Randy McCall

I recently won an auction lot of three items, which I thought I'd share with the membership for comments. First items are a two-volume set titled "Shinto Oshigata Shu" by Kajima and Uchida (1935). I've touched base with Markus on this set; he hasn't seen a copy of this work before. Being as it appears to be a somewhat fancy set, it's possible it could be a special commentary on their earlier (1928) work Shinto Meisaku Shu. The next item is a hand-written manuscript which Markus deciphered as "Additional notes on the Kyôhô Meibutsu Chô and old meibutsu swords". Interestingly, this manuscript is signed with a kao, suggesting it may be more of a monograph rather than just a set of personal reference notes. Markus was not able to make out the author, but the work is dated Taisho 3. Comments or thoughts on the work welcomed! I do seem to be gathering (mostly by happy accident) a nice selection of rare -- or at least unusual-- works on nihonto oshigata, with about half dating from 1620 to late Edo, and the rest generally from 1910-1938

<Sigh> While I'm not getting into the dirty laundry being cast about, let me note that a public declaration has been made here, freely admitting to repeated breaches of international copyright, both individually and as groups... something authors in general (and the Japanese in particular) do jealously guard. I'd also mention that it's more than possible that some of the authors whose copyright has been violated are members; almost certainly friends of theirs are members here. Might I suggest in future that members refrain from publicly admitting to crimes for which they could well be prosecuted? Just a thought.

The file has been uploaded, and the download link and password to open the file have been sent via PM to all who expressed interest. Hope everyone finds it interesting.

There's been a problem with the hidensho.com web site (server environment issue), which I'm working to ensure is corrected. Once I get past this, I'll get the file broadcast.

As we have some members who only check in at NMB occasionally, I'll give it a few more days and then set up the file broadcast.

Not personally, but an experienced translator of Classical Japanese recommended it.

A Japanese site is offering an automated service for reading / identifying of individual cursive characters. You know, the buggers which often defy reading... To use, you upload photographs of individual characters. For best results, images must be clear, with the background a uniform colour. Instructions are available on the site in Japanese. There's also a pdf of instructions in English: http://mojizo.nabunken.go.jp/doc/legend_en.pdf http://mojizo.nabunken.go.jp/

I will be making HD photographs of the 1620 Ono oshigata scrolls available to interested NMB members (as seen on my volunteer translator site: http://hidensho.com/ono-oshigata-scrolls/scroll-one-hamon/1-image-1/ ) The file will consist of 12 images; six for each scroll. The images will be contained in a password protected and watermarked PDF file. The HD format allows viewers to "zoom in" to examine very faint rubbings and text. Due to file size (15 megs), I will be using a download services (WeTransfer.com). Items posted on this service only remain available for a week, so I'll wait to make it available until I get a good number of responses. Once uploaded, I'll PM members with the download link / password info. If you're interested in receiving a copy, please reply below or PM me.

A seller on Yahoo Japan has posted a lot consisting of seven origami from Honami and Goto houses for various swords. The papers appear to have widely separated dates. These papers have no oshigata rubbings; they are simply text statements. Of course, I have no way to verify if these are as stated, but I thought some of our members would find them interesting. Auction ending: May 28 https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/c599824173 The images provided by the seller appear in one long strip, found at the link below in full size (click to enlarge). You may need to download the image to view it properly. http://www.geocities.jp/aggmjp/t244a.jpg

No problem. From discussions I've had with other people, it seems the drug originates in China. Once the drug runners realized that Customs was intensively screening Chinese postal packages, they started shipping / smuggling the drug to other countries for later mailing to Canada / US. Thus intense screening has slowly been expanded to cover most of Asia. That's a lot of packages. So, even if Australian packages aren't being deliberately held up for scanning, they're likely being caught in the backlog. Canada Post can't ship packages until they've been cleared, and I've been told CP has warehouses of packages waiting for overwhelmed customs staff to get around to checking them... all while even more packages arrive.

Since the beginning of 2017 Canada Customs has intensified its examination of packages of certain sizes originating from any Pacifica nation, particularly packages with complicated or unusual packaging/padding. This in an attempt to intercept fentanyl, which is mainly being delivered through the post. Of course, this is a time consuming process, creating a backlog.. Many people are reporting extensive delays... in fact I just received a package which was supposed to have been delivered in 14 days. It took three months. The contents were three antique woodblock print books (1702 edition of the 古今銘盡大全 "Kokon mei-zukushi taizen" ) with no special packaging or padding.

Definitely interested

I just received Grey Doffin's latest email catalog, which included "Japanese Names and How to Read Them" by Albert Koop and Hogitaro Inada, highly recommended by Grey. I clicked on that link, and found the item was already sold (lucky person). For those who are willing to work with digital versions, a copy of the 1922 edition is available via Archive.org. I don't know if later versions have updated sections: perhaps Grey or others would like to comment. The book is viewable in HTML format, or you can download copies in GZ, PDF, Daisy, ePub, Full Text, Kindle, ZIP and Torrent formats. Book URL: https://archive.org/details/japanesenameshow00koopuoft

Ah, old story then. So it goes...

This interesting article from the Nebraska State Historical society shows a couple of grainy pictures of late 1800s Indian scouts who carried what appear to be, and which the author of the article says, are katana in handachi furniture. I've located a better digital image of one of the pictures (below). One of the pictures was taken in South Dakota, the other in Alberta, Canada. The author of the article posits that visitors from Japan traded or made gifts of swords either to merchants who then sold them on, or perhaps directly to members of these tribes. He lists several groups or sets of Japanese dignitaries who travelled the Frontier during this period on economic, diplomatic or military missions. Article: NH1987Swords.pdf

Well, Rotten Tomatoes rates this as a documentary at 81% (81% of reviewers were positive), 89% of viewers liked it. The problem is that this review of Mifune's life wasn't all that well received... positive, but not very. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mifune_the_last_samurai/ The general opinion seems to be, as with a lot of documentaries or research pieces, it serves best as a source for further study, rather than as an informative / entertaining piece in itself. Some comments from reviewers: The film works best as an appetite stimulant for richer cinematic fare. This concise documentary focuses largely on his artistic partnership with Akira Kurosawa but includes enough about Japan's film industry and the star's charmed life to engross fans and casual viewers alike. A dutiful and diverting but rather bare-bones documentary portrait What the film does succeed at is reminding us what a genius Mifune was and hopefully it will inspire a new generation to discover him. Serves as a fascinating primer on one of the movies' indisputable Icons, as well as taking care of a viewer's to-watch list for months. At the absolute least, you will certainly leave the theater with a list of excellent Toshiro Mifune movies that you either missed altogether, or will be re-watching as soon as possible

No problem folks, glad it was all useful. Or at least interesting If any of our Japanese fluent members could take the time to render some page summaries, I'm sure our non-Japanese literate members would be grateful.

Just an an interesting side note: There was also a thriving business in divination of kao. In competition for this valuable trade were the Shinto temples vs professional onmyoji, practitioners of onmyodo, a traditional Japanese combination of mysticism / cosmology and natural science. In the Edo period the onmyoji were licensed and overseen by the Tsuchimikado clan, the official hereditary diviners to the Tokugawa family. The following image is of the analysis of a kao by an onmyoji. The various inkan include the licensing stamp of the Tsuchimikado. While it's difficult to make out, each line of characters is heavily annotated with much smaller characters brushed in red. Seen up close, the artistic quality of the calligraphy is impressive; in itself a work of art. The paper used was the heavy, high quality grade reserved for government use. The paper is dated 1783.

From my own collection, here's a chart for designing kao based on the most fortuitous characters for the person (using seasonal, astrological and Shinto principles), and for identifying where on a document a kao should be placed to engender the most beneficial results... call it feng shui for signatures. This particular item was a chart belonging to a senior bureaucrat of the Sendai clan, Aki family (noted on the chart). It is dated "Sendai 160"... or the 160th year of the Sendai fief, which was founded in 1600; thus the item is dated 1760 AD. This folding chart is very small (about the size of a piece of typing paper), thus the skill of the scribe is made plain by the extremely tiny characters brushed on both sides of the chart.. Heavy "cover" papers are glued to two sections so when the chart is folded (similar to how a map is folded) it is protected by the end papers ... this was a common form of carrying notes or reference material, the style known as Tatamimono.

I know there has been some discussion in the past on the designing of kao (signature sigils), sometimes seen on nakago. I'll be posting a couple of items of interest -- in separate posts/comments due to file size -- and invite members to comment and discuss. An academic recently sent me a copy of an academic article (in Japanese) on the desgining of kao, including descriptions of how various characters were selected and combined, as well as details such as the stroke order for brushing the kao. I thought some of our members might find it useful, and perhaps would make a few notes in English for those who lack sufficient Japanese. The pdf is very large in file size, but is presented in this way as reducing it's size makes it unreadable. It appears to be a scan of a mimeograph... Designing Kao.pdf

In general, the "sign with your real name" rule is common in web forums where transactions take place. It descends from the days when everyone used a handle rather than their real name; you needed that to make transactions. While I haven't gone over NMB's member listing, I note that at any particular moment about 75% of registered users on the board use handles rather than names. One thing I learned in managing various web forums is that it's better to make one rule and apply it to everyone, than to list various exceptions to a rule. If exceptions are allowed then -- without fail -- you get problems and people who want to debate whether or not they fall into the exception category. No forum manager needs more drama or hassle than they already have. So, I would suspect, the application of the sig name rule. I, at least, have no problem with taking five seconds to type my name.

Just a reminder that I'm looking for help in identifying / translating blades (hamon patterns), oshigata and written text in the 1620 Ono Oshigata scrolls, posted at: http://hidensho.com/ono-oshigata-scrolls/ono-scrolls-background/ High definition images of the scrolls will be made available to volunteers. All work by volunteers is credited to them, both on the Background page and on the individual pages/images. It would be best if volunteers registered as members on the Hidensho site, as this allows them to enter their translations directly. Those interested should either fill out the registration form on the site: http://hidensho.com/application-for-registration/ Or you can PM me here; please include: your name, your preferred user name (handle), and an email address. I'll add you to the system and provide a temporary password which you can change later. I understand, however, that some people would prefer not to bother with registering on another forum, or are uncomfortable using the web-based commenting system on my site. For these cases, those willing to provide translation / identification can arrange to send their work to me directly via PM or email, and I'll post it for you, with appropriate credit. Contact me if you have any questions, comments, etc.

"A Japanese sword featuring a cherry-blossom pattern on its blade is currently on display at the Japan Sword Gallery in Toranomon, in Tokyo’s Minato Ward. The blade sports a cherry blossom design, as well as a running water motif modeled on the Yoshino River. Made in 1821, the sword is a unique and beautiful example of craftsman Minryushi Toshizane’s skillful techniques..." Full article: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2017/04/13/general/antique-sword-showcases-traditional-technique/#.WO9YJqIkqHs

Upcoming auction of interest to firearm collections: 1824 handwritten and illustrated manuscript book on matchlock rifles and their military use. The seller renders the title as: Tanegashima Ryu Kozutsu Menkyo Many illustrations of good-quality artistry (35 pages of the 52 page book). The calligraphy by comparison seems somewhat rough. Condition: Fair - aged, foxing, wear, heavy water stains, tears Auction ending: April 16 http://www.ebay.ca/itm/1-5-RARE-Japanese-Matchlock-Gun-Samurai-martial-arts-Handwriting-book-/252853579218?hash=item3adf3f6dd2:g:By0AAOSwU8hY6s~9

For a fairly modest amount you can take them to a business / printing centre and have them printed out and spiral bound, so they're much like using the formal hardcover English books.