Bugyotsuji

Many people in Japan will bring things out only if they ‘like’ the visitor!

Welcome. Why don’t you give us your ideas first, Khalid? We do have several threads here showing off people’s personal displays, their stands, their cases, their accessories, their lighting, etc. Maybe take some time to look through those first and get some inspiration?

Bishū Osafuné Katsumitsu Nōshū Seki Takeyama Yoshinao Saku

Japanese bureaucracy loves repetition of the obvious. The facts, the facts, the facts, well in advance, then again in advance, and finally on the spot, and make sure to keep all records. That you did tell them in advance. In Japanese even better. Even then, they will surely ask for some detail you had not anticipated. Keep your explanations minimal. Be prepared to be taken off to a separate room where they may ask you to fill out forms in Japanese. If you have connections or invitations from Japanese dealers, Togishi, etc., make sure to have all that correspondence, contact details etc., ready to hand. A regular courier might be able to help you with detailed advice, but trade secrets etc., would they be willing to share? Expect it to be a hassle, and to take several hours of everyone’s time at the airport, but ultimately not absolutely impossible. (Just to get the ball rolling here.)

Correct, they usually have a small vase or container inside. Jean, I know camellia were considered unlucky by some, but we can do azaleas too! Oh, and create that tokonoma!!!

John, there were both brass and iron, and some silver. One came up at auction some years back and I stopped bidding at £600… They have shot up in value.

Why didn’t I think of that!? Here’s one I made!

Ultimately almost anything could have been used as a Netsuke, including fishing net weights. I have several primitive objects which were probably used that way. These are the only stag antler bits here at the moment, from my odds ‘n ends box, but one has that straight-cut section. Some may be Ainu work. and over

Sadly no, John. I have seen many of them in different shapes, usually with that straight-cut piece(?) missing. Some kind of whistle I used to think, but no-one has yet provided a satisfactory answer. Can anyone help?

忍者 Can be read either ‘Shinobi mono’ or ‘Ninja’, often shortened in speech to ‘Shinobi’. A woman in this role could be referred to as ‘Kunoichi’ = く　ノ　一 (The sound suggests possibly: ‘First in suffering’, or ‘one of the most stressful things in life’) Write those three sounds in order and you get 女 Onna.

If you are ever in the area of Takahashi, a hike up to Bitchū Matsuyama Castle is quite rewarding.

You need to spend quality time looking through collections, at photos in books, in museums (Pietro has a huge list of links) or/and in direct handling sessions. Gradually you will begin to ‘see’ with your own eyes what original Netsuke were. As with Nihonto, you need to see many good blades in order to develop an eye. It is hard to make progress looking only at poor quality blades. PS And some Netsuke I see are still borderline for me… i.e. very difficult to judge.

If anyone is wondering what something is, everything on the list at the start of this thread can be illustrated if necessary. Even battered and bruised…

Yes, it’s upside down Japanese, but sadly no, I can’t read it.

Ninja Rule Number One Leave no proof you ever existed.