kusunokimasahige Posted February 14, 2012 Report Posted February 14, 2012 Its an armband of the KempeiTai isnt it ? Were the letters MP also used during the war ? KM
Bugyotsuji Posted February 14, 2012 Author Report Posted February 14, 2012 Henk Jan, yes, but I was imagining immediate post-war Tokyo when I bought it. The letters on the back indicate it was Kempeitai from Kanto Army Headquarters in Lushun (Japanese 'Ryojun'), China (from sometime between 1919 and 1945?) so with the letters MP perhaps they felt a need to communicate with other colonial forces at some point?
Bugyotsuji Posted February 15, 2012 Author Report Posted February 15, 2012 Kamasu in this case means tobacco pouches rather than their clasps. Kamasu (叺) Ref. http://web.kyoto-inet.or.jp/people/tani ... koire.html Now it's a funny thing because I told this story about the Kamasu to a friend and he said "No, ha ha ha, they are called Gamaguchi!" 蝦蟇口 "Hmmm... Gamaguchi? You are sure?" I asked. "Yes, of course!" he replied. Well, I looked for this word in my dictionaries, but I found almost the same problem. Both words seem to mean types of folding containers, in the case of gamaguchi a snapping purse. We all know what a Menuki is. We all know that Menuki makers adapted Menuki or made clasps especially for tobacco pouches, purses etc. after the Haito-Rei, but what is the word in Japanese for the decorated clasp? I can only think of Tomegane 留め金 (as in Obi-dome 帯留め). Is it Kuchigane? 口金
John A Stuart Posted February 15, 2012 Report Posted February 15, 2012 留金 (留め金), 締め金 seem right, because they actually snap closed. John
estcrh Posted February 16, 2012 Report Posted February 16, 2012 A whimsical little pipe, someone had fun making this.
Bugyotsuji Posted February 16, 2012 Author Report Posted February 16, 2012 Haha that's clever. It must be heavy. The 'stock' part looks the wrong way round to me. Is it fixed, or possible to change the direction?
estcrh Posted February 16, 2012 Report Posted February 16, 2012 Haha that's clever. It must be heavy. The 'stock' part looks the wrong way round to me. Is it fixed, or possible to change the direction?I cant tell, here is the auction link. https://www.jauce.com/view2.php?seturl= ... /r87094779
edzo Posted February 16, 2012 Report Posted February 16, 2012 Hi All, Just thought i'd forward a copy of a kuniyoshi print in which a warrior is holding a smoking cannon for the gun guys. I know that it not very good but thought you would enjoy it. Ed F
John A Stuart Posted February 16, 2012 Report Posted February 16, 2012 Why do I get the image of Sly Stallone with the M-60 coming up from under the water firing gleefully at dozens of soldiers whilst bullets whiz impotently by himself? One tough samurai there. John
Bugyotsuji Posted February 26, 2012 Author Report Posted February 26, 2012 Great print there. Somewhere earlier on this (?) thread I posted some prints like that, maybe including that one, but it would take too long to find them! :lol: Here is a shot of a Netsuke from Hurtig's 'Masterpieces of Netsuke Art' p.174. Described (oddly) as a "Dutch cannon, metal, signed Ishigoro Masayoshi".
watsonmil Posted February 26, 2012 Report Posted February 26, 2012 Dear Piers, Not exactly a Dutch Cannon . I find the wheels add NOTHING to the little teppo, ... and as a netsuke would be more of a hinderence ( getting caught in the Obi ). I also note the wheels do not even look contemporary to the work on the netsuke. Are you sure they belong to this netsuke ?? ... Ron Watson
Baka Gaijin Posted February 26, 2012 Report Posted February 26, 2012 Hi Piers & Edzo, Here's the Kuniyoshi catalogue raisonnés: http://www.kuniyoshiproject.com/ A wonderful site constantly being added to. To date almost all the known prints from all series are here. Cheers
Bugyotsuji Posted February 26, 2012 Author Report Posted February 26, 2012 Ron, yes, but you can see why it caught my eye. Actually there is no way of knowing how old the Netsuke is, let alone the carriage. Thanks for the Kuniyoshi link, Malcolm.
kusunokimasahige Posted February 26, 2012 Report Posted February 26, 2012 What a great site !! Thanx for posting it ! KM
Toryu2020 Posted February 26, 2012 Report Posted February 26, 2012 Piers et al - Regarding the Teppo-pipe (Teppipe?) it is only the wrong way round till you realize that smoking is bad for your health! Then "holding a holding a gun to your head" makes perfect sense... -t
Bugyotsuji Posted March 31, 2012 Author Report Posted March 31, 2012 Just got back from a month in Europe during which time I felt like a fish out of water. How do you honourable members maintain such a strong interest in things Japanese living in a 'hostile' Western environment? (If not hostile, then at best indifferent.) Apologies for the lack of updates this week and last week and the week before... In a London Nihonto shop I was surprised to come across a purple Jinbaori with the Bizen-Cho Mon of our local Lord Ikeda and it shouted out for repatriation. Had it been in a Scottish collection for many years? Despite the rather hefty price tag I took a risk and have now brought it back carefully folded inside my suitcase. Apologies to Clive who I was told had been admiring it. It now hangs in a friend's house among his collection of Ikeda artifacts. Lazarnick's two volume Netsuke and Inro Artists and How to Read their Signatures appeared at a reasonable price (600 GBP) so I bought that too. It takes pride of place on the bending bookshelf. Update on the Sukenobu pistol with tsuba. (Displayed in the exhibition at the castle, it has drawn interest and comments they tell me. Must go and see it.) By a complete stroke of luck a rather rare katana by this same Bizen smith (mentioned in Fujishiro) was offered locally so today after a bit of negotiation and release of other bits, I have the option to buy it. (Well, it is in the pipeline and my name is first on the waiting list) Tokubetsu Kicho paperwork. How cool is that?
Brian Posted March 31, 2012 Report Posted March 31, 2012 Very nicely done Piers, we await pics of your new acquisitions eagerly. Brian
Bugyotsuji Posted April 1, 2012 Author Report Posted April 1, 2012 Easier said than done, Brian. The Jimbaori/Jinbaori no longer at hand. Perhaps I can shoot next time I go round there. The books are in the UK. All I have for now are some amateurish shots of the sword, Mei and paperwork.
Bugyotsuji Posted April 2, 2012 Author Report Posted April 2, 2012 Correction and apologies. In an earlier post I said that I had bought this sword. It seems that I have jumped the gun. I have not actually bought it yet. No money or goods have passed hands. I do not have the official owner's documents. Without going into detail, may I correct the earlier post above (done) and simply state here that I have every belief that the sword will be coming this way.
Bugyotsuji Posted April 14, 2012 Author Report Posted April 14, 2012 The first Cherry Blossom festival matchlock displays and two requests fell on the same Sunday, 8 April. Half of us went to the little hilltop Castle of Susai (I am first in line there) and the other half went to Tsuyama Castle. We all met up later for a hearty meal of Yakiniku.
Ken-Hawaii Posted April 14, 2012 Report Posted April 14, 2012 Do you detect a bit of envy from out here, Piers? Ken
Guido Posted April 14, 2012 Report Posted April 14, 2012 Piers, are you restricted (I'm not familiar with the Japanese law when it comes to firearms) to shoot blanks into the air (which of course makes sense at public displays), or do you also do "real" target practice, i.e. with bullets?
kusunokimasahige Posted April 14, 2012 Report Posted April 14, 2012 Piers, Nice you were allowed to still shoot even though it misfired at the start Probably also safety related, but still. KM
Bugyotsuji Posted April 14, 2012 Author Report Posted April 14, 2012 Don't be jealous Ken. It's bloody hard work! :lol: Guido, yes, we fire black powder with blanks. Even to allow us to do this the Police require a complete new book of paperwork each and every time, with planning starting months in advance. Every single shot has to be accounted for, with a list of the shooters, a diagram of who shoots where, and copies of the registration certificates for every gun. We do it as a martial art, wearing Dogi indoors; the public displays are in full armor/armour. No gunpowder must be left over! All misfires need to be attempted again... (I am not the chap in black there, KM) You get used to spotting the police presence among the crowds. There is a different group who have a further license to go and shoot actual ball at shooting ranges, but although I have done that, the above is what I usually do in Japan.
kusunokimasahige Posted April 14, 2012 Report Posted April 14, 2012 Dang !! really thought that was you Interesting that you need so much paperwork to fire your teppo ! KM
Guido Posted April 14, 2012 Report Posted April 14, 2012 Guido, yes, we fire black powder with blanks. Even to allow us to do this the Police require a complete new book of paperwork each and every time, with planning starting months in advance. Every single shot has to be accounted for, with a list of the shooters, a diagram of who shoots where, and copies of the registration certificates for every gun. ... No gunpowder must be left over! All misfires need to be attempted again... You get used to spotting the police presence among the crowds.Sounds more like the police are trying to discourage you than genuine safety concerns ...
cabowen Posted April 14, 2012 Report Posted April 14, 2012 Sounds more like the police are trying to discourage you than genuine safety concerns ... Ding ding ding! We have a winner!!!!! I have been told this by more than a few police and government workers....make it such a hassle that few will bother....the self-policed state.
Bugyotsuji Posted April 16, 2012 Author Report Posted April 16, 2012 Sadly, yes, but it is a struggle between the two, those who would do it and know the law, and those who will have to take responsibility if there is any kind of accident. An irresistible force meeting an immovable mass? Who has more vital energy? Against all the odds, Sawada Taira has just succeeded in setting up another fledgling matchlock group in Tsuyama, I see in last week's news.
kusunokimasahige Posted April 16, 2012 Report Posted April 16, 2012 If the Taira are rearing their head again, the Minamoto should step in now ! KM
Bugyotsuji Posted April 16, 2012 Author Report Posted April 16, 2012 If the Taira are rearing their head again, the Minamoto should step in now ! KM Agreed.
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