Bugyotsuji

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

I’ve been wondering about crickets, but it could simply be tinnitus.

Strangely the most useful tool in my workshop is possibly a toothpick, the very same one that I have already used for tweaking so many little jobs! Two Sundays ago one of our matchlock troop showed me some photos of a zunari kabuto that he is restoring. He has rubbed it all down to a base in preparation for a lacquer coating. One of the wakidaté side tsunomoto was missing so he has created a new one for it, and that too will be covered in lacquer. I expressed amazement at his courage and ability in attempting such a challenging job! Thinking about that later, and conscious of this thread, I then decided to take a box of restored powder flasks to our latest meet on Sunday April the 12th. They all crowded round as I set them the challenge of finding which parts were original and which bits were restorations. In the beginning no one found anything, and even real old parts were questioned, but gradually as they got their eyes in (with a little help from me!) they started spotting things. Some cheeky questions bubbled up like “If we get the right answer, can we keep them?”

On another level, but in the Meiji period there was a man called Yasunosuke from the Kyoto Ryubundo foundry of Tetsubin iron kettles who specialized in bronze articulated insects. Quite heavy in the hand. These will not break the bank but if anyone ever finds one, go for it! They are collectors’ pieces nowadays. 安の介

Certainly the lower hole has removed the right foot of 門

What he said above. I’ve had some really fine work done with laser welding.