Baka Gaijin

Hi Dale, Sotheby's have a long and fascinating relationship with the Vever family of Jewellers: https://www.sothebys.com/en/brands/vever The Henri Vever Sales (Parts 1 & 2) of Tsuba etc took place in 1973. I recall viewing the Sale of much of Henri Vever's extensive collection of prints and drawings in March 1974 at Sotheby's. Two years later, in Dec 1976 Sotheby's published "Japanese Prints and Drawings from the Vever Collection" which was written by Jack Hillier. The final part of the collection was dispersed at Sotheby's in October 1997.

I don't use bubble wrap for anything coming in contact with a painted surface anymore as it can, as Piers states above. I use a product called Celair, but that may just be a UK brand name (Viking Direct) If really pushed, then I wrap with several layers of acid free tissue followed by bubble wrap. In all cases, this is only for transportation and not for long term storage.

Good morning Michael, The period of the Restoration was from many accounts one of turmoil and opportunism, the old ways were shunned by many, Emperor Meiji was fond of watching Horseraces around the Shinobazu pond in Ueno amongst other things. https://ukiyo-e.org/image/artelino/27183g1 If we put Etsu Inagaki Sugimoto's date of birth as 1872/4. then her recollection of Samurai life would have been very much in the realm of hearsay. This should add further interesting bones to the stew. https://www.detroit.us.emb-Japan.go.jp/en/bilateral/Ohio/OHsugimoto.htm

Masterly.

Specialised throwing spikes do exist in many Ryuha, but are of Iron as Brian says. In fact the Late Ōtake Risuke (1926 - 2021), Shihan of Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū used a set made for him by the Swordsmith Yoshindo Yoshihara.

What Ho Old Bean I agree with the Satsuma / Shimadzu Kamon call, also the two Sayadome Ana suggests Satsuma Young Bucks and the tying cord to prevent rash and impetuous action....... In fact, you wrote about it a long time ago

A Book very much of its time, published in 1964 To-ken GB old timers may know the name of the illustrator "Bon Dale".

Hi Howard, It's katakana phonetic syllables underneath both names. Amita Company is a fascinating story http://www.smokingsamurai.com/AMITA.html

Watashi Mo Cheers Thomas Just found this useful PDF https://en.jimbou.in...en/walkaround007.pdf

Just down to the right from the corner of 302 Yasukuni Dori Ave and 301 Hakusan Dori Ave, with Suit Select , there's a small ground floor Mamasan Papasan bookshop which also sells Noh Theatre memorabilia (Masks, Fans, Scores etc), as I recall there's a "Japanese only gentleman's club" on one of the floors above it. It is between Iwanami Books' modern building with a Black and white sign "BOOK CAFE WORK" and Hara Shobo Print dealers. As you go through the one door on the left (of the book shop not the club) some of the side shelves have Books and Magazines covering Martial Arts and the opposite side shelves are the Swords and Armour related. There is a small cut across into the Noh Theatre related items and an exit door. In November last year the were some O Uma Jirushi and other woodblock printed books at the back.

Peruse the following: Yakumaru Jigen Ryu Kenjutsu Shinsengumi July 8th 1864 Ikedaya Inn The account of Fingers of Chōshū on floor.

Hi Chris, The "Cross and Grass" is actually representative of a Japanese Iris and known as Shobu 菖蒲, its sound is the same as Shobu 尚武 which means martial/Samurai spirit. The cross represents the flower, which is said to resemble a Kabuto and the grass represents its leaves, which in turn are said to represent a sword's blade. Hence its use on the various equipment bags related to Budo and Bujutsu and also what used to be called the Tango no Sekku Boy's Day celebration in May, which is now known as Kodomo no Hi. The woodblock Artist Utagawa Kuniyoshi used the Shobu pattern on his famous "Nabe Buta" depiction of Miyamoto Musashi's Hakama during his encounter with Tsukahara Bokuden. (Bokuden actually lived 80 years prior to Musashi, but we should never let truth get in the way of a good story...........) You also have shown Kozakura repeat pattern Cherry Blossom which has a similar useage in equipment bags etc.

Hi Jean C "How many thrusting techniques are there with KATANA?" Jean, that would really depend upon the era in which the sword was being used, whether in armour or not. The Ryuha also would be an important consideration and the distinct difference between those founded during the incessant fighting in the pre Tokugawa era and those founded in the relatively peaceful 265 year hegemony of the Tokugawa Bakufu. In the late 1960's, the late Donn F Draeger made a deep study of those Ryuha, that were founded in both pre and post 1603 Japan. Sadly, more than a few of them have passed into memory in as little as a generation and a half. The Ryuha to which I belong has a large variety of thrusting techniques with the Katana/Tachi, theses are aimed at major arteries and the weak areas of armour construction.

Hi Jean I wonder how SAMURAI measured the weight of their blades...... https://www.nippon.c...n/Japan-data/h01561/

Synchronicity Oyabun The images are very interesting. If you go to the full site there's a whole section about how am important artifact was buried at the end of the war, for fear of desecration, and later discovered in the 1950's and restored by the US Army.

Just a quick thought, some Shrine and Temple precincts have mid week flea markets. Naritasan Shinshoji Temple in Narita City does. Heian Jingu Shrine in Kyoto does.

Hi Alex, Try Tobiguchi.

This may be of interest 21 pages of Interesting Pre - War Photographs of what became Camp Zama. Courtesy of U.S. Army Japan Website https://www.usarj.ar...1935_1945_202101.pdf

Biggest in Tokyo is Oedo Sunday Market at the Tokyo International Forum - Yurakucho Station 1st stop on the JR Yamanote after JR Yamanote Tokyo Station 1st and 3rd Sundays weather permitting. https://www.antique-market.jp/english/ And definitely echo what Brian said about prices and origin of some items.

Back in the late 1960's, what passed then as Iai/Batto Training swords available in the UK from a certain entrepreneurial supplier came with Tsuba of an Ersatz Sanmai construction. The core was really soft and low melting point metal with two stamped sheets of thin copper like metal which was "paint gilded" to look the part.

Broken blades in Musha - e (Warrior) prints are often treated as symbolic of the last stand, or the Nobility of Failure as the late Ivan Morris so eloquently described. The Utagawa group of artists often portrayed examples of swords broken amid a hail of arrows. The various renditions of the The Tales of the Heike, including The Last Stand of the Kusunoki at Shijo Nawate or the exploits of the Soga Brothers are good sources of research for this.

Maybe allow the dogsbody to practice cutting signatures......

You can always count on us 'originals' Stephen...we have got your back. Ditto that Oyabun

This article may be of interest: https://www.seidoshop.com/blogs/the-seido-blog/30-the-origin-and-manufacture-of-the-iaito#:~:text=Visits to the workshops Minosaka,enacted after World War ll.

It looks like the items for the old Tango no Sekku display, usually accompanied by a formally presented bow and arrow. Both supported on a Kake and meant to sit left and right of a boys day armour.