Bugyotsuji

Talking about hands on, we visited the Himeji branch meeting of the Nittoho today. I got to hold a Bizen old Osafune Nagamitsu, a Musashi Suishinshi Bunka 11 (1813) Naotane, a Hojoji Naginata-naoshi ascribed by Kanzan to Kunimitsu, an Oe Bizen Shigetsuna (disciple of Chogi), and a Go-Dai Muttsu Hizen Tadayoshi. Killed a few mozzies at the shrine. Definitely a worthwhile way to spend a Sunday, despite the jetlag.

Nobody, you are really somebody! :lol: Those leaves are quite similar to clover! Thanks for the correction. (We live and learn) Have just read up on the history and meaning of Katabami, but how to reduce all that into one sentence? If you read Japanese it's on pp 154, 155 of Bessatsu, Rekishi to Tabi, Dai 3 Go, Nihon no Kamon, originally published by Akita Shoten, Showa 53. Essentially this three-hearts-leaved plant was loved by farming folk, but as it began to be used by Bushi it became popular to have the blades inserted. Ladies continued to prefer the non-bladed Mon version. It was used by powerful families who lost out to more powerful ones, so it had a sort of run of bad luck. Nagasogabe Shi (Chosogabe-shi?) of Tosa ruled the whole of Shikoku and used this Mon, but he was crushed and reduced back to Tosa by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Later Tokugawa hammered him as he was subservient to Hideyoshi. General Ukita Hideie of Okayama in the Western army used it at the battle of Sekigahara, but he was banished and died on the island of Hachijojima. According to the author it retained a grass-roots popularity and was eventually perhaps the third most used Mon country-wide.

The Katabami on the right of the right is "Ken Katabami", ie unlike yours it has sword blades between the petals. When I get home I'll check my books for what families used yours, if someone has not already posted.

Would this style be covered by the term "Akoda"? (Just taking a hint from Nobody's link.) cf: http://www.yamabushiantiques.com/KABUTO4.htm

Have a look at Kanemune http://jssus.org/nkb/nkb.php

Very good. 96%

Kanesada...

"Beginning part of Edo" is correct, but the Mei should probably be "Masatsune". Also the Tsukuri says "Shobu-dzukuri" I think.

Can't quite tell if your post is slightly tongue-in-cheek, John! Funny thing happened this evening. Was invited to a BBQ and found myself sitting next to Mike J, former airline pilot, who does Yabusame and Katori Shinto-Ryu sword fighting technique(?). He said he met you, Ian, some years ago when he did/organized(?) a Soma Noma horse display in the UK, and at the Tower, and did some sword technique/demo in the main hall of the RA Leeds.

Yesterday I went to see Ian on his home ground: what a setting! Anyone who has not yet visited the Royal Armouries in Leeds is missing out on several large pieces of life's jigsaw. I know he is a busy man, and without going into detail very likely to get busier (more power to his arm!), but he took precious time to show me and my guests some of the Armouries' huge collection. I bought a couple of the Museum's excellent introductory books, An Introduction to Japanese Swords, and An Introduction to Japanese Armour, both written by You Know Who. Also into the bag went Peter Finer's Catalogue and a book on armour metallurgy of the Royal Armoury at Greenwich, 1515-1649 by Williams & de Reuck. The Japanese section has some fine historically-important armours, both for man and horse, and plenty of luscious weaponry including swords and spears, nagamaki and naginata. There was so much more to see, besides the pull to go back and gaze again at what I saw yesterday, so well worth any number of future visits. Ian said that most Japanese tourists venturing out of London end up in York. The guidebooks need updating to include Leeds! Anyone contemplating a trip to the Royal Armouries should contemplate no longer. Just do it. The Museum is free. One word of advice. As I was driving out of the site I saw a hand-written sign pointing to all-day parking for 3.50. Having just paid GBP 7.50 for half a day in the multi-story carpark I made a mental note to avoid said multi-story in future. Ian, thank you so much for everything. I took you up on that kind offer of lunch; just hope your schedule did not get knocked too far out of whack. Nagoya Tokugawa and Tottori Watanabe are now on my must-see short list.

Just an afterthought. Sunday is usually not a holiday, but they may not have been in the shop. In which case you'll need their mobile number. Ignore as necessary!

Make sure you have the dealer's telephone number with you.

I had a good experience with a katana, but have to agree that this was probably the exception. The blade was inscribed with the Mei "Fujiwara Muneyoshi", which puzzled everyone, but I liked the Hamon and the overall feel and balance, and besides it was my first blade. I was advised by several people to either enjoy the Gimei, or have it erased. In retrospect I can imagine that they were probably imagining a more famous Muneyoshi, and that is why they figured it had to be Gimei. Some sleuthing among less well-known sword literature produced a more likely and less-threatening, less earth-shattering Katana Kaji, and at Shinsa it passed for the first time with the attribution that I had suggested. A learning experience with a fairly cheerful result. Of course the sword cannot now be passed off any more as something that it is not.

As Ian says. The Mon is called the Shichi-yo Mon, or seven heavenly bodies Mon. EG. Three quarters of the way down the page on the right: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Categ ... t_of_Japan

John L. "your collection is selective and interesting, and puts a number of our less discriminating members to shame." As one of the above-mentioned members, may I just say that I enjoyed seeing your Tsuba collection. Thanks for sharing!

Take- (?) mitsu

If my input to this corner goes quiet for a while, it will be because I have other commitments taking me to other grazing lands. Recently I found some interesting little bits at various fairs, but taking Stephen's advice I have restricted myself to paying as little as possible out of my pocket money for things with maximum interest. Half of the motivation for my antiques purchases is for posting here on this forum! Nuts.

Just had a phone call saying not to bring the big gun. The police are super strict there and they make a show of appearing in the changing rooms and asking to see all the guns and paperwork and checking each one individually. When we made the original application to do the display some months ago, the 20 Monme guns were not listed, apparently. 30 Monme, 50 Monme and 80 Monme, no trouble. Every gun and every charge of gunpowder has to be pre-declared and accounted for. For example: 100 shots? No more, no less. A misfire? Try again. Hyogo Prefecture has had some problems in recent years, involving gunpowder (actually a fireworks display) and crowd control that went wrong, and the litigation is still ongoing. Right. Going home to pack. Wish me luck, gentlemen.

Since we haven't done a display for six weeks, and there is a big one this Saturday, the nerves have been twangling a little. We have been graciously invited to Himeji for their 'Oshiro (Castle) Matsuri'. There will be a blackpowder display mid-afternoon and then we take part in the parade in the evening. Last year was one long agony as we stood for several hours in 30 degree heat in full armour/armor while the authorities tried to get everyone in line. This year the weather has been rainy and humid for weeks, and my equipment has green mould growing on it. The last few days I have moved everything to the one air-conditioned room in the house to try and get it dried out and ready. This is my checklist. 1. Kabuto and Mae-date. 2. Do, front and back, and pin. 3. Kote 4. Haidate 5. Sune-ate 6. Jika-tabi. 7. Netsuke and Kinchaku 8. Mawashi 9. Belt with Do-ran, empties box, and Handachi with fittings, Tsurumaki, etc. 10. Underwear 11. Hita-tare 12. split-toed socks 13. Se-oi-bata with pole and pin and Ukezutsu 14. Hayago necklace with Ko-yaku-ire powder flask 15. Giant prayer beads 15. Kai for blowing Swiss-Alpen blasts 16. Large ozutsu lacquered gun in box with equipment and special ramrods. 17. Tanzutsu w/ shoulder holster 18. Long gun in carrying case. 19. Toroku paperwork for guns 20. Lengths of matchcord, 21. spares and tools, eg Mekugi-nuki, lighter, scissors, knife, Seseri, gun-rest, patches... oh, and 22. Gyo-yo & Nodo-wa... Why I usually get nervous. Have I forgotten one crucial piece of kit? Have I forgotten to mend something broken or snapped from last time, slowing down our changing times? Will I remember the drill and not be the one to throw the whole public display into chaos? Egg not just on my personal face, but for all of us, as we have been invited from out of state to the famous Himeji Castle World Heritage site.

Sadly my Japanese reading ability does not quite stretch to that. I really wish it did. Not only was it the death of a person who wore armor/armour, but with that date it could really also symbolize the death and dismantling of a period of time, a whole culture.

You read that Manen???

Waiting to be enlightened. That can't be Engen of the Southern Dynasty 1336-1340, can it? Not something to do with Godaigo Tenno, or Ashikaga Takauji and the Muromachi Bakufu?

Well, they look like the upright parts from a pair of particularly long Sune-ate shinguards, which is very rare and just what I have been trying to find for my armour!

Looks like it was registered in Gifu. It has a Mei, but no-one has been able to read it. 不明 Fumei means unclear.

Ah, that's a nice size. (PS You mentioned the tray so I went back to the previous page of this thread and added an 'after' shot, following some touch-up work. Looks good from a distance...) Do you find that you collect 'perfect' examples, Ian, or are you not too bothered about the state of repair? Your bowl above looks pristine.