Bugyotsuji

Unfortunately there are few absolutes in the tsuba world, so we need to hedge our language throughout, Hannah, with phrases such as, "There is a (weak/medium/strong) possibility that a, b or c." "It has been suggested that..." "Some people think that..." etc. It sounds tiresome, but it gives a better impression in the end, i.e. that we are not jumping or rushing to conclusions simply to complete an assignment, but collecting scholarly opinions for and against, (quoting sources as much as possible) and finally adding our own (subjective) feelings in conclusion on one side of the other, or even if very lucky using freshly-discovered material to form a hybrid or new hypothesis. It is for you of course an assignment, which means having to do something that may not really interest everybody, but the professor will be looking for people with patience and balance and an ablity to get a message across. Ultimately the only 'absolute' hard and fast fact here is the tsuba itself, sending us a message through space and time, and we enjoy the struggle to refine and comprehend it. You have already gathered quite a useful mountain of information and leads. Go for it!

Not only did the fine detail of the Tokugawa mon change with every succeeding Shogun, but this basic design was used by the greater extended Tokugawa and Matsudaira ruling families as they controlled Japan for 260 years or so.

Was the fire from an event in Japan (fires were/are common in an earthquake country with wooden houses), or something that happened in the West? Even with the damage, there is much there to appreciate. Two Tokugawa mon on one side. Enamel/cloisonne tsuba are rather rare and quite sought after by collectors. (PS The information collected above so far is interesting but it does have an AI or ChatGPT feel to it. One long sentence is repeated, for example, so it will definitely need further editing and polishing.)

See this thread for video in Japanese. https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/48062-masamune-ten-tetsu-exhibition-–-master-swordsmith-masamune-and-his-disciples-in-the-fukuyama-museum-of-art/#comment-499304

Thanks Tom! Saw this exhibition earlier today. See parallel thread.

For me it was pearls before swine, Jean, or 猫に小判 Neko ni koban. I rented a headset for ￥600 and followed the numbers around the display cases. The place was quite crowded, mostly with ladies who probably play the Touken Rambu, so I had to jostle with people to see the specific blade points being made. Educational it was, but I would need to go round and round again to get fully charged with what was on show. Afterwards I was looking forward to heading home for a cup of tea, but everyone wanted to attend the discussion on Masamune between the Head of the museum and Mr Mikami the swordsmith. 100 attendees limit, so we joined the growing queue. Masamune featured Nie, and managed to produce an unusually bright hamon, it seems, some kind of inventive genius. His ten 'Jittetsu' deshi/disciples attempted to emulate his work, to varying degrees of success. Examples of their work were also on display. Meanwhile that statue above was being unveiled in the park outside.

Today a bunch of us went to see the Masamune exhibition at the Fukuyama Museum of Art. It was a collection of swords in three general sections, those who influenced him, those swords that Masamune made, and those swords made by his disciples or by smiths strongly influenced by him. And unveiled in the castle museum park today!

Well, Jussi, you cleverly side-stepped the question, but

Are you sitting comfortably? “Saaaa……….. ikimashō!!!!” Question! If the left (hidari) is 左 sa, …. drumroll, … what is the right (migi)?

If you look at the tsuba upright, the illusion vanishes!

Henry I think it is an Ebira (old word Yebira) quiver of arrows.

Makes sense, but I don't think I've ever seen 作 written twice before! Thank you, Moriyama San! I couldn't find any Kazan Kinko, but I looked under 茄山!

九十三才作之? Made this at 93 years old? (Can't figure out the top kanji. I would like it to be 加山+ 花王　(with kao), but is that a 七 above 加?) Is this a tachi tsuba? What's it made of?

盡忠報国 Jinchu Hokoku Loyalty & Patriotism Nice!

Here you can just see the tents where artefacts are sorted. From partway up the shrine steps.

View over Sakazu and Kurashiki looking east from the Hachiman Jinja. The Takahashi River in the foreground. Aoe swords were once fashioned in this area and in the foothills to the left.

On Wednesday the phone rang and a friend said that there was an archaelogical dig in the riverbed in Sakatsu, Kurashiki, at the foot of the hill at the top of which is the old Hachiman Shrine, built in AD 947. "Sakazu" as it is pronounced locally, is where Aoe swords were produced. He'd heard rumors that they might have found remains of Aoe sword workings, but that the public was not allowed to get anywhere close. Well, we drove to the site, and took photographs from across the river. We spent the next hour driving around figuring out how to get closer, and in the meantine climbed hundreds of steps up to the Hachiman Shrine. Eventually we parked the car, grabbed some meishi cards, and walked somewhat nervously past the 'No Entry' signs to the site where they were just finishing up for the day. The leader, initially a little hostile, proved to be quite friendly and told us about what they had found. It had once been a community in antiquity, but apart from the tachi in a stone-lined kofun tomb/grave, they had sadly not yet found any evidence of sword smithing. The river is low at this time of year, permitting such digs. Their plan is to continue their work next year beyond this season. Our next adventure will be to go find where Unji, Unju etc., i.e. the 雲類 Unrui lived. We have found the spot on the map, where there is a house with some kind of an explanatory sign, apparently. Watch this space.

Distinctively characteristic writing, especially the small 'arms' and wide 'legs' of 光

Well, if NBTHK cannot narrow it down to any particular region... Here is a Muromachi Yasumitsu tanto from Satsuma. I can't see the Kanji in that angled nakago shot, but are you sure it's 安光? That would narrow Dan's list to three. 日本刀 短刀 安光（波平・時代室町）｜日本刀 刀剣販売 e-sword *PS But the writing stye is quite different.

Actually I really like it, and the oft-dropped 'rin' bowl can probably be tapped out somewhat.

And is that a long-barrel Luger in his left hand?　

Strictly speaking, the mythical sage Gama Sen-nin's frogs had three legs.

Takuji, yay!!!!! Many thanks, Moriyama Sama!

登録　平安 Toroku (Registered) Heian (on this side of the bird) 龍 dragon something beyond.. (What kind of okimono?)

Iwakuni Shi, Ushi no Tani...　千円Sen en Okihiro Takuchaku? 卓嫡？　(just double-checking that last character!)