javier

Very sad news. My condolences to his beloved ones. I learned a lot from all his contributions, he was very generous sharing all his knowledge and amazing high class pieces in superb pictures. 😔

Just leaned about this sad news, I hope he gets better soon. I have never meet him in person but I learned a lot from his contributions in this forum and other nihonto sources. I am really grateful to him.

Hi All the blades that I bought in the past in Japan were shipped to US without any issues. Could you please let me know if there are any restrictions for blades shipped from Japan to a hotel in London or Paris ? Thanks in advance Javier

Hi! Following the previous discussions about the protective capabilities of the different Kabuto types I found this interesting article from the Royal Society of Chemistry. The article describes the results of a non invasive study of the metallurgical properties and phase composition performed on a hari bachi Haruta kabuto signed by "Haruta Yoshihisa Saku". This kabuto was formerly part of the H Rusell Robinson Collection. Javier kabuto composition.pdf

Hi Last week looking for some some books in an old book store in Buenos Aires y came across with an argentinian pocket book called "El Sable Japonés" in english "The Japanese saber" in spanish language. This book was printed and published in 1960 in Buenos Aires and the author was Dr. Ernesto Herzfeld. According to the text at that date (1960) Dr. Ernesto Herzfeld was already collecting and studing Japanese swords for more than 40 years and also mentions that this book is a brief of another book by the same author titled “Las Armas del Japón Feudal”, “The Weapons from Feudal Japan”. That was a big surprise for me since I didn´t knew that there were local nihonto collectors and scholars in Argentina since 1920 and that they were authors of books in local language. My biggest surprise was when I learned from the book pictures about Dr. Herzfeld´s interesting collection: Among others -Soshu Hiromitsu (1350) – tanto. -Akihiro (1299) - tanto -Hizen Kanehiro (1661) -tanto -Bizen Yukimitzu (1394)- tanto -Daisho with “Buke Tzukuri” mountings – Nagamobu from Musachi. -Sukemure from Suruga (1673) – -Myoju – hamisashi with Goto Ichijo fittings. -Daisho, the wakizashi from Bizen Masatsune (XVII century) and the Katana from Mino Kanemoto (1544) both with Goto Ichijo fittings. -Etchizen Kunitsugo – Tachi. -Efu Tachi -Uda Kunimune- Genuki no Tachi. I wonder if any of the members of the forum had the chance to meet Dr. Ernesto Herzfeld from Argentina. Due to this book I was also able to find another pocket book from argentina also in Spanish language called "Tsuba las guardas del sable japonés" in english “Tsuba the guards of the Japanese saber” that was written by Jean Roger Riviere also in 1960, printed and published in Buenos Aires in 1961, this book includes pictures of tsubas from Dr. Hertzfeld´s collection and to Mr. Ignacio Kaufmann´s collection. It seems that there was an active group of collectors in those days in Buenos Aires. I will appreciate if someone from the forum has any additional information to share about these senior collectors and authors from Argentina. Javier. 1.pdf 2.pdf 3.pdf 4.pdf 5.pdf

Hi Malcom Yes you are right, I have also uploaded Yoshindo’s interview in the YouTube Nihonto folder in the Nihonto General Discussion Related section of the forum yesterday. Javier

Very interesting interview with Yoshindo Javier

Javier

Hi Thank you all for sharing all your knowledge! I am glad that this post brought different discussions since each answer and question is a wonderful learning experience for a beginner like me. Thank you Ian for your effort in providing a translation of the inscriptions in the Shikoro! As a history lover I am always fascinated with this kind of additional information that connect us with little pieces of history. The reason why I decided to buy a Zunari Kabuto was because some time ago doing my regular internet research about Katchu, Nihonto and other Japanese antiques I learned about the history of the Ii Naomasa Kabuto in the Royal Armouries Museum https://royalarmouries.org/the-ii-naomasa-kabuto/ I guess that several o the members of the forum are aware of this Kabuto after seen the pictures of that red Zunari I definitely wanted to buy one! That red package (Kabuto+Menpo) is amazing ! By the way my soccer team in Buenos Aires is called the Red Devils ( Club Atletico Independiente ) so it was love at first sight with the li Naomasa Kabuto! Just kidding! I also have a ressei men Menpo so I am planning to buy a Kabuto & mempo stand and spend hours watching the complete set luckily my wife Leticia is a psychologist and she understands people like me! Again thank you all for your generosity in sharing your knowledge! Javier

more pictures attached

Hi Thank you all for your comments and for sharing your knowledge ! The Zunari has some inscriptions in the Shikoro -pictures attached- I will appreciate if someone from the forum can please give me a hand with the explanation of those inscriptions and if possible a translation. Javier

Hi A few days ago I bought my first Kabuto this humble Zunari Kabuto. My understanding is that this is a Hineno type since the central plate is under the visor. My begginer guess and "please consider that this is just a guess" is that this piece belongs to the Edo period, but I would like to hear from more experienced members of the forum, any additional explanation will be highly regarded. I am aware that this is not a high quality kabuto but I really like it! And I would like to learn as much as I can from this piece of history. I have been reeding a very interesting old post called "The Zunari Kabuto (Zu nari bachi 頭形鉢) that was initiated by Dave in 2013 in the old forum -Nihon-No-Katchu Samurai Forum- that brought very interesting discussions and information from several collectors and pictures of different Zunari Kabutos. I read from the post that there was a specific book but in Japanese language, I was wondering if there is additional information about Zunari aviable in english language since I am eager to learn more abouth this kabuto type. Javier.-

Congratulations Dave! Thank you for sharing your amazing journey ! Well deserved! Javier.-

Nice Saya!

http://www.giuseppepiva.com/en/works/shokumō-menpō Interesting Shokumō menpō. Javier