Bugyotsuji

Ken, I am planning to go again anyway as there was no way I could absorb it all yesterday. There was an announcement yesterday for everyone to gather in the lobby as the 10,000th guest was in the building and would be presented with a citation, a bottle of sake and one of the booklets. For the rest of us it was a free postcard... a choice of Nagamitsu or Norimune.

Ian, I have ordered "The Bewitched Gun". Thank you.

See here: http://www.pref.okayama.jp/kyoiku/kenhaku/images/bizen-list.jpg http://www.pref.okayama.jp/kyoiku/kenhaku/images/bizen-list2.jpg http://www.pref.okayama.jp/kyoiku/kenhaku/nowExhibitions.htm

Sadly this is almost over, but someone gave me a spare ticket so I went to the Prefectural Museum to see it today. Finishes on Sunday October 15. There is a fine booklet published at only 1,300 JPY with good quality colo(u)r photographs. The main text is in Japanese but the captions are in English throughout. Anyone in the Okayama area should try and get to see this if possible. Over four rooms, there are 84 swords on display from all over the country, among them some real stunners. Several Kokuho, etc., and some of the recent Ho-no-to project jinja swords. (Great sets of armour dotted around too.)

And today, from that very same island of Tanegashima, continuing the tradition. (Credit, Japan Today, KYODO)

Steve, after you take the shot, tap on the photo and find the little edit icon. Make any little adjustment you like and push 'Done'. The photo will now be 'fixed' in your preferred alignment and will not appear sideways on this site.

Great link there, Jean. Many thanks.

Why in the second one is he looking at a pair of tweezers?

Martyn, give this a few days here. In the meantime the Mei top right looks like "Ga +(?) + to" 我口刀, maybe connection with Garaku?

Bojan, a good small Okimono, to which someone has unfortunately added himotoshi holes to make it look like a Netsuke? Enjoy it as an okimono is my advice.

Try 信彦　 Nobuhiko

Hi Justin, Kimura Shiho (or Shio) should probably do it. The same seller on a Chinese? web site had a shinchu one by the same artist.

Personally I can't use Pinterest, so I avoid clicking on anything linking there. Many images of my own photos do seem to be there though! As in the correct descriptions above, gunpowder is and was 火薬 Kayaku, and retrospectively speaking today, to emphasize the older type, blackpowder is called 黒色火薬 Kokushoku Kayaku.

You are correct. It could equally have been made in Hakata. It is described as an 柄杓 eshaku or handled ladle.

Hmmm... the example in that link is a Chinese bronze ladle, an example of goods once traded between Hakata/Fukuoka and the continent. As with many rare things, Eric, yes, we need to keep our eyes peeled for more recent reproductions slipping in.

PS Rereading your question it was the ladle you were asking about, not so much the mold. Apologies. I guess the twist in Jan's example above would also help to dissipate creeping heat in the handle. A couple here, again both iron:

Lead in Japanese is 鉛 Namari. The grinder is a 薬研 Yagen.

Yes, those are both good period examples above. I have several myself. Anthony has a fine collection including some exceptionally large ones. Never seen bronze ones in all my years though.

It is possible that the inscription is actually a description, added more recently. A classification. 兵器式 can mean "weapon class/type", and 震天雷 is a known category of early cannon.

Sweet thing. Almost definitely Chinese. 1300s? Is it fixed to a base in some way?

I can see 兵器式 震天雷, which could be Chinese on a Chinese or Korean hand gonne. (Of course it can be read in Japanese too.) Any more background?

That appears to be a stamp authenticating it as top quality leather.

Looks somehow new.

Greg, you mean bottom right, white margin?

7 1/2 inches, 20 cm? Not seen anything like it!