Baka Gaijin

Good morning Jan, Closest I can find is one called Nakawani Takeno Kakuji (First from left). Yours may be a varient upon that letter based theme... http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Nakawa ... 0QW25oCwCA Cheers

Morning Paul, Using Jacques link together with some of the links in sections 1 & 2 on the home page why not try to see if you can find the Kanji for Nagasa (Length) and here's a couple of clues to get you going: 2 - 1 - 5 & 54th year of the Shōwa era. Cheers

Thank you Thomas, the article is excellent. Cheers

Good morning all, I agree, this is really quite an unusual Koshirae. I wonder if there was something else involved on the Tsuka, perhaps some kind of ito like thread in the indentations on the white coloured metal. I also wonder what type of Fusa Himo it may have had. Morita san, do you know of an online resource of images from the Meiji coronation? (Just thinking that it might be fun to look for this type of Koshirae there) Cheers

Thank you for the information Morita san. I've found a few references to it: Nan-Ji Dai-Jiten by Yamada Katsumi Published: Kashiwa shobō, 1976 or 1979 Cheers

Good morning Morita san Thank you very much for your input on this. Would it be correct to think of the last kana "印" being something like the "aratame" stamp on Woodblock prints, the Meiji equivalent of our current trademark or copyright symbols? How would it have been pronounced? May I also ask you what is the source of your illustration showing the kana in its varying forms? Is it an on-line resource or a book? Morita san, if I might be even more inquisitive, would I be correct to read the 俗 above each varient as Jōyō, Na or Zoku, and does this mean a kana for common use? Roy, searching Inuidani as a place, there are three in Kyoto prefecture and one in Hyogo prefecture. I couldn't find a Kenya...apart from where the coffee beans come from... Cheers

Good morning all, The sukashi flowers remind me of Morning Glory http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_morning_glory Cheers

Good morning Henry and thank you Moriyama san for your valued input. The 造帀 combination shows on quite a number of Hanzi sites and generally seems is used to describe something that is made. So I wonder if "Zosō" 造帀 was the Meiji term for something that was made or manufactured? Cheers

Good evening Henry, I have found quite a few Hanzi combinations containing 造市 "zàoshì", they mostly seem to relate to factories and similar places of production. Having spent some idle time checking through Nelson, I wonder if "Zoshi" 造市 or something close to it, was a Meiji period term for a factory or a workshop? Also Roy, have you tried a magnet on the warabi? Just curious Cheers

If it helps Roy Based on Henry's observations and using top right down to top left down within the cartouche: 乾 On reading - Kan, Ken or Gen ( ? ) Kun reading - Kawaku ( ? ) 谷 On reading - Koku or Yoku ( ? ) Kun reading - Tani (Valley) 造 On reading - Zo ( ? ) Kun reading - Tsukuru (Make) 市 On reading - Shi (City) Kun reading - Ichi (Market) 乾谷 shows up as a place called Inuidani, which is east of Osaka Cheers

Good afternoon all, Hi Dirk, the parallel lines on the example you show represent rain I think. Cheers

Morning all May I suggest that the second tsuba's parallel lines are a later addition, much in the same way as the Victorian Silversmiths created "Berry spoons" from their Georgian forebears' work. The reason there is no seppa dai being one of financial economy? Just a thought. Cheers

Evening all, I'll throw "Muscle memory and hard wire behavioural training" (by constant repetition of a movement or action) into the pot. Cheers

Evening all Scroll down and the "shield" is shown. Ian B will be able to add more I suspect. http://www.yeeeeee.com/2009/09/09/ancie ... s-10-pics/ Cheers

Good afternoon Brian, The thinner part of the central hole on the tsuba is shown up at 12 oclock to show a tsuba correctly. Also with your papers, the Japanese is read from right to left downwards, if your unsure, look for kanji that have roofs on them and keep the roofs to the top of page so to speak.... e.g. 念仏 see the roof in the first character. Cheers

Just look for Alan Measles..... http://alanmeasles.posterous.com/ Pip Pip

Morning all, I came across a term “nusumi nozoki” literally "learn by stealing a glance" in connection with the traditional approach to training an apprentice in a traditional art or craft. (Thanks due to John Marshall - American Fibre Artist) We are encouraged today, to ask questions and take notes. The old method it seems acknowledges that the very act of doing so hinders processes that will manifest themselves later with far greater accuracy and lasting meaning. Words, thoughts, opinions get in the way of assimilating the essence of not what is seen to be done, but what is being done. Discuss....... Cheers

Good morning Brian, Unless there is actual documentary evidence to link the Koshirae with the blade, no connection with either the Kamon, its previous owner and the history of the blade can be confirmed. So whilst it is fine to speculate on the past history of an item, it can only be speculation. That's where the Gunto with a Kamon on the kabutogane is relatively reasonable to relate to its previous owner. The rules on the use of Kamon were becoming slightly relaxed by the end of the Bakumatsu. By the time you get into Meiji Jidai (1868 - 1912) the situation regarding Kamon is quite free. There are several books on Kamon: http://store.doverpublications.com/0486422739.html Cheers

Good afternoon Brian, There is a Kamon composed of three groups of three Sasa (bamboo leaves) called Kyumai Sasa. The subject of the Kodzuka may be a reference to Takasago, which is a Noh play http://www.the-noh.com/en/plays/data/program_015.html Cheers

Morning all, I think the mirror/utility set origin is a good idea Lorenzo. I wonder if Ian B has any comments upon the Kamon shown in the outer rim. Are they Fudai or Tozama, or a mixture? Cheers

Good evening Christian, Looking at the Aoi like Kamon design in the central circle at maximum magnification, the area shows hatching marks often associated with nunome zogan overlay. What does the Ura look like? I wonder if it started life as a Tsuba? Cheers

Good morning all, If it helps, somewhere on site, there is a thread about reversed positioning of menuki. Exponents of Yagyu Ryu used reversed menuki (At least according to the sellers of Iai-To koshirae.......) . http://www.tozandoshop.com/The_Legend_S ... -zs138.htm Cheers

Good afternoon Grey, I have no idea why there is an eyelet on your tsuba. Nor do I know why there was a tsuba used as a door key escutcheon on the mews stable door of a Victorian House in Bristol until about 10 years ago..... Cheers

Good afternoon Brian When you show a Tsuba, show it with the smaller part of the Nakago ana to the top of screen. That way it makes it easier when asking people to look for a design or style. Check out Jim Gilbert's Tsuba site and you'll see how to do it: http://home.earthlink.net/~jggilbert/tsuba.htm Ganbare - がんばれ Cheers

Good morning all Skulls, bones, pieces of rib cage amid grasses do not generally have the connotations of the macabre or the Vanitas as was known in the Western aesthetic. (Skulls, broken violin strings, candles just snuffed out with smoke rising etc). It is much more subtle and sublime.... Donald Keene translated the Basho Haiku Chris mentions: 夏草や 兵どもが 夢の跡 natsukusa ya tsuwamonodomo ga yume no ato The summer grasses— For many brave warriors The aftermath of dreams. (Donald Keene, Travelers of a Hundred Ages, New York, 1999, p. 316) Other translations exist. Cheers