Bugyotsuji

The Tachi was slung from the hip when wearing Ō-yoroi and there was a hip protecting pad to prevent damage to the scabbard. When Tachi went out of fashion, a Tantō or longer blade could be pushed through the long intermediate strings of the gesan (kusazuri) with the plates outside the scabbard. (The photo above is not quite right.) It was bound in place centered within the obi mawashi which to some degree protected it from rubbing against your own armour, but as the article suggests this could mean distortion of the saya as your mawashi needs to be tightly tied.

Thank you, Morita San. So, the way it is written suggests politely that this is the first gun in a series, with a very precise bore size measurement of just under 3 monmé, about 1.2 cm. We sometimes hear of ‘5 bu’ for half a monmé, or ‘3 bu’, but this is the first time I have seen ‘9 bu’. The fancy lockwork looks like Namban or Tanegashima Ryū with strong influence from S.E.Asia. The 1/4 cut '(?) woodwork has some lovely reflective facets in it.

Can we make out 御 一 … 弐匁九分 2 monmé 9 bu? The gun looks interesting! But one fuzzy photo with no other information is a hard ask!

On Sunday (Children’s Day) the matchlock troop has been asked to do a full blackpowder display at Kibitsu Hiko Jinja. So I am all packed and ready for that. Three guns and full armour. In the afternoon the shrine priests have also requested eight tables featuring a static display of matchlock-related artefacts/artifacts. One guy has been asked to bring some rare, large acquisitions from his collection. They want me to provide the wooden peek-shield, certain guns, some red felt cloths, and any gun stands and accessories that I have, plus printed captions on card holders. I have done the latter in both Japanese and English. Some on the request list I can provide, but not all. Today for a bit of decorative background fun I made a target, based on an Edo Period shooting range print by Hokusai. Anyway, on Sunday morning early, the car will be loaded with both sets of equipment if all goes to plan.

This is a good question which will surely never be answered fully. I think the tsuba-ko artisan generally created several pieces, showing what kind of work he could do. A special order from a certain bushi customer though, might have expressed a desire to show (even distant) affiliation with a specific clan. Remember that tsuba were interchangeable, and seasonal poetic references were important too. Ume were generally the first blossom to flower, so they represented the New Year. I have another similar tuba with a series of different sukashi flowers (and a shell) on it. Now I am just beginning to wonder if it could have been a shop piece, illustrating what the artisan could offer... (?)

Thanks for that, Chris. Here’s one with some similarities, but I actually prefer Henry’s one above with the large uchiwa-shaped Hitsu-ana. Iron, go-ishi-gata with Kikkyo bellflower sukashi. 7.8 x 7.8 cm. It has a fine rim at the mimi on which you can just catch your fingernail.

This is an Inoué-Ryū pistol, David.

Chris, do you know the kanji for 'ko' sukashi? Is it 古? I am guessing ji sukashi must be 地透かし?

Blocked from seeing the site in my location.

By a stretch of the imagination you can see that since 'kami' means 'protector' or 'guardian', this smith must have worked well and hard, and eventually inherited (or was awarded) this title, suggesting that he has become the new keeper of the tradition, a 'sensei', a recognized authority or overseer of swordsmiths in that region.

This is a rather large Tanzutsu matchlock pistol verging on Bajozutsu size. It has a slight feeling of Inoue-Ryu (school of gunnery) pistols, which you tend to find more of in the Sanuki region of northeast Shikoku. I have owned a couple myself. The shape of the butt on your tsuba is double, though, letting down the image of Inoue Ryu which typically ends in a solid, almost rounded butt. The hinawa matchcord and the target are generally correct. Matchlock pistols are rather rarer overall, but they were typically of this sort of shape throughout the Edo Period. The details are generally ok but not very well executed in some places, such as the (missing) pinch flaps of the serpentine, and the missing ramrod; the perspective (of the muzzle for example) is somewhat off, reminding me more strongly of Ukiyo-e of the later 1800s which were usually generic and never strictly accurate. My opinion, and I am open to others, is that the tsuba is older but the zogan work is all a later addition, possibly even post Edo. The fresh red rust around the butt increases this impression for me. As an object, it is unusual, and I like it, but these are my honest impressions above.

PS Found him, (however he liked to read his name). Edo, around Kansei period.

I see Arai Tatsunari, but perhaps there may be some other way of reading this, like Tatsushige, etc. Need to cross-reference with known artisan lists to be sure. 荒井辰成　 (plus Kaō)

Agreed. Possibly an attempt to make it look like Negoro-nuri, red over black. This was exactly how I saw it an an early morning antiques market in Fukuyama long ago. Despite the funky colour, I rather liked it!

You could even call it 四方富士 'Mt Fuji in four directions' and enjoy the clouds/snow!

And the drawers…

Here is a drawered cabinet I bought for my daughter as a tool box about 20 years ago, but she has not yet been able to claim it yet. (Small problem of shipping.) During a giant spring clean last week, it appeared out of the rat's nest!

Lovely cabinet. Congratulations. Can't see the smaller divisions that you describe though. Not an easy question to answer, but you could make eight/sixteen identical wooden grids, four/eight of these with different internal sizes to cope with the various different tsuba in your collection. Which reminds me of a cabinet I bought for my daughter's tools about twenty years ago. It came to light during a spring clean the other day. If she doesn't claim it soon, I might just 'borrow' it for tsuba instead!!!

Yes, that might work! (I was in too much of a hurry. Apologies.)

Ah thanks! Katana, Naginata naoshi Mumei (but attributed to Gassan Sadakiyo) Juhō Tōken Kenkyū Kai 銃砲刀剣研究会 Signed by a Mr Tsujimoto. 18 April 2024

For the organization name, please show the other side.

That confuses me even more, Adam! My Japanese wife agrees however that it is a gift to (not from) Kazuhiko Dono.

1. It was translated on the other thread. 2. You are asking for… what? Something beyond, more than the translation? For example, are you asking: “Who is Kazuhiko Dono?” And: “Who is Kishuo?”

See the translation above, Adam.

This is probably more than just the plain translation on the other thread, Adam, entering the realm of 'How well do you know modern Japanese culture?'.