Bugyotsuji

Jean, down below left, where it says Wei H. Glad you are reaching out to various Togishi, Wei. Actually, even in Japan there are few who will touch Yari. There is one guy here called Fukutake San who says he enjoys polishing them but maybe he has special stones.(?)

Umabari/Bashin/Kankyūtō. Sadly in poor condition, but it does have some redeeming features. Fairly slim, the kasane at the Nakago ranges from 22mm~25mm. Overall length 22.1 cm, or nearly 8 3/4”. The cross-cuts on the tang may have been to enhance thumb grip. The characters for ‘protection against lightning’ (Kaminari yoké) 雷除 can still be seen faintly among the blade scratches. This was a general invocation against natural calamities like fire, flood and earthquakes, and the centers for such prayers were Kitano Tenmangu in Kyoto, Kaminari Jinja, etc. Although used as fleams for horses’ ankles, there is a theory that they were pushed into the temples of trophy heads after battle for Kubi jikken before your leader. And 雷除

Just had lunch in Fukuoka at the udon place called Bizen Fukuoka Ichimonji, and was explaining to one of the offspring that this name means more than just a random udon shop by the river.

Can’t see ‘Fukuoka’ mentioned anywhere, though.

Love it. Congratulations!

Jean, did you ever get a reading for that Mei? Recently I came across a Kankyuto, bashin/umabari, and realized that it’s been some time since I saw any. There must be a few out there, but… are they just not appearing in the marketplace ?

And they’ve just received a donation from abroad! So they’re now looking into the possibility of facilitating such international donations from now on, although that was not part of the original plan.

Sorry to hear that he has passed away. I have his signed book on pole weapons. Is his wife still going strong?

Meiji 2, father, 1st gen. Sukekane, on the cusp before the son took over the name. All very close, but Alex clinches it!

Wow, that's close! Very close.

Here’s another quiz question. Two sides and two different reflective backgrounds. What does this blade appear to be? Tanto, NBTHK Hozon. A B

On Saturday Mr Koike told me they have already seen over 1.5 million JPY in donations towards the project. (One person alone apparently gave ¥1,000,000.)

https://www.town.okuizumo.shimane.jp/kosodate-kyoiku/kyoiku/bunkazai/1001000000611.html See No.62 圓正堂　圓正寺 At the end of the inscription we can see the word: 木刀 bokutō (not chatō)

Those are both sweet, John! (Was the little kozuka still inside the first copper example?)

Check out 武蔵太郎安国 Musashi Taro Yasukuni (Mito) who also signed 左正安国