Tripartite Armour Displays

[Bugyotsuji]

Recently museums in this area (and elsewhere I presume) have found ways to cooperate with each other, such as offering similar complementary exhibitions over similar periods.

 

At present in Okayama there is a very good Katchu and Kabuto display at the Prefectural museum, with interesting examples assembled from all over Japan. There is also an exhibition at the Hayashibara Museum of Art, http://www.hayashibara-museumofart.jp/data/406/exhibition_tpl/

and another at Okayama Castle. And by coincidence (or not) there is a meeting of the Japanese Armour Society this weekend in Okayama. Nihon Katchu Bugu Kenkyu Hozon Kai 日本甲冑武具研究保存会

http://Japanese-armor.org/jpn/

 

Anyway, I decided to start the process of visiting all three exhibitions, and today headed off to the Okayama Kenritsu Habutsukan 岡山県立博物館 in the grounds of Koraku-en, one of 'the top three' gardens in Japan.

http://www.pref.okayama.jp/kyoiku/kenhaku/schedule.htm

Entry was cheap (¥250) as I could prove I am over 65. The display was pleasantly better than I was expecting. Sadly photographs are not permitted, but I gladly bought a catalogue, super cheap at ¥1,300.

 

There was only one other Westerner in there, but it was a Tuesday! Anyone else in Japan right now? Mark?

 

When the Muses take me I will add some descriptions and reflections, for this one and the other two when I get around to visiting them.

[Bugyotsuji]

Today I dropped the wife off at a shopping center and zoomed over to Hayashibara to see their exhibit. They bought the Ikeda family treasures at the end of WWII so much of the display was Ikeda related, but since it had been catalogued way back when, the dates and related facts are comparatively rich. Certain objects caught my eye, but sadly no photographs were allowed, the lighting was dim and there is no illustrated booklet this time. I will have to rely on the printed sheet to describe things when I get home. Sitting in the car with the aircon running.

 

(Oh, I took advantage of the free parking at H to nip over to the castle, but I found their exhibition the least exciting of the three.)

[Bugyotsuji]

Incidentally there was one room full of swords at the Okayama Prefectural Museum, but the Sanchomo was not on display, and even though I asked for a Zuroku at the front desk they did not offer one, not even a simple list of the sword exhibits. Their attention was obviously on the armour rooms.

The reason I particularly asked was that there was an intriguing hirazukuri Wakizashi, with huge wide blade, made by the Mito Lord Tokugawa in Tempo 9 (1838)and the sayagaki was also written by him. (Private owner.)

「脇差 時計紋(徳川斉昭作)」 Tokugawa Nariaki (1800~1860) who opposed Ii Naosuke.

 

Quick search of the internet found only this one image, the sword at top.

https://msp.c.yimg.jp/yjimage?q=T1RkqHsXyLHQdzvy11zKJRlufseUNG4XKc.xncbGGYkqBjSmVmWNtYCvplEjdtIymogXWVY_FLZA_7myrhJ3pUjTsdERyAlA91QH5Y2Y6sU373xbu56j28jsm2NY8ZNOc12KUdT6_NG9hgf2Ow--&sig=1389q7ros&x=201&y=251