Luc T

Sendai men: I think he ment the Tohoku or Kanto, short east Japan style of menpo. This one could more or less fit in this group.

I prefer to use the therm ‘iron’ when it comes to the material used for kabuto, simply because ‘steel’ is less practical to hammer in a certain shape. but this is a very subjective approach after all.

one remark: it is extremely difficult to judge items on a picture only. Buying on a picture is always a risk. Look at this example. maybe it is good, it is certainly at least a possible copy, but is it a genuine Unkai kabuto? Why is this dealer selling such a pristine item using such poor pictures? If it is good (what I doubt), he lost a lot of money by not using top pictures. If it is a recent work, he won a lot.

Thanks Gary, bamboo in the snow.

according Orikasa's research, there are 3 Ujimasa generations. This one worked around Kyoho (1716-1736)

it seems that I have one from the same smith: 'Kanazawa ju Ujimasa saku

That’s a fine set Gary! If you want to know more about kaga zogan abumi: http://www.saotomebo...ups-for-samurai.html

You should look at the back of the saddle. If it’s signed, it’s there.

Alex, the armor world is fascinating. But as every other valuable collectible, you have to inform before you spend big money. Inform yourself before you decide to buy. Golden rule: if it is too good to be true, it probably isn’t true. one more thing I want to say here. The 62plate Saotome kabuto are underestimated. They are hardly to copy. And they are wonderful pieces of art. Quite safe to buy.

This is the collectors dream. A fantastic kawari, that never pops up for sale, and if they do, don’t dream, they cost a fortune. So the collector want it to be real, he is in love and lose all sense for criticism.

Good observations Michael. I think it is clear.

Since I am studying European history, I do not underestimate the etymology approach. Talking about Japanese armor, we in the west are cursed because of the language issue. On the other hand, we are blessed: We are forced to analyse what we see, not to absorb what we read. i have experienced many times that we understand things better than some Japanese, simply because we are forced to use our eyes. If you do archeological reconstruction, it must even give a better idea. please continue Artur, the floor is yours.

I think you mean Munekyo, mid edo

Crap!

Indeed, all fakes!

I met Patrice Sabbah yes. He was there as a dealer.

Ototsugu, a fine craftsman, worked for Kurosawa in the 1970-1980s

Well Brian, maybe you will never own one, but heer 3 Saotome koboshi for you to enjoy

there is more information in this find. Look at the shape! It reminds me on some (gimei) Yoshimichi 8 plate kabuto I saw before. And the Tsuyama smiths were known to copy Gitsu's work. The missing link here?

Many thanks to the organisation! It was a great event, well organised and good lectures. There was also interesting stuff for sale. Thanks Eddy and Henk!

Iechika is a big name! There is an Iechika on the cover of our Saitome book. Fine & nice armor Gary!

In the early edo period, the Myochin started to copy Nanbokucho and Kamakura kabuto. They also copied Gitsu and Nobuie. But. They always made the same mistake, they exaggerated all the old features. This abalone is a joke. Bad proportions, ugly, fluffy forging, and over the top. I wonder where it was made, Tadjikistan? Tora bora mountains? Or Bangkok? I vote outside Japan.

What do we have now…

Well Andy, I haven't seen enough work from your hands to make publicity, maybe this changes after a visit of your koubou. I can Imagine that politics are a part of the game, but on the other hand, Robert Soanes is a deshi from him, and he is supporting him under all circumstances. "And a lot of daimyo armors from the Edo period are also composites. Just a fact of life. But as composites they have meaning from the historical set and setting of the time of manufacture. " sure, most of them have older (or younger) parts. but if you 'read' the armor, it makes sense. Although it takes decades to understand this. "The armor that sold at the french auction a while back with modern scales, a switched out helmet, and now a switched out mempo." Are these modern scales???? I did not notice!

about the transformation from deshi to shokunin, , I am sure Andy can tell much more about this than me but this is the philosophy. I think it comes from Piers, some years ago: The teacher is watching the temperament of his deshi, and waiting for him or her to mature in character and settle down, until he/she understands the required social obligations as second nature or breathing the air around. That, more than the skill, will surely take the years to achieve, and perhaps guarantee that this person will never leave the path in future. Then the risk of releasing him/her into society can be taken by the sensei, and the deshi can become a fully-fledged shokunin with knowledge and wisdom and humility, and the will to keep learning, and a resultant respect for and from others.