e-Raser

Hello Everyone. I have seen a yari blade with a similar short nakago, mounted as a walking stick. Mounted c.1880. Just a thought. Malcolm

Early Morning all. If you are seriously going to train in Iai of whatever persuasion, then train, forget the jewellery. If you imagine a blade is going to improve your waza, stop now, ask a passing person to give you a kick up the backside and get the bokuto out for the next few years and hit the thousand suburi per day, every day, 'til the blister gets blisters on the blisters. Sorry to seem harsh, but ask anyone who is training for real in Kendo, Karate-Do, Aikido, Kyudo etc etc, and they will give you the same advice, it's a universal truth. I began Iai training in 1968, and it still defeats me everytime I train, but I don't stop and blame the weapon, I've trained with a variety of blades from Mogi to to Nidai Kanemitsu, and the answer to the predicament lies inside, not at the edge of your skin. Malcolm Anyway, What do you call a short psychic who just escaped from Jail? A Small Medium at Large......................................

Afternoon everyone. Just a quick note, both sets of pics and text originally come from Noriko and her sister Sumie Kashima, their business is called Usagiya: http://www.ksky.ne.jp/~sumie99/ I note the eBay listing gives them credit but t'other don't. Please check out their site, they are really decent people. Malcolm No joke today, regretfully, as the joke I consdered including is most likely considered illegal in three states of the US. Oh well what the heck... Why are New Yorkers always depressed? The light at the end of their tunnel is New Jersey.

Hi Simon, Tanaka Midori san is indeed a babe, if not Dai babe sama. However, the reality of firing an arrow at a target of opportunity howsoever described would have been distinctly different. Many Ryuha show defences against arrow flight, some practical, others others in the Fairy realm. Let's please get real. What I see is beautiful, however not real. Mea maxima culpa. Malcolm

Hi Guys, Unashamed plug for my business. I carry a permanent stock of Teire -Gu, good silk Sageo, Tsuba and Kodogu boxes etc. Also stocking Mingei Folk Arts, 20th Century Cha no Yu ceramics, Tosogu when I can get it, Katchu when I can get it and Nihonto when I can get it. I am in the Bartlett Street Antiques Centre which boast the best range of quality stock including previously cherished watches (Rolex, Vacheron & Constantin, Jaeger le Coultre & Patek Phillipe Bought and sold) High quality Jewellery, Silver and Fine Art, Objets de Luxe and funny little wossanames that go eek (Coins, Medals, Ephemera & Toys). Reassuringly priced commensurate with the fair city of Bath. (We are a World Heritage Site after all) Check out my website please http://www.antiquesinbath.com Malcolm Taylor Fine Art Antiques Showcases 8 Bartlett Street Bath BA1 2QZ +441225 487 888 Mon - Sat 10.00 - 5.00 10% discount for cash 20% discount for NMB (even though my children will starve) Current Moscow Joke: Anyway, there's this Russian Cop, it's late and he's very bored. An old Granpa and Babooshka hobble past him through the softly nestling snow. "Ivan my Love" says the near toothless crone. "What is it Natalia my little pumpkin?" replies the wizened old man. "Take me behind the Dacha and make love to me against the fence just like you did 60 years ago, when you came back from Stalingrad..." "How can I refuse my sweet little petal" says the old man and they wander off into the whirling misty whiteness. The Russian Cop is intruigued and follows the ancient pair behind the Dacha, where he observes them. The old lady turns around and the old Gentleman prepares himself, whereupon they twich and pulsate, scream and jump for twenty minutes untill they both collapse in a heap. After some time they get up, and arm in arm hobble past the incredulous Russian Cop. "Sir, I could not help but observe; Tell me sir, what is the secret of your amazing virile strength?" Says the Russian Cop. The old man looks quizzically at the Russian Cop and replies: "Sixty years ago the fence was not electrified...!!!" Cheers Malcolm

Thank you very much JohnL & Moriyama san. I appreciate the information. Malcolm

Good Afternoon all, There is a Tsuba on the Aoi Art site Ref:FF07021, which is described as Nagashikomi (Boilerplate) way (sic). Googling only produced a metal frame used in the production of a particular form of Washi paper. What is Nagashikomi? Best regards to all Seen last week on the wall of a checkpoint near Bukhara: "SMOKING KILLS!" underneath in felt tip was added "A SOLDIER HAS NO FEAR OF DEATH" Malcolm

Good Morning All, Allow me to expand upon my original points regarding the Syncretic history of Shinto and Buddhism Here bodhisattva is used as an etymology, much in the same was as one might refer to a saint, Santa Maria del Salvador for example. When we delve into other cultural subtexts, we may easily become victim of the dangers of tautology and semantics, no intent to confuse was intended. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions contains the following information: Daibosatsu (Jap., ‘great bodhisattva’). The title of Hachiman understood as the incarnation of a great bodhisattva . Daibosatsu is, therefore, any bodhisattva (Jap., As I said previously: Confusing!! Current Russian Joke: Ivan and Nikolai are drinking Vodka, they drink much into the night, as dawn breaks, Ivan asks of Nikolai “What is 2 plus 2?†“4 my friend†replies Nikolai. Whereupon Ivan shoots Nikolai. When questioned upon his action, Ivan says “He knew too much!†Best regards to all Malcolm

Thank You Moriyama san. http://eos.kokugakuin.ac.jp/modules/xwords/ is also a good source of information. Malcolm

Good Morning. The precise divisions between Shinto and Buddhism can be a little tricky. The links between Shinto and Buddhism were "altered" in the Meiji period. Before this division Shinto and Buddhism mingled many of their component parts. Let's take Hachiman for example: Hachiman or as some sources refer - Yawata no Kami is the Shinto God of War and divine protector of Japanese people. The God of eight banners was also worshipped as an agricultural Kami. However with the arrival of Buddhism Hachiman becomes associated with the bodhisatva Daibosatsu. So Hachiman can be both Shinto and Buddhist...... Confusing!! Anyway this Buddhist goes into Burger King and asks the kid behind the counter to make him one with everything. Best regards to all Malcolm