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Same as these guys, stay away! viewtopic.php?f=3&t=14823

Dave, thanks to you and Ian and anyone else who helped you with this, it is a much needed addition to anyone's samurai armor library.

"They couldn't find the item & eventually paid back $. Communication good."...one of their satisfied customers feedback comments...they couldnt find the item....because the real owner of the item had the nerve to sell it before they could.

Japan-premium-seller-trading-assistant...These people take photos from Japanese auctions and web sites and then they jack the price up 400% just to ensure a small profit, stay away from them and the other couple of clone companies on ebay that do the same thing. Many times the items they show are not even available any more. I Personally know several sellers who have contacted ebay to protest their items being offered for sale by these people with photos that they do not have permission to use but ebay does nothing, most of these sellers will not even allow you to contact them through ebay, not quite a scam but as close as you can get without crossing the line.

Piers, thanks for the interesting information on karuka, I had not thought to look at mine, I just took it out and it has a round hole.

Seeing this post reminded me of a leather armor from Japan that I purchased awhile back. I did not know what it was but it looked interesting, some time later when I posted images of it on another forum Anthony Bryant said that it looked like a recreation of an ancient tanko armor, possibly for a festival.

Justin, they do show up for sale occasionally on yahoo Japan, you just have to be patient, I have found that flags and clothing are very hard to find in non destroyed condition. Here are two that I have, the large one came with its original paper bukuro, the two with poles are smaller ones, both are supposed to be Edo Period but how do you actually prove that. I also have a vintage replica which you could not tell from an antique one without close examination.

I agree with all of the above completely.

Here is some information I found, yokyu may describe the game played with the indoor archery set and the small bow being used may be called a koyumi. http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/kuroken3147/MY ... B5%DD&sk=1

Done, and added another, now it is a complete scene. Here is the set I have.

Piers and Ian, I remember that discussion but as far as I can find it did not produce a name for the game being played or a name for that particular type of modular bow. Piers, I do have a set but not the one pictured, mine has a separate compartment with a chalk like substance which from reading the mentioned thread was for marking the blunt tip of the games arrows, I will post a picture. If you look closely at the left side of the print I posted you can see a round ring suspended by ropes which appears to be the target. viewtopic.php?f=9&t=2554&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&hilit=ladies&start=150

Does anyone have any information on the indoor archery sets for samurai women pictured here, they are portable and usually come in a box.

This might answer the question,

John, I have seen period prints showing Japanese fire scenes as being a hell like inferno with people desperately trying to save their lives and belongings, like everything samurai I believe these elaborate fire costumes were used to identify samurai from non samurai during the hectic escape from the fire scenes. 　火事が大名屋敷に近づき危険が迫ると、大名の奥方たちは、この絵のような火事装束をして難を逃れたものであった。上屋敷が延焼しそうになると奥女中などの家臣に守られ、下屋敷へ逃げるのがこの頃の風習であったようだ。大名の奥方の火事装束は絵でもわかるように赤いラシヤで作られた羽織と頭巾からなり、嫁入先の家紋を染めぬいて嫁入り道具の大切なものの一つで、現在、その実物が残されており実に華麗なもので、この時代の火事の備えが女性にまで及んでいたことを物語るものである。 　地震によって起こる火災 　右は、安政２年の大地震による江戸市中の大火の様子を描いた、多色刷り木版による絵図です。崩壊する建物、市中を焼き尽くす炎の勢い、取る物もとりあえず逃げ惑う人々などの様子が描かれ、関東大震災・阪神淡路大震災とともに地震時の火災の恐ろしさを今に伝えています。 　　安政２年(１８５５)焼失市中発動図 　　　　　　飯塚馨家寄託文書

Malcolm, nice find, I think the word "shozoku" means "uniform" and could be applied to any type of fire outfit, I was looking for a word to describe these.

Here is a description of this armor from a leading auction house, notice what information is missing, they never mention kikko, Myochin, or kaga, and when they use Japanese terms there is no English equivalent added for people who do not understand the Japanese term, I think they need to hire Ian to write their descriptions...and check out that sales price.

Mark, I dont know but as I was editing the images I was wondering the exact same thought!

How about this one.

Here is another one that was certainly made for a samurai, a great deal of work went into making this.

Uwe, that would be a lot of embellishments, I think they are mon, here is another one with a lot of mons.

Anthony any images you have would be nice, especially the kikko one as there are not many images of this type online. Uwe you have found a great looking armor, with gyoyo, original matching leather edging and unusual suspension cords, please post some more images if you have them. It is unfortunate that almost all discussion about Japanese armor centers on what is seen by most people as traditional armor and the other types receive almost no mention in most books and exhibits etc. I have spent years trying to glean any information on the subject from the well known English sources but there is not much to go on including when and were this type of armor originated. The ability for Japanese people to sell antique armor directly online has added a lot of knowledge and images of other types of armor. I have purchased a few tatami armors that came in traditional yoroi hitsu but I do not know if they were the original boxs. I have also seen some smaller, lower hitsu which may be for this type of armor. Anthony Bryant says this about tatami armors in his book titled Samurai 1550-1600.

Mark, due to their age tanegashima are not considered to be in the same category as modern firearms, they can be boxed and shipped without any problems or special paper work in the USA, I recently purchased a couple of antique flintllocks and matchlocks from overseas and from the US with no problems.

Anthony, any images of the whole armors? That kikko one has an interesting color arrangement.

Justin, here is a link that may contain information and a list of references that may help you. http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthre ... ost9738209

Well someone thought it was worth $4,500.00