Yves

Thank you very much Steve. Interesting, but the value is debatable I think.

Thanks for that Steve. Any idea what the text says?

Sorry, no, the seal looks a bit faded. Importantly though it seems to also say Osaka. This would mean it's probably from between Sekigahara and Ieyasu being officially named Shogun and moving his seat of power to Edo.

Oh, black seal document presumably from Tokugawa Ieyasu

Apparently this is Italic Japanese or something, called Kuzushi-ji

Can someone translate what this text says?

Thanks Uwe. Talked to Luc as well. He mentioned something about a Nobuie 2 (1520-1540) according to Buroway as I understood it. But out of my expertise.

True

Ok, opinions may vary.

Hi all, Could someone please confirm the reading and phrasing of the inscriptions inside this suji-bachi? Mae-shōchū-mei (front interior): I read this as 明珍信家（花押） (Myōchin Nobuie + kaō). Ushiro-shōchū-mei (rear interior): I read this as 大永三年 癸未 八月 吉日 (Daiei 3, mizunoto-hitsuji, 8th month, kichijitsu). Is the kanji reading correct (incl. the 癸未) and is the phrasing typical for kabuto inscriptions? Any red flags in the way the date is written?

Agree, as I said, with a grain of salt. My main goal is evaluating the mei/kaō + date consistency and whether the cutting/patina looks period. I’ll post raking-light closeups of the mei/kaō and the dated inscription as soon as I can.

Nothing for sure, so take it with a grain of salt. But my research so far: The mon is from the Watanabe clan. They were retainers of the Mori. To note specifically is that the helmet is dated, 8th month of Daiei 3, if the inscriptions can be considered as correct. Correctly calculated it seems that the 8th month in accordance with the Japanese way of calculating, would actually mean Oct. 1523. Anyway, 1523 was the year that Mori Motonari became Daimyo. More in particular, he became daimyo after a succession crisis when the jong daimyo Mōri Kōmatsumaru died in 1523 and because he was nominated/asked by 2 of his vazals, among whom a certain Watanabe (found different first names) in July of that year. The official nomination of Motonari was signed by 15 of his vazals. Motonari seems to have entered Koriyama-Jo somewhere at the end of September/beginning of October. After that there was a period of trouble, where some of his vazals seem to have rebelled against him (among which the former Watanabe, who was executed in 1523 as a consequence of a cleansing operation undertaken by Mori Motonari because of the rebellion -https://mouri.gozaru.jp/monogatari3.html - these are recounted stories which were written down at some point so the actually amount of truth is under debate) His son Toru was allowed to leave but was later pardonned and returned to the Mori Clan. He saved his lord during a battle somewhere in 1543 by posing as him and returning in the battle to allow Motonari to escape. Subsequently most Watanabe's received important posts in the Mori Clan and were remembered during the Mori Clan's New Year's Kachu Kaiki. However, Nobuie was in Eastern Japan while the Mori and Watanabe's were in Western Japan. The mon could be a later addition, who knows for sure. Don't know if new helmets would travel all over the country. So anything is conjecture at best at this point, but the coincidence in the dates is remarkable if you ask me. Theoretically it would have taken a helmet ca. 30-35 days to get from Nobuie to the Mori domain. So it is possible. Anyway I haven't overpaid it, so in the worst case I own a nice helmet with a fake signature but at a price which is acceptable even when it is not what it is supposed to be. I have asked the Mori museum if any records would exist about an exchange of important helmets which could have been given to the Watanabe's in relation to their initial support of Mori Motonari.

Hi Jean, Chatgpt does a briljant job translating. It says: "Daiei 3 + 8e month + a good day"

backside dating

Well after looking around and discussing katchu, it seems that these things are never 100% sure...Meanwhile talked to my fellow country member Luc and he seems to ascern that the kao is also Nobuie (in this case Nobuie 2) but Nobuie 1 & 2 seem to be from around the same time frame. Could be an attribution. Who knows for sure.

Could this be Myochin Nobuie?

The antiques auction firm is a reputable firm in Japan. There is also a date inscription which says august 1523. As far as all the sources go that I've consulted, they all, including the auction firm confirmed Myochin Nobuie. Not sure if another translation would confirm whether it's real or a fake.

Hi guys, after a long time looking for something. I've just won an action on this helmet. Trying to submit it for shinsa now, but seems very difficult as no date has been scheduled for 2026 due to capacity problems in Japan.

Do not want to restore, just know what is preferred. Some say a non-restored kabuto is preferred over a restored one and thus worth more.

The difference between the 2 helmets above is quite obvious. So, what is acceptable and what not, when looking at them?

A question of general nature: what is preferred, an original unrestored unit, even with some (minor) damage or a restored one?

Thanks, is it an Iechika and if so which era are we talking about?

Seems to be a bit the general problem with armors, helmets....

Thanks Uwe. Anyway, it is said that it would be an Momoyama - early Edo item. But there seems to be some debate.