Baka Gaijin

Here we go down the rabbit hole of speculation... Bottom line is a date, 18th day of the 9th month in the 37th year of 民國 which I think may be Republic of China which began in 1912, so maybe 1949?

The 1 2 1 or 31 is also painted faintly on both sides of the Nakago

This will be interesting: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2024/03/06/Japan/Japanese-romanization-rules-change-explained/

"used for harakiri." Of course its legit, if it wasn't, it would have read Harry Karry. In the UK it would have read Harry Ramsden. I'll get my coat.........

The Honjo Masamune....... (but please be discrete, just between you and I....) The one I let slip away in a moment of Financial weakness and regretted it ever since was a lovely slightly tired Koto Blade in Shirasaya with a sayagaki by Inami Hakusui and one of his "Speculative Origami" attributing in to Kanemitsu, dating it to Oei 1 (1394) and valuing it at 150 Gold Mai. I'd bought it from one of the Field Marshal Sir Francis Festing Sales, and later learned that it had been in BW Robinson's collection. Such is life....... We are merely Prawns in its subtle game.

There are two siblings, Greed and Stupidity, by themselves they are tolerable, but combined, they become the Twins of Evil. I'll get my Coat.....

The plotline of the 1964 film Onibaba depicts two women scavenging weapons and armour:

A memorial portrait of Kabuki actors Nakamura Utaemon IV and Ichimura Takenojo V 1851/1852 Can't trace the artist

I've just been researching an Edo period Boro Textile assemblage and encountered the term Mottainai 勿体無い. (A bit deeper than "Make Do and Mend" in the mid 20th Century UK). Is it possible that many of the unorthodox ana we encounter today are a result of Mottainai? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boro_(textile) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mottainai

Look at the drips of pigment on the underside of the Kura is this actually lacquer, and not another medium?

I'll leap in to start the proverbial in motion. Might it involve remounting the blade as a Nagamaki?

What Ho, Old Bean I'm interested in the significance of the O-Boshi Rivet placement of 3 2 1 repeats. My first thought is 3 Representing “The Triple Gem” Buddha, Dharma, and the Sangha. Or are we dealing with something esoteric, bordering on Mikkyo or Onmyodo? Or did they simply not have enough Rivets in the workshop? ........

Good morning Rob, Thank you for confirming that there are three bands under the leather cover. It reminds me of the illustration in Sword and Same of the type of Tsuka used for Tameshigiri by the Yamada family. Also in the 1980’s, when Yoshihara Yoshindo created a blade to test the famous Sasakibara Kenkichi “Kabutowari performed in front of the young Emperor Meiji”, the swordsman Kawabata Terutaka asked for a similar three band Tsuka to be made. As for the length of the Tsuka being disproportionate, I have seen one Ryuha at the Meiji Jingu Embu using a longer than normal Tsuka. In the current Gendai Budo, the Bokuto used by some of the groups affiliated to the chaps in black, who shall not be named, is sometimes disproportionately longer.

Just a small observation about the Tsuka. Are there two thin metal bands under the leather and a rudimentary fuchi enclosing? I have heard of strengthening bands being applied in the field. Also it, is the Tsuka internal depth the full length of the Tsuka itself? Which could mean it was a Saya repurposed.

Good evening Rob, Just to get the ball rolling and also to say welcome onboard. Here are my 五銭硬貨 on the current Koshirae. The Tsuka reminds me a little like a Shirasaya with a leather combat type cover added, and I wonder if the Saya was once similarly attired, as the rudimentary Metal Ashi and Obitori are sometimes found on both late War Military and Non Military Koshirae. I'm wondering if Bruce (Pennington) could shed some light, as he is the go to man for ww2 Military and non military mounts in this neck of the woods.

Is the stylised script on the Kashira "Fuku" 福- Good fortune?

Piers wrote: "Do you have Tamayama Meishoto on your list?" I visited their Kyoto Store in 2018 and found the gentleman I met there to be perfectly of that description. Its down from Heian Jingu, easy to find, but please make contact well before you attend as it is not always open.

The Itomaki looks very similar to Sanada Himo, which has quite an illustrious history. https://suigenkyo.com/en/articles-sanada-himo-interview/

That would be an interesting venture Old Bean, and one that I would be interested in seeing on NMB. Please do not call it Netsuke Nook..... even if the T Shirts and Baseball Caps have already been prepared.

Hi Steve Look at the visible rivets holding the teeth and elsewhere, Heisei/ Reiwa could also be a time consideration as well as a production location other than Japan.....

High end early Tourist "Hamamono" comes to mind. also................

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.