Nobody

Refer the sword on the site below. It is described as a miniature katana (雛刀: HinaGatana) which seems to be worn by a child of wealthy samurai. http://page4.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/d67118433

I do not know the answer. I only think several possibilities. As Curran said, it might be the annual sawing off of the deer's horns. The event begun in 1671 to protect both people and deers in Nara (奈良). I also think other possibility. Horns of a deer come off naturally in every spring. Watching the first tsuba, the cut sections of the horns look as if they came off naturally to me. And there are some insects on the tsuba, though at first I thought they were birds from their faces. What kind of insects they are? I thought they are bees or winged ants, maybe bees. Then fell out horns suggest spring, and the season word for bees is also spring. That makes sence, I think. Then why are there horns and bees? I found an old proverb that a bee stings the horn of a deer. The meaning of the proverb is that being indifferent whatever have be done. IMHO.

Also this site shows the tying the bag as well as other tyings. http://collect.jp/~sword-ebay/musubi/imageidx.html

The date is not Keian but Kansei. It reads Kansei san nen ni gatsu hi (寛政三年二月日). Kansei 3 = 1791

It is just bounded on the east side of Tokyo Station.

I identify the first 7 characters as 肥前国住近江大 (Hizen no kuni ju Omi dai). So, the title may be Omi Daijo (近江大掾). IMHO, if we assume "Hizen (no) kuni ju Omi Daijo", the possible name of the smith may be as follows. 1. Tadahiro (忠廣) II 2. Tadayoshi (忠吉) IV 3. Gimei 4. others

An exhibition and sale will be held by Token Shibata (刀剣柴田) at 10th floor of Daimaru Dept. Store in Tokyo, from Oct. 11th to 17th.

reads Kaneyoshi (兼義). On the Habaki, it reads Harada Shuzo (原田周三). I am not sure about the first Kanj. But anyway, it seems to be the owner's name or something like that.

reads Gokoku (護国), which means "to defend the country".

This is a Tanto made by Inoue Shinkai (井上真改) in 1675 (延宝三年). Ref. http://www.nona.dti.ne.jp/~sword/hpbs%2 ... hinkai.htm

1. Shuku Nyuei (祝入営) congratulations on joining the services 2. Nakamura ?? (中村?江) Nakamura is a family name. I am not sure about the last two kanj.

I agree with Nigel. That looks like a squid to me. As for the shark, I thought it was a shark at first, but now I think it might be a sturgeon.

Many thanks, Jean. Very logical and convincing!

Thanks, fd. Yes, even I can recognize it, if it was Kanbun Shinto. :D

reads Kiku Ichi Kanenaga saku (菊一包永作).

Thanks Darcy. That interpretation cleans the fuzz out of my head. :D

I cannot understand on one point. How can he specify the era as such a narrow span without identifing the specific smith? This is a mere question of a beginner. :? Some shapes clearly point to a specific era based on the appraisers experience. The remainder of kantei then moves on to other factors such as jigane, jitetsu, hamon, and finally boshi. So, its quite possible to pinpoint the era without reaching a conclusion. In the end it's an educated opinion. fd Thank you fd. I generally understand the Kantei procedures. But I still wonder if it is possible to specify only 17 years span of 500 years before only from physical appearances. :?

reads Kaneyoshi (兼吉).

I cannot understand on one point. How can he specify the era as such a narrow span without identifing the specific smith? This is a mere question of a beginner. :?

oo-wakizashi means long wakizashi. oo-wakizashi is identical with o-wakizashi. The kanji for that are 大脇差. The reading of the kanji is usually written as o-wakizashi practically in English. But actually, correct reading/writing is oo-wakizashi based upon Japanese exact pronunciation.

This is the answer. The picture is a calendar for 1859 (安政六巳未年). The calendar shows hollow months and full months of the specific year. A lunar calendar (actually luni-solar calendar) had been used until 1872 (明治五年) in Japan. The average length of a month was about 29.53 days. The actual length of a month was 29 (hollow month) or 30 (full month) days. The first day of the month was determined by dtermining the day during which the moment of new moon arrives. As a result, a leap month was necessary to be added every two or three years. Also, the permutation of hollow and full months was not fixed for each year. So, it was necessary to show the order of hollow and full months for every specific year. The upper right on the picture reads 大小鍔 (large tsuba and small tsuba). On the picture, small tsuba are expressed as tsuba with double Hitsuana. The small tsuba represent hollow months and the large tsuba represent full months. Each month can be identified with its unique motif as well as the order from upper right to lower left. Ref. National Diet Library http://www.ndl.go.jp/koyomi/nazo/01_bsall_c.html FYI http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_calendar

So, each Tsuba represents each month of the year. There are two types of Tsuba. As for one type, Nakago-ana and double Hitsu-ana look like a Kanji 小 (sho) which means small. BTW, lunar calendar (actually luni-solar calendar) had been used until 1872 in Japan.

Hi Bungo, Bingo! Almost correct. :D Further, the picture had a specific practical purpose. Does anyone realize?

Hi, Catalog is not a bad guess, but it is not the right answer. Here are big hints. There are two types of Tsuba on the picture. The motifs of Tsuba have common characteristics. There are twelve Tsuba(s).

Hi Mike, It is unrelated to Ukiyo-e.