Bugyotsuji

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!

Been a bit busy lately so just reading this for the first time. Japanese without question (all parts), as others have said above, but using Classical Chinese, just as Europeans might once have quoted ancient Latin or Greek.

Unable to take part recently in the live firings with a bad knee, I have been able to concentrate on doing these static displays, and taking photographs. This time we chose a few representative guns, and I brought some different accessories for variety. (If we show the same objects every year, things can get really stale.) Although it is a Japanese shrine and we were ostensibly showing Japanese hinawa-ju related stuff, I included a couple of Korean pole weapons which Hideyoshi's troops would have encountered on the Korean peninsula. 'Bunroku-Keicho no Eki' in Japanese, and to the Koreans the 'Imjin Wars'. In the back of my mind was the possibility that the shrine priests might not approve, so I was prepared to take flak, but everyone accepted it in their stride with no negative comments. Left foreground Bronze 勝字銃 'Victory mark' 'Seungja Chongtong' hand gun, dated 萬暦 Banreki 11 (1583) Three-barrel 'Sanyan Chong' gun, iron, 1590s(?)

Photo of our recently departed leader Mr Ōmori

Golden Week includes Children's Day on the 5th of May (formerly called Boys' Day). This year our matchlock troop were asked to perform during the morning at the Kibitsu Hiko Jinja, head shrine for the Ikeda family of Bizen (Okayama) which is close by the dividing line between Bizen and *Bitchu provinces. The blessings ceremony was fairly elaborate. The Shojitsu Kenrikata IchiRyu Katchu Battojutsu sword group also performed, and we all provided entertainment for families and their children throughout the day. During the afternoon, still in armour, we sat for photographs with families, and displayed some of our swords and guns and accessories for the public to see and learn about. The day was special for me too with visiting family and friends. *(Kibitsu Jinja next door is the head shrine for Bitchu and the Abe family of Fukuyama, now Hiroshima.)

Oh, but that was my first opinion, and you asked for a second opinion, no? Hmmm...

梵鐘・仏像・銅像・寺院仏具の　老子製作所 | 梵鐘(釣鐘)・寺院仏具・仏像・銅像の老子製作所は、伝統工芸高岡銅器と共に 鐘の専門メーカーとして、寺院仏具金物や洋鐘、カリヨン、モニュメント等の鋳物製品を製造しています Although Lao Tsu or Laozu is spelt like this, the Buddhist manufacturer of bronze bells is called "Oigo" (Old Child) 老子 with these characters, so presumably that is how they would like it to be read. Their blurb says that they made/make objects in the spirit of Laotsu. 老子青銅作品 - 検索