Bugyotsuji

My question is what the inro is made of. (Tenmin was famous for his metalwork.)

If that is metalwork…(?) it could be Tenmin. 天民 Sometimes signed Tenmin-O (翁), or Old Tenmin

大慶作 Taikei Saku March 21, Showa 60

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One Fujiwara Kaneshige (Kinjū) here for example: https://www.e-sword....katana/2210-1172.htm

If the blade is good and the mei is good, but only the date looks 'wrong' for some reason, then what do you do?

This August and September the Bizen Osafuné Sword Museum will be holding a two-part exhibition to mark the founding of Setouchi City, an amalgamation of towns in that area. Two famous armours will be on display, followed by the Sanchōmo/ Yamatorige.

Surely it is an indication of which way to place it over the nakago...(back edge?)

Off topic once more so apologies, but I heard that an Osafune polisher is selling the finest home-made uchiko powder you can imagine; he had been developing it for quite a long time, I hear. I was tempted to buy some in the Osafune Sword Museum shop, but it wasn't cheap! And many years ago in early summer I visited the descendants of the Karo of Ise Kameyama Castle, who had inherited the storehouses and the keys to them. They said they had some lovely swords but were unwilling to bring them down and show them to me. "This is the wrong time of year to remove them from their shirasaya", the father explained.

鉄扇　Tessen Fans used for Tessen-jutsu can be normal spreading fans internally, with strong iron external sections to ward off blades. In the case above though, like Dale, I see maybe a ginnan (ginkgo leaf) kanzashi hair ornament. 芸者の簪 - 検索 画像 (bing.com) 芸者の簪銀杏 - 検索 画像 (bing.com)

語弊熨斗鈴家紋 語弊熨斗鈴家紋 - 検索 画像 (bing.com) 語弊熨斗鈴家紋 - 検索 画像 (bing.com) Maybe we need to add 鈴 suzu (cat bells) to our search parameters. PS Oh, no, that was George above that added those!!!

Chigai Gohei, yes, and it also has elements of Noshi papers in it. 熨斗家紋 - 検索 画像 (bing.com) Another example... 語弊熨斗家紋 - 検索 画像 (bing.com)

Humidity 95% yesterday in my area of Japan. Now… 4:15 am

We coud start a movement called ノーモア指紋！！！ No More Shimon!!! (fingerprints)

Sadly though, although most combatants still carried swords in the Bakumatsu, battles were decided by succeeding evolutions of the gun, which was by then the principal weapon.

貞行 Sadayuki

Regardless of the paperwork, it’s a great object to have, especially with the inscriptions, and the historical background is probably right.

Excellent detective work, Moriyama San! It’s best to double-check everything. But, as Gilles says above, the writing is beautifully done, like an ancient wizard’s manuscript!

https://en.tabi-samu...com/story/event/539/ See under Shōnai, Tokugawa supporters. Made for protection in the Boshin War?

Re 招く maneku When I said ‘called’ above, I meant ‘invited’.

Yes, what that man said! I struggled with that character, but Moriyama San has opened my eyes! Wonderful.

Consider cropping out 2/3 of the unnecessary stuff from your shots. Where are you storing them? If uploading from a phone camera, you will be given a choice of size, so go one less than maximum.

Note that the armourer is Myochin Muneyoshi, but the designs and writings (inscriptions) are by Kawamura Yoshikatsu.

It seems to call the hitai-ate, 夏用 'iron armour for summer'. The 27th Lord of the Shonai domain, retainers to Tokugawa Ieyasu, Sakai ... Tadatsugu Ko, called the armor maker Myochin Muneyoshi from Edo ...and had this made.(?) The various invocations on the front are written and signed by Kawamura Yoshikatsu, plus Kao. These inscription readings are also noted on the pieces of paperwork, and the whole thing is rounded off with 南無阿弥陀仏 Namu Amida Butsu, 他二枚 'plus two other sheets'.

Definitely military rather than for duck hunting. Some kind of (captured?) muzzle-loading percussion wall-gun, …and they are dressed for northern climes, somewhere like Siberia.