Baka Gaijin

Good afternoon Marco & Piers Top printed line of Kanji 鑑定書 says Kanteisho. Kanteisho means an appraisal written in calligraphy. Kantei 鑑定 Appraisal Sho 書 Calligraphy PS not to be confused with Ninteisho 認 定 書................. The next printed group of Kanji 作 者 is, I suggest, Saku - sha which means Maker. The final printed Kanji group 品名 is, I suggest, Hinmei or item name. The Hiragana at the very bottom つばさ reads Tsubasa, which can mean Wing, but I am not sure what it means here. Written in felt tip is 五代 which I think means fifth generation ( Godai or Itsushiro??)

On a slightly different tangent, Eric Hebborn, the master forger, wrote in "The Art Forgers Handbook" that turning the drawing upside down was the way he copied the signatures of Renaissance Artists so that they were indistinguishable from the original. I wonder if that works with Kanji as it's all about stroke direction and pressure.

Anyone spot the Hinawaju?

DTI in November. Great learning experience, and plenty of extra curricula events to whet the appetite. Tokyo National Museum will have something amazing, not to forget the new NBTHK Hakubutsukan.

Good morning Grev., I think that the central Kamon on the Back of the hand and at top of shoulder in the rectangular plate is known as Sagari Fujini Ichinoji. (Because the "Ichi" character between the leaves of the Wisteria is slightly bowed). If it were absolutely straight then it could be Shibata Fuji n.b. Sometimes you will see Fuji and Huji described in English translations for Wisteria, but I think it is the same.

Good morning Chaps., Sometimes what looks like Russet Iron on Katchu is actually a Lacquered finish. I think it is called Tetsu Sabi Ji Urushi Nuri. This link may be of assistance: https://issuu.com/davethatcher/docs/how_do_they_write_those_description

C'mon Curran get in the Dojo again, the only thing that stops us is us. If you feel the itch...... Start of slow maybe and wave a bokuto about where no one can observe. 10 suburi once a day adds up to 3650 in a year...........

Thank you Ken.

Thank You Curran.

But seriously Chaps, it seems many of the major Ryuha adopted methods of defence using the Tsuka to both absorb an attack and deflect a cut away from the body line . The origins of the Ryuha were based, alledgedly, upon practical experience. Ipso Facto, where are the examples of Kirikomi upon Nakago?

Good morning all., I wondered if anyone has encountered Kirikomi 切り込み on the Nakago? Observing that Hyoho Taisha Ryu, one of the Koryu demonstrating at the Meiji Jingu Embu use the Tsuka to both block an attack and sweep an opponent's sword away. Viz: at 3.12, 7.27 & 7.55

Good evening Matt., Sorry to come late to this. The image shows many of the products produced by Aramaki Budogu which is in Miyakonojo, Kirishima Sankei region of Kyushu. This will explain far better than I:

I'm with you Bazza, the Inclinometer or sometimes known as a Gunners's Quadrant................

I would plod on with Customs and Excise, they are usually very helpful, albeit painfully slow, due I believe to chronic shortage of staff. The fact that the sword came to you from Aoi is a matter of Tsuruta san's record, so there is a start. It will be recorded on the Customs and Excise database and probably at the Central Hub from whence it was dispatched to you. Don't get me wrong, I am not saying it will be an easy task. So Good Luck!!

Often real items (Converted to Blank Fire) are used for closeup work in Film and TV production. This should help clarify terms: http://www.bapty.co.uk/

Japan Sword Co Ltd in Tokyo certainly had repro Gunto with Duramilium blades in the 1980's.

Is it the cloth reacting? Does it smell the same using Nugui Kami or an unfraganced Tissue?

Hi Bob, Jan (or Jam as he sometimes signs) is being very modest here. He is the author of a very fine Book: http://www.lulu.com/shop/jan-pettersson/the-yonezawa-matchlock-mighty-gun-of-the-uesugi-samurai/hardcover/product-23384395.html I and many others here have a copy. I would heartily recommend it.

As Pete says, that is the poster for the exhibition, the Museum Catalogue is entitled Tagane no Hana たがねのはな Which reads "Flowers of the Chisel" and refers to the Publication which Mitsumura Toshimo created in 1902. (This is illustrated in the catalogue) Pinnacle of Elegance is perhaps more apt. I wondered if Ford had any input on the Silver blades, as I showed the catalogue to a UK Goldsmith and he was blown away by the technical expertise of producing an even and controlled curve in Silver. (And he does not know the first thing about Nihonto but creates the most sublime Diamond and Gemset Jewellery in Platinum, Gold and Silver, so knows his way around the Metallurgical block, so to speak). Back to Mitsumura Toshimo, who created the collection, as well as being a Collector and Patron, he was a businessman and advocate of pushing the boundaries of contemporary Photography. He was one of those true Renaissance men (eg Shibata Ka) who made mastery of anything they turned their attention to in late 19th, early 20th Century Japan. Inspiring!!!

I wish, they are really hot about photography at the Museum. Despite my best impression of Hugh Grant and an Idiot Abroad (which some might say is one and the same), they would not relent. Just found another: Exhibit 138: Chiisagatana: Ribbed Sword Mounting with Ribbed Design (Silver Sword Attached) By Goto Ichijo Silver Blade dated 1870 They are in the catalogue and Paul Martin has said that if enough people are interested then he would buy some in bulk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=du9foStZ49U You can briefly see 216, 215 & 214 at 0.28 and 138 at 0.42 seconds.

Unfortunately it stopped me, as I have to be in Japan for the early part of November every year. I attended the Kamakura Benkyokai both when it was actually in Kamakura and at Cinq. It was way over my head but a tremendous learning experience and as you rightly say, camaraderie. Please enjoy a fond memory:

Certainly when it was at the beginning of the month, many visitors who had come to both see and participate in the Meiji Jingu Embu on November 3rd would also roll up at the DTI.

Thank you Guido and Piers, very much appreciated. I'm unpacked now, so I can detail a bit more using the catalogue: The Silver blades are all fully formed with Yasuri mei and Mei to the nakago and carving to the blades Exhibit 213: Wakizashi: Wave Design in Makie Lacquer Silver blade by Ikeda Takao with Ascending and descending dragons and Manyogana ? script Metalwork by Goto Mitsuyoshi, Sasayama Tokuoki, Yokoya Somin, Ichinomiya Nagatsune and others. Meiji period c.1905 Exhibit 214: Katana: Chrysanthemum design in Makie Lacquer Silver blade by Ikeda Takao with Chrysanthermum design and Sosho script poem Metalwork by Unno Shomin and Kawarabayashi Hidekuni. Meiji period c. 1905 Exhibit 215: Wakizashi: Bamboo leaf Design in Makie Lacquer Silver Blade by Honjo Yoshitane with Kurikara and Vajra Ken horimono Metalwork by Ogawa Tomotsune, Kawarabayashi Hidekuni Wada Isshin and others. Meiji period 20th century Exhibit 216: Wakizashi: Plover Design in Makie lacquer Silver Blade by Yoshida Shiei / Bamboo Design, sketch by Takeuchi Seiho Metalwork by Sasayama School. Meiji period 20th century

Hi Guys., What made me chuckle was this: We are not familiar with Chinese items. Check out the country of origin of the seller's 750 other items in the store................

Hi Matthew your Kamon looks to be Maru ni Moko. Moko means Melon and Maru ni means contained within a circle. Cheers