Bugyotsuji

Probably a notation of some kind for seppa orientation, or for a customer gaisō set for someone called 田中 Tanaka?

祐定作 Sukesada Saku? Re: "The family mon appears to be the Watanabe family Crest. The tag said "Watanabe Bosh Family Crest", but I cant find any info on the "Bosh" part of that." Bosh is a spelling mistake for Boshi. Boshi is a reading of 星, normally Hoshi, a star. Japanese stars were traditionally rounded, not five or six pointed. Kamon or Mon is a family crest. So that means the "Watanabe 'stars' mon".

Big Jimmy, some but not all of the exhibits were marked 'No Photography'. You had to pay attention to each little card. Normally I do try to get a series of photos, but this time I selfishly wanted to just listen to the soundtrack and try and focus more subjectively on the display blades. Like drinking a fine wine just for the pleasure of it? The only photos I took that day were the ones above. Please see the other thread linked above for further comments.

Russ and Jimmy, nothing to be jealous of. I have just watched Tom's linked beautiful video above and learned more from it than I did from the exhibition itself, even though I was wearing the guided headphones at the time! The headphone descriptions were definitely instructive, but some allusions to rock music & the sublime taste of food left me by the wayside. It is always good to hear various people discussing something; you can agree or disagree, and you can learn, and the various inspirations and descriptions are fascinating, helping to 'see' and appreciate the subtleties hidden within.

There is a catalogue, but it sold out almost immediately. I heard on Thursday that there has been a reprint and it is back on sale at the museum now.

Watanabe looks like three mochi on a plate for moon viewing. Mohri is three sons supporting the one (family).

Hmmmm…. Can’t find it now. Didn’t you use the word ‘rare’ originally? Maybe that triggered something? When I read thru everything earlier today, and you said “torokushu (certificate)” I thought I saw something, possibly on a connected website, but maybe I simply got my wires crossed among all the examples you posted(?). If so, Victor, apologies!

David, if it helps with your study, you can use this one for comparative thoughts (polite).

This tsuba reminds me strongly of one of mine. (Not a matchlock though, sadly.) Interesting that the (part) description calls it 丸型 marugata. Oops, crossed with Stephen!

It's an unusual name with that first character. There is some background to a mid-Edo Bizen Yoshimitsu here, but you'll need to narrow it down using the full bag of tricks. c.1740 日本刀販売・買取の銀座長州屋｜名刀鑑賞ガイド　太刀　銘　備州長舩賀光　長禄三年二月日　徳川将軍家伝来 (choshuya.co.jp)

Thanks Fred, Kiyo is much clearer for me now!

Is this reading definitely Kiyomitsu, or could it be 宗光 Munemitsu? Such as: ☆備州長船宗光　永禄三年二月日☆八寸一分☆家紋入笛巻塗鞘伝来物合口時代拵入名短刀☆【委託販売承中】 - 美術*刀剣*専門*オークション！WINNERS(ウィナーズ) (winners-auction.jp)

The above says it has a torokusho (registration card) which should be surrendered before leaving Japan. Aoi Art also mentions an NTHK certificate which is a separate thing and should come with your wakizashi (44cm blade).

And in pencil, quick short-form note to remind the owner what paperwork is inside the envelope. “Waki Mumei (Yoshimitsu)”

Might just add that this was not an easy choice for Kanji practice!

In for a penny, in for a pound. Copper, and katakiribori.

Need a photo. It's hard to visualize what you are describing.

Oh, that is excellent work. Many thanks.

Not too sure if this applies here, but you can see Tai (sea bream), a symbol of good fortune, swimming in the rare saltwater moats of Takamatsu Castle not too far away. There are said to be only three castles in Japan using the sea for their defensive moats.

‘Fuwa fuwa!’

What does the little sticker say?

Netsuké lighter. Closed Open, needs a flint! Push button to release hammer. Note hollow for tinder material Many thanks to A for enabling this.

Better to have made the effort in the first place! Only this way, can the sea erode the cliffs.

Ohmi Daijo Fujiwara Yukimitsu By the way, why would you get shot down in flames?

Just a quick word of warning to anyone out there who might not be aware. Recently I was admiring some 'copper' tsuba in the magnificent tsuba exhibition at Osafune Sword Museum. "Those are shinchu" (a kind of brass), the guide said. "Over the centuries they turn to a reddish copper colo(u)r, but that is the resultant patina, irreplaceable."