Bugyotsuji

It looks very good!

Carlo, that lacquer looks new! I have a spear with red lacquer in the Hi, but the lacquer looks quite old. It's a good question to ask locally here and see if anyone has a different take on it. The sun is usually painted red in Japan, so there could be some connection with the spirit of the Emperor. Kou-haku utagassen is the great New Year's singing contest from throughout Japan. Red and white are the colour of elementary school caps, harking back to the flags of Heike (red) and Genji (white). (A bit like the wars of the Roses?) Just had a chat with someone whose opinion I usually value. He suggested that red is Kou-ki na iro, 高貴 being associated in Japan with high rank, and high in value. White urushi never existed way back when, but a creamy colour would sometimes dry to a sort of off-white. Another (Japanese) friend has just suggested that red is one of the few primary colours of urushi that were available at the time. It would also raise the fighting spirit, he offered. Black would look wrong, he said. (On another note, the floor of the surgery in Admiral Nelson's HMS Victory was always painted red, apparently.)

Actually, I think that "bokuto" is a better word to use in most cases. I've found that native speakers use bokuto, and bokken might sound a bit 'foreign'. And bokuto is definitely used by non-martial-arts folks in Japan. If you consider the kanji that are used, bokuto is "wood katana", while bokken is "wood sword (generic)". In the West, for whatever reason, bokken became the common word. Pete Hmmm... There are a lot of these subtle differences, it seems. Someone should write a book about them!

Philip and Pete, many thanks for the detailed answers, and that great link, Pete. Quite an eye-opener, not least because the word seems to be "Bokken" rather than bokuto. Not sure where I picked that up! What a variety in purpose, style and material!

Ah, it sounds as though there are more than I had imagined. Many thanks John. What triggered off the question was a really nice one with a carved and grooved dark wood 'blade' and black lacquer scabbard that came my way recently. Some Dojo owner used to swear by it apparently. I have three completely different Bokuto now...

Every so often someone gives me a Mozoto or a bokuto and I put it on the rack. There seems to be a variety available, but as I do not practice any sword-related martial art I sometimes wonder what the state of the market is? Does each branch of Martial arts hava a different wooden sword thet they alone use? Or are there two or three basic patterns? I have seen bokuto with, and without, a tsuba for example... Has anyone any insight into this area? Thanks

A few mentions in Japanese, but one in English here: http://www.google.com/search?hl=ja&rls= ... =&aq=f&oq=

Guido is correct in the reading. There are records of this mayor on the internet.

Having reread your post, Ian, it has become clear that I was not really understanding the nature of what you saw. Must keep my eyes peeled for that. In the meantime I have asked around about guns and cannons with wooden barrels bound with twisted bamboo. There is quite a good description in an old standard reference on ancient Japanese guns, Yoshioka Shinichi's book, Furuju 古銃 , Showa 40, page 35. What he says sounds obvious, that they were cheap and easy to make in times of sudden emergency. They were generally made of pine, split in half down the middle and carved out. After a few shots with regular ball they would lose their viability, at which point they took on a life as signal flare apparatus. He gives an example of a Choshu ship sinking and a sailor being saved by clinging on to a floating wooden cannon. Many ended up being launch tubes for fireworks and continued in use for many years afterwards.

If you want to repatriate some, I'll take half with Carlo then... indefinite hosting! :lol:

Well, the world should be full of loonies, then! I love your story, Ian.

In fact Piers, I did not ask for the price. You mentioned It meant the price have changed, but do not indicate the way (increase/decrease) When you asked me "and now?" I felt some pressure to reply in an intelligent way... but I see what you meant now!!! Please excuse me Jean. As someone very clever once said, "History is a record of people's mistakes. None of the good stuff is ever recalled."

Thanks for the gentle reminders Philip. I do have a general personal rule here never to mention prices I have paid for something, or the names of particular businesses. In the above case, Jean asked me a specific question and I attempted to avoid it. Nothing of mine is up for sale particularly, although a couple of members have asked me to sell something in the past. If and when I do decide to sell something off, it will probably be internet auctions, but I have not yet tried the selling end of things, and to tell you the truth, I actually dread the thought of that hopefully distant day. Within the Castle Matchlook Company we buy and sell between ourselves but there is an unwritten rule not to make a profit. Next Sunday will be the 15th and the big local antiques fair. I will as usual be keeping my eye out for some rare or interesting object for this corner. With the wife ever on my back to get rid of stuff, though, it will have to be small and concealable... :lol:

To flesh out the story only seems to be digging my own grave deeper, but I went in on Saturday to pay off the remainder of my tab. Yes, they trust me in there! In order to get the Shacho in a good mood, I told him that I had bought one of the two Kayaku-dameshi the other day, to which He said Arigatou gozaimasu. The Shacho wouldn't take the money I had brought, however, saying it was between me and the Banto. I know the Shacho's son, but I don't know the top man himself very well, being only a minor customer there, I guess. He poured me a cup of good strong Japanese coffee and it was then that I asked if I could I take photos of the other? I did say that I would be putting the photos up on a website, which might possibly lead to a sale. This increased his willingness to talk, and he actually sat down for a few minutes to chat. A victory of sorts for me, but at what price?

Philip... it's not what you think. :lol:

Philip, theirs is the best coffee in town. You'll have to come and try it sometime. The 'coffee fresh' milky liquid comes in those little cups. (Brian's been there, BTW.) Today the staff were away or not in yet, so the Shacho himself served me the coffee! He told me he wants to travel to Europe, specifically Italy.

Just a quick update. Back at the Sword & Gun shop this morning I asked if they would mind if I took some pics of their other gunpowder tester, Kayaku-dameshi. (Kayaku wo tamesu koto, = to test gunpowder). Quite heavy in the hand. Areas where base metal show through the green patina show flashes of yellow, and reddish underneath. You will notice that this one has no little leg-stand, but it does have the extra hole for fixing it to a bed; the camera is aimed so that you can see down the hole to the red felt below. To answer Jean's question above, the price tag says 35,000 JPY.

Ah, now there's a good word, Ian. Just what the doctor ordered! Thanks for that. Yes, they are cute, aren't they! I used to have another. I saw one at a collector friend's house today, and there is one for sale at the local sword and gun shop, (or there was a couple of days ago when I bought the other). So here in Japan I have seen at least six or seven in the last ten years.

And nowadays Piers? Quite a bit less than that, depending on how far you can haggle...

I never knew that, Ian. Presumably some can be found in museums. For anyone who has not come across these Japanese "Kayaku-dameshi" before, they were used for testing out the quality of gunpowder, thus the name. They are like miniature cannon, but held in one hand and set off by way of the touch-hole. Some have a separate vertical hole so that they could be pinned to a base or carriage in some similar way to Ian's description above. No mechanism, so they do not need registration papers. The following two pics show the difference in caliber. The larger calibre of the copper one is another reason I went ahead and bought it. (...despite the price!). These used to go for around 70,000~80,000 JPY a few years ago.

Mystery objects? Acquired the copper-looking one today, because I've not come across one of these in copper before. The lower brass (?) one (the lighting makes it look brown, but it's very green) is one of two I had before one escaped. Tell me you like them! (Or not...) There is a word in Japanese 砲金　Ho-kin, to describe "gunmetal" (as distinct from brass and bronze). According to Wiki this was an alloy of 90% copper to 10% tin; cannons were cast from it, although you may also find the occasional handgun.... http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%A0%B2%E9%87%91

Hi Tom. Apologies. I think it says Chikushi 筑紫 a place in Fukuoka, Kyushu.

Tom, the name's in katakana, = Yoshiharu (so you were close!)

Not quite... :|

The convention was held at Nippon University, so I wonder if these 'Kyoshi' are highschool teachers, university lecturers, or religious teachers. There were many World Sunday School meetings, but this is an All-Japan National meeting. I would like to know more about the background to this, but I guess it was born out of the struggle for the hearts and minds on the Japanese populace at a time when state Shinto was growing ever stronger under the influence of the ever more powerful army. Buddhism had receded into the background, and there was still a question as to the effective role of Christianity, or am I reading too much into the design? Any historians here? :lol: Thanks Ian and John.