Bugyotsuji

髙田房守 Takada Fusamori ... is what it looks like.

Libby, This oriental gunpowder tester sounds like a precious memento of your grandfather. My feeling is that it is from the late 1800s. If it is not in your way, I would suggest keeping it, and when holding it in your hand experiencing a connection with both him and perhaps a gunsmith or powder quality tester of Eastern Asia. As to whether it is Japanese or Chinese, even if I were to take it in hand I still might not be sure. As a rule of thumb, more decorative objects tend not to be Japanese. I will continue to look for any similar examples... Thank you for sharing it!

https://sanmei.com/contents/en-us/p1133.html (Some reading about three generations here. You can put the name into a search field and run searches.)

Logically, you are correct. But, why do men fall for beautiful women and vice versa? 衝動買い Shodogai.... translates to 'impulsive purchase' in English.

Could it not go into Kanbun shinto?

My first thought was that this is a nice idea, but dream on. Unless you have super powers, naturally including a photographic memory, it would be an impossible task in three months, or even a year. Much better to find a very good example already in the US, and it might even be cheaper. In fact, though, after reading some of the advice here, it does seem possible to narrow down the task somewhat. You will never get a 100% perfect result, even if all your careful timings and plans fall into line. There will always be an element of gamble and risk, and you'll have to keep open the possibility of coming away empty-handed, but you might find something, and it will certainly be a fun trip! And you'll almost certainly want to go again! Wishing you good luck, and please keep us updated!

This is a gift to Fukushima Sensei. From Okamoto and Murakami.

Ideas, yes, but nothing definitive. It looks like a name, possibly the shop or person who placed the order, and the artisan needs to know the phonetic pronunciation more than the actual kanji. In a hidden position, katakana is simpler and easier to scratch/inscribe; if written in kanji, there would be a problem as to how exactly to read it later without offending the person of that name.(?)

Hayashi is written in hiragana. The scratched letters on the left of the photo are katakana, not kanji. Possibly サカベ… (Sakabe)

Geraint, he has since kindly posted further photos but on various different threads.

Adam Wynn verified what translation, Peter? Nothing else apart from 山田大住...(佐?) Can you post a quick shot of the whole blade, with tip upright, i.e. tip north, nakago towards you?

What Jean is saying is that a tsuba that has been cold-chiselled by hand will be very crisp in execution, fine, even exquisite. This gives a very different result from when bubbly metal is poured into a mo(u)ld for mass production.

Victoria, it may be a cast copy, as Marcin above suggests. It reads 'Soten', a well-known maker of brightly decorated three-dimensional 'sukashi' tsuba. Run a search for 'Soten' on this site; there is plenty of information here. https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/search/?q=Soten&quick=1&type=forums_topic (Don't blame the store, most antique shop owners wouldn't know.)

Plenty of information out there in Japanese. Three generations. https://www.bing.com/search?pglt=297&q=刀+吉原国家&cvid=7657a300528140e895c8749ccc9b96cd&gs_lcrp=EgRlZGdlKgYIABBFGDkyBggAEEUYOdIBCTE1ODkzajBqMagCALACAA&FORM=ANNTA1&PC=TBTS

Would go nicely with my Tantō!

(Oh, from Netsuke and Inro artists by George Lazarnick)

Have a look at some Hōmin examples, Daniel.

Sword shops will ask you what you are looking for. Antique katana? Will you want it in shirasaya or full koshiraé? Papered or unpapered. (Rough budget?) Is there any particular age, or area, or blade pattern, or smith that particularly attracts you already? This will help them narrow down what to bring out and show you, wasting no-one’s time.

金工 Kinkō Precious metals artisan

Back of the calf, above the knee? The eye of Sauron?

Good question. This is why we all collect reference books, etc.

Showa 17, with tag by some top graffiti artist!

That's great, Shawn. Thanks. 表面 omote men, front side (?) 先人 senjin, people who went before, ancestors(?) (Just throwing these into the pot while doing other things!)

The lettering or characters look to have been incised upside-down.

On the other hand, if you are simply a tourist today, avoid the Golden Triangle! https://japantoday.com/category/features/travel/where-to-go-in-Japan—please-anywhere-but-tokyo-kyoto-or-osaka