday) 二月　水 Is any of the other kanjis workable? The three kanjis on the right side of 二月　水 looks like they could be cracked. But I could be wrong We are def getting somewhere. A million thanks!!! Jan

Thanks a lot for Your help, Kunitaro! You have fantastic eyes. What would be the english translation? Thanks again, Kunitaro, for helping me with this headache. Jan

Well this is the best I can do without contacting the swedish secret service :D Perhaps the date signs is a bit clearer. What I think is a possible signature on the left side is still hard to read, to say the least. Would be sweet to be able to get a time period out of this. Fingers crossed!!! Jan

First a big thanks to You guys trying to help me with this almost impossible translation. I will be away from my camera until next saturday. Will try to take some other pictures with some dif lighting. Perhaps it can help. This must be a tough one when even Morita-san cant help Jan

Seems more and more like a job for CSI... Jan

Hi guys! Here´s an old kura with a Hosokawa mon. Aged with grace, I guess. There is a signature and perhaps a date on it. It´s very very faint. I don´t think it will be possible to read completely, but any help would be fantastic. Two kao on each side and then what I belive to be a signature and date on the side. This is detective work on the highest level :D Jan

Sounds like a very plausible theory, Eric! Cos with that long spike, the only thing you would "hold" on to was a fresh corps Jan

Hi Mariuszk! As a member of the swedish chapter of NBTHK, that would have been a treat for sure. But of course I understand that it's impossible to meet at this short notice. But having a girlfriend from Poland means I will be back soon. I will def send a PM to You in good time before my next visit. Jan

Hi Guys! I will be off to Poland next week. Will stay in Warsaw from thursday afternoon until sunday afternoon. Besides enjoying the local beer and tasty foods , is there any places of interest for the fan of Japanese culture? The Japanese museum in Krakow was very nice, when I was there last year. Any input on this would be great. Thanks! Jan

Thanks, Guy! Then it's confirmed. Trevlig sommar :D Jan

Hi guys! Have a pair of abumi in Kaga-style which has a mei. Would love to get the full translation of it. At least the first kanji is almost worn off. Any reply is as always highly appreciated!!! Jan

I love this story. The reason for the strange looking population of Heike-crabs in this area, is that the fishers thinks it means bad luck if they catch the crabs which have these face like shells. They throw them back and keep the ones without the "faces". Over the years the population with Heike-crabs with faces has grown strong. Bio-selection of a kind... Here´s a picture of a Heike-crab maedate that I use on a zunari kabuto. Jan

Had friend and his wife over for dinner. He brought with him a nasty looking tool. The pole it self been cut down to about 1,5 meter with a iron ishizuki at the end. I guess it´s some kind of Sasumata. But the spike in the middle seems to have a more deadly purpose than the ordinary sasumatas I´ve seen. I def wouldn´t like to be "arrested" with this one The small spikes on the pole is sharp as hell. Perhaps is for getting riders of their horses? That would explain the spike. Jan