Bugyotsuji

That idea goes easy on the old ticker, Barry, and it makes sense! Thank you. (Just having a curry made by the missiz. This one’s a hit.)

Recently I showed a menuki with a missing central post (tubular) to a couple of people, asking whether it could/should be replaced. The answer was no, as the use of heat would affect the gilding zogan on the front. No alternative solution was suggested. This answer was not really very satisfactory. Apart from aesthetics, is it really a problem to have a missing central post in one of a pair of menuki, or am I unduly worried? Asking for a friend from Ilkla Moor baht 'at.

Anthony, great shot(s). Might just show those on the day!

Haha, no John, just a decorative fan with some martial exhortation written on it. Just in front of it though is a pill-lock squeeze gun, nigiri-deppō or kaihō-jū.

On 6 June we will hold a meeting at Kibitsu Hiko Jinja for everyone to bring a photo and reminisce about Mr Ō. There will be obento for lunch. Mrs Ō has kindly agreed to attend. Last December I made some video shorts of him and the teppōtai performing in the Budōkan. He was physically weak, but stood straight and spoke with authority. Little did I know at the time that this would be his last active role as leader.

Anthony, it is so good to hear from you. Yes, your ‘baby whale’ is happily performing great active service, a new life for the wider community, no small thanks to you and Marjolijn. As to the flaming bolt, what you say makes sense and I will convey your idea to the members. We have a 30 Monme with similar short barrel too, but Mr O was steadfast in his opinion that these were Hiya-zutsu, i.e. especially for firing Bo-hiya. I carefully said nothing.

Concept. Hydrangea example. Look at the ‘coffee bean’ leaf tip. Oak leaf examples. Row 2 from right,No.4 ’Nakagawa Kashiwa’

In one Mon book there was a photo of a somewhat similar leaf labelled ‘Ajisai’ (hydrangea). Nothing like the hydrangea leaves in the garden here, but there are apparently many varieties. This is a one-off however, as I am unable to find any other examples to cross-reference or back it up. In summary, oak leaf for me (but possibly hydrangea).

The 'dry' (?) leaf is highly stylized, but if I had to put money on it, my fifty cents would go on 柏 kashiwa, a Japanese oak leaf. Food was presented on oak leaves, especially in the context of shrines, with a spiritually 'clean' connection to the gods. In kamon, the oak leaf is also shown in kage/sukashi style, the 'bones' (veins) in clear outline. Occam's razor might also point to oak as a safe bet. Would I put a whole dollar on this, you ask? Well, let me think about that... PS Agreeing with Jean about Katchushi, without the 'Ko'. Liking both of those tsuba BTW.

If it’s big bronze I think you need the right size of house to display it. You may need to love the material first, and there could be a steep esoteric learning curve from those that know and appreciate good work and famous artisan names. Kevin Page had a glorious basement full of Meiji bronze figures in his shop in London but much of it was heart-rendingly lost in a flood some years ago.

Very good question, Alex. 9/10

Agreed. Also, note that where Tachi Shi has been well rubbed away, 'Den' looks to have been added at a later time.

Studied under Suishinshi Masahide, so 1800s. Sayings, prayers, exhortations were often cut into sword tangs.

國安 Kuniyasu, first half of YBBB’s translation above.

Fantastic news, congratulations. Lack of communication between departments places heavy stress on everyone!