Baka Gaijin

Hi guys, Could the Kanji read thus 寳 Takara or Ho 釼 Tsurugi 天 Ten 國 Koku Which maybe sounds a bit like "Heavenly Treasure Sword". Also, the reference to Naritasan Shinshoji maybe has a resonance as the grounds are filled with sculptural depictions of Fudo No Myoo, Tsurugi and Kurikara. I have more images taken at Naritasan Shinshoji, if they are deemed relevant, I'll post them.

Hi Jason., I'll start the ball rolling with Image 1 The top 5 Kanji running down from left of your image is a date: 昭 Sho 和 Wa 十 Ju 四 Yon 年 Nen Showa 14th year (1939) Showa began in 1926, so that's the 14th year of the Showa era - 1939 (Not 1940 as is sometimes easy to confused by adding 14 to 1926, 1926 is year 1) The same format applies in images 2 & 3. Have a try and see if you can work out the dates on Images 2 & 3. This link will help you: http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/kanji/nengo.htm Cheers

Hi Chris., The Kamon on the Tsuka looks like Maru ni Kikuza Tachibana, and the one on the Fuchi looks to be Kikuza Tachibana. Need clearer images to be more definite. Cheers

Hi Peter., What is the rest of the koshirae like? More to the point what is the quality of the blade? My reasoning being as it has a number, and possibly a name, might it have been entered in the manifest of an Armoury in 1801?

Hi David., Let me expand upon my previous comment in para 3 about the number of swords. In 1588, Hideyoshi instituted a Katanagari (Sword Hunt) Here's what Wiki has to say about it: In 1588, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, having become kampaku or "imperial regent", ordered a new sword hunt; Hideyoshi, like Nobunaga, sought to solidify separations in the class structure, denying commoners weapons while allowing them to the nobility, the samurai class. In addition, Toyotomi's sword hunt, like Nobunaga's, was intended to prevent peasant uprisings and to deny weapons to his adversaries. This hunt may have been inspired by a peasant uprising in Higo the year prior, but also served to disarm the sōhei of Mount Kōya and Tōnomine. Toyotomi claimed that the confiscated weapons would be melted down and used to create a giant image of the Buddha for the Asuka-deramonastery in Nara. "Taikō's Sword Hunt", as it came to be called, was accompanied by a number of other edicts, including the Expulsion Edict of 1590, by which Toyotomi sought to establish a census and expel from villages any newcomers who arrived in or after 1590. The chief goal of this was to place a check on the threat posed by rōnin, masterless wandering samurai who had the potential not only for crime and violence in general, but for banding together to overthrow Toyotomi rule. Hideyoshi, like most of this period, believed in rule by edict, paying little or no attention to legal principles. While the Sword Hunt ostensibly succeeded in denying weapons to potential rebels, it also created discontent throughout the nation, increasing the number and passion of potential rebels. Cheers

Hi David, Take the following with an enormous pinch of salt: I believe the Gourd (Hyotan) is sometimes associated with Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Also if you look at the Warrior, he has more than his fair share of swords....is this a reference to the Hideyoshi sword hunts? Also the Kabuto looks a little like a Momonari hachi (Peach shape bowl) The Peach (Momo) also being a Hideyoshi motif: Momoyama Jidai (lit: Peach Mountain era)....after Hideyoshi's Momoyama Castle (AKA Fushimi - Jo in Kyoto)

Hi Steve., I see what you mean about whether it is Ni or San. Looking at it again, the top line is way thinner and scratch like as you say, so I'll say Ni also. Could the final Kanji on the left hand column be two, the final simply expressing a day 日? I'm not suggesting an Imperial link, but in recent times Imperial gift swords were inscribed "Onshi" on the Habaki (See Ohmura san's site): http://ohmura-study.net/931.html Does anyone else on NMB have inscribed Habaki which imply a Pre-Modern era?.

Hi John, 福 人 ? Not sure about the bottom kanji, looks like 八 ?? Fuku Hachi?? 8 Fortunes or blessings? There's quite a few food related businesses using Fuku Hachi in their name titles according to Google, so I guess it's a very popular symbol of Luck multiplied? 8 being the lucky number?: http://www.fukuhachi.com/ https://tabelog.com/en/tokyo/A1311/A131102/13092931/ On the other side, I think I can see 三 十 九 San Ju Kyu "39" something? on the left column 吉 "Kichi" - Auspicious/Lucky on the top of the right hand column? 之 Is that Kore? implying "This" as the standalone Kanji in the middle??

Dear Fellows., It is with great sadness that I note the seller may not ship to the UK. True Myochin pieces are rare enough in themselves. This is indeed a Horse of a different chromatic designation.

Hi Guys., No 75 is known as Maru ni Watanabe Boshi Knock off the Maru ni (Contained within a circle) for No 76 and you have Watanbe Boshi. Boshi is the hardened form of Hoshi for Star as in the celestial form, not the Kim Kardashian form (Wait, that's not a star, that's something else entirely............ ) Pip Pip Cheerio, off to Tokyo in 17hrs and 36 minutes!!!

Hi guys, It looks like the mount ferrule has been welded to the wrong side, when mounted as a maedate, would it not display as mirror writing? Pip Pip Cheerio

Heads up chaps: http://www.popularwoodworking.com/Japanese-joinery-pdf Pip Pip Cheerio

Hi Bruce., I regret to say, we cannot assume that the Sagari Huji Kamon on your Kai Gunto means the Family Fuji. Since the Bakumatsu and Meiji Restoration periods, the free usage of most Kamon apart from the Imperial Kamon has been pretty much a free for all. However, Sagari Huji was once the Kamon of the Fujiwara: Here's some enlightening information on the great clan: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fujiwara_clan It would be nice to have a direct link, but sadly anecdotal provenance is no provenance. Without documented evidence like a surrender tag with a name and address, the Kamon has no firm link to a specific Family. Cheers

Hi Bruce Sagari means falling or hanging down. Huji (Fuji) means the flowers of the Wisteria (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wisteria). Maru ni means a circle around a Kamon i.e. contained within. And just for good measure Agari means rising or ascending. Pip Pip Cheerio

Hi Bruce, from what I can make out, the Kamon looks like hanging Wisteria, it's known as Sagari Huji. If on your close inspection there is a ring around the central form then it would be Maru ni Sagai Huji, however from what I can make out, it is the former not the latter. Just to liven things up, as I could not see how it sits on the Tsuka when worn , there is a possibility it is the reversed form which is called Agari Huji Agari / Sagari whatever, it's definitely Huji Wisteria Cheers

Hi Gordon you asked: "Which one do you normally get http://www.selvyt.co...lishing-cloths/ ?" I always get size C from HS Walsh see this Link: https://www.hswalsh.com/product/selvyt-cloth-microfibre-size-%E2%80%9Cc%E2%80%9D-354mm-x-431mm-hp1253 Cheers Chaps

Thanks Peter., You may find this interesting: https://pulverer.si.edu/node/171 Cheers

Hi Peter., I don't know the Microdear cloths. Speaking from my own experience, Selvyt is a really good product, I use it on Nihon - To; I also use it on sterling silver, 18 and 22 carat gold and gem set items, (I don't mix cloths however, one for each specific material). I always check stone settings and mounts with a 10x loupe after cleaning, it does not seem to mark the surface as far as I can tell. (It is also used on Panavision & Arriiflex Lenses in the Movie Industry). Cheers

Hi Guys as well as the Minatogawa link, It was the Kamon of the Kusonoki Here's Utagawa Kuniyoshi at his dynamic best "The last stand of the Kusunoki at Shijo Nawate": http://www.mfa.org/collections/object/last-stand-of-the-kusunoki-at-shij%C3%B4-nawate-463558 and another version: http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details/collection_image_gallery.aspx?assetId=14083001&objectId=786099&partId=1 Cheers

Hi Guys., I use HS Walsh Jewellers' Supplies in UK. Selvyt Micro Fibre Size "C" 354mm x 431mm. costs £5.20 plus reasonable postage in UK. https://www.hswalsh.com/product/selvyt-cloth-microfibre-size-%E2%80%9Cc%E2%80%9D-354mm-x-431mm-hp1253 They also do "Renaissance wax" and a host of other goodies. https://www.hswalsh.com/search-products?search_api_views_fulltext=renaissance+wax There are two Universal truths.....Women love Shoes and Shiny things....... I'd say whatever Country your are in should have a Jewellers' Supplies company, forget Amazon and shop local . Cheers

Hi Guys., Here's something from NHK which gives a reasonable overview of the reality of the various approaches to Sporting Naginata in Japan:

Here's a few more woodblock illustrations of women weilding Naginata: This one by Utagawa Kuniyoshi, depicts the pregnant wife of Kiheji defending herself from a hail of arrows, aided by the wolf Nokaze: https://data.ukiyo-e.org/mfa/images/sc162792.jpg Here's another by Kuniyoshi, this time, the wife of Oboshi Yoshio (Kabuki play name for Oishi Kuranosuke leader of the 47 Ronin). http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details/collection_image_gallery.aspx?assetId=588230001&objectId=3277584&partId=1 A more modern depiction stylistically by Suzuki Kinsen c.1910. Misleadingly titled "Lady with Long Sword" https://data.ukiyo-e.org/artelino/images/47189g1.jpg Another more modern depiction "Fighting Lesson" by Hirezaki Eiho again c.1910. https://data.ukiyo-e.org/artelino/images/49480g1.jpg Here's a clip showing the transition into the modern sport forms from the 1980's documentary "Budo No Chirashi" Pip Pip Cheerio

Hi Bruce, Ref the sword shown by Mr Franklyn, did you spot that the Haikan suspension mount is the wrong side of the Saya (As too are the leather combat cover fittings).

Inspired by a thread elsewhere regarding Naginata, here's two of my favourite depictions of women with Naginata: http://5orb.net/ukiyoe2/ChiyodaOoku/cat4/39.html http://5orb.net/ukiyoe2/ChiyodaOoku/cat3/36.html They comes from the series Chiyoda no O-oku (popularly called the Ladies in Waiting of the Chiyoda Palace) by Chikanobu, they are quite late c.1896. Here's the real thing demonstrated at Nippon Budokan: Pip Pip Cheerio

Brian wrote: " I assume it wasn't really for sale?" This is entertainment of the Fantasy Island genre. Alledgedly