jamesicus

Thank you for your input, Brian. James

I haven't participated in any real-life kantei sessions -- I have learned what little I know following postings on this Message Board which, I might add, I have found to be very informative and enlightening. I would appreciate all comments, suggestions and corrections to my kantei attempt at .......... http://jp29.org/nihnagamaki.htm .......... please forgive me sending you to an off-site web page, but there is simply too much information and too many images to post it all here. I will be glad to post any information excerpts or images here should this post generate some discussion. I might add that Paul B. assisted me with some of the information a while ago, but I became quite ill at that time and had to abandon the project. I am very grateful to Paul for his assistance at that time. James

Fully functional in smart phones - at least in Apple iPhone and Samsung Galaxy. James

Thank you for your feed back, Brian. I have composed this alternate Home page that includes more references and resources. I am not happy with the colors (they represent black and vermilion saya lacquer), but I can easily change them via the style sheet. Edit: The alternate Home page using the same color scheme as the individual pages (which could also be changed). Suggestions are most welcome. James

I have added heading information I forgot to include previously - a touch of senility I am afraid. James

Please visit my updated Web site. All feedback is welcome. James

In my non-web presence life I am a western tradition Calligrapher and hand write most things in an Italian Renaissance hand. I do try to compose my web pages so that they will render and function in mobile devices (smart phones and the like). _________________ James Portal to my web sites and pages Mobile compatible and accessible to people with disabilities

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/09/14/wo ... ese-sword/

A wall in my Den/Scriptorium:

There is certainly plenty of online information relating to seppuku that can be accessed using various search engines such as Google. I think the following web page offers very good information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seppuku I lived in Japan in the early 1960s and by that time many of the vestiges of "old Japan" were fading away: I certainly thought ritual seppuku was a thing of the past - gone forever. I departed Japan in 1964, so imagine my dismay when in 1970 I read the account of public seppuku by famed Japanese author Yukio Mishina (and one of his followers) at the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JASDAF) headquarters (that I had visited several times) after an unsuccessful attempt to incite the armed forces to stage a coup! Refer to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yukio_Mishima It seems that the protocols for ritual seppuku changed somewhat over time, and I seem to remember reading somewhere that a tanto was not always required - that a favorite wakizashi was acceptable also (a katana being too unwieldy?). James

I am intrigued by katakiri-bori carving. I include several photos (not very good I am afraid) with some comments on my Utilitarian Tanto koshirae web page James

I think Samurai Swords - A Collector's Guide to Japanese Swords, Clive Sinclaire - Chartwell Books, London, 2009, is an excellent foundational reference. James

Yes, Brian, that is what I believe. Here are some images of a recent acquisition: The kôgatana is inscribed on the omote Tango No Kami Kanemichi (Shotô Mishina smith) Although scuffed and worn from use, the ura is in polish with a wavy (gunome midare) hamon. Close-up of hamon - I do not discern any obvious jihada. I hope I have got this right - I welcome corrections. Please excuse the photo quality - I still have trouble with polish glare. James

Very nicely illustrated and well explained response. Thank you. James

I have purchased much of my koshirae and tosogu from them, corresponding directly with Andy. It is a pleasure doing business with him - he is extremely knowledgeable and conscientious in providing detailed and well researched information. Patient, too, in resolving money transfer problems caused by my bank (Andy lives in Tokyo). All in all, in my experience a fine enterprise to conduct business with. James

Thank you for the follow-up Christian - and the interesting tsuba image. Many years ago - in my earliest collecting years - Inami Hakusui, owner of the Japan Sword Shop in Tokyo, prevailed upon me to buy a deer antler katanakake instead of the ubiquitous lacquered type that I wanted. He explained he had a personal fondness for the former. I did purchase the one he recommended and used it for a few years however, I still preferred the "traditional style", and so I sold the deer antler katanakake in order to buy one. That was a mistake due to my ignorance of the significance of Sika in Japanese culture. Deer (Sika) antler katanakake were discussed briefly on this Message Board a while back: http://www.nihontomessageboard.com/nmb/ ... f=9&t=5635 http://nihontomessageboard.com/nmb/view ... 77&start=0 James

Especially on these two pages: This page and This page James

I very much appreciate the help rendered to me by members of this Board. I have included the following prominently displayed text on my web pages as appropriate: Some of the attributions on this page result from information generously contributed by several members of the Nihontô Message Board. Thank you, James

And once again, thank you, Franco. The stems threw me for they appeared atypical to me, but after viewing numerous online images again I see them in a different light. James

Yes, my post was obtuse and I am afraid puzzling - my apologies. The question: what are the flowers depicted on these fittings? Thanks, James

Again, I seek help: Thanks, James

I have never tasted that - but it looks delicious. I am, however, a yaki-soba addict (and sencha I should add). James

Thank you for that information Kunitaro-san - and the very nice photo. It is a long time ago, but I remember it well. A delightful recollection. James

And thank you, Franco. I thought I was pretty knowledgeable about fittings, but I am finding out I actually know very little. It is a humbling - but rewarding - experience. Added: I did wade through the 28 pages (64 items per page) of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts Tsuba collection (http://www.mfa.org/search/collections?keyword=tsuba) this afternoon - a very enlightening but exhausting adventure for me! And thank you for the most excellent Cherry blossom image, Franco. James

Thank you very much, John - I do appreciate the difficulty in differentiating the foliage/flowers. James