Bugyotsuji

I am very glad someone is atop the historical accuracy pile. Thanks, Ian.

Ian, in the 1835-1836 'Historical Sketches of the Portuguese Settlements in China' by the Swede Sir Andrew Ljungstedt, he says that Portuguese sources and Charlevoin in the Histoire de Japa/on maintain the crew of the Tanegashima Chinese ship as Fernao Mendes Pinto, Christivao Barralho and Diogo Zeimoto. The other Siam to China ship in 'Congoxima' contained Anthony da Mota, Francis Zeimoto, and Anthony Peixolo. What was funny to me what that although they are said to be two unrelated ships, they both arrived around the same time in Satsuma (Tanegashima was very close and under the jurisdiction of Satsuma) and the names of Diogo Zeimoto and Francis Zeimoto are so close as to be brothers, or father and son. Were they Christian Japanese, (traders with Goa even) who were on the two ships as translators, and were they scouting parties to Japan, and had they prepared 'unrelated' shipwreck stories in case anything went wrong?

Haha, yes, there are such very different interpretations of that story. Just read a book suggesting that there were two independent ships wrecked in Japan at the same time that year. The Chinese junky one on its way 'to Japan' hit 'Tanixima' and the other one from Siam bound for China sought refuge in somewhere called 'Congoxima' in Saxuma. It took me a while to figure these places out!!! Something fishy about this story though! The object that you call a 'ball starter', Ron, is probably what you imagine, though I am not sure what the English word 'ball starter' strictly refers to. Essentially what you see there is a thick ramrod for loading the large handcannon. We had 35 guns on display over the weekend, each representative of a particular field or area, such as place of manufacture or school of gunnery, and a few really special pieces.

Yes, Ron, I found myself watching their faces intently for clues on whether they needed help. Many suddenly lost interest and wandered off, but others looked around perplexed and were glad to see I was eager to be of service. It's so hard to get the tone and the amount of info right for each person, but wonderful to see fascination dawning in their eyes. Some of the questions were totally surprising, like one gent who pointed at the 80 Monme big gun and asked me: "Kore wa nan-ryo desuka?" (How many Ryo is this?) Well, people often ask how heavy it is, or whether they come up on the market, and if so how much it would cost to buy one... so as I kind of doubted my own ears I fudged an answer for him, but he asked exactly the same question again as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Then it dawned on me that he was asking how much it would have cost, at some unspecified time in the distant past, for a castle to have to buy one of these for their armoury, if they were paying in old money such as the Ryo gold oval coins. Our leader laughed at me later when I told him that I had stuttered. You should have made up a figure, of say 80 Ryo, he said! Or you should have quoted what the Lord Tokitaka paid for the first Tanegashima in 1542... equivalent to about 200 million of today's Japanese Yen! hahahaha.....

The 2nd day was very eventful. I woke up woozy, skipped the antiques show in the morning and went straight to the venue to help out and even earn some Brownie points. I was happy that the sword people and the gun people could share a space like this, until I later heard some of the stuff going on behind the scenes. To err is human, indeed... Here is a little corner with some goodies on display.

Many thanks for the heads up and the detailed follow-up. There are Yanone fakes doing the rounds of the antiques markets in Japan. Some are there solely to deceive, and others are pretty objects for someone's collection, pretty and in some cases very expensive, but... of no great age. All this means trouble for the serious collector.

NBTHK exhibition today. Six large lockable glass display cases. We did a joint effort with some brilliant swords, and in the other half of the room a large display of guns and armour and accoutrements. Some of the guests were astonished at the quality and quantity of hardware on display. Four sets of armour were for the public to try on and when a large group of trainees from China stopped and signalled interest, the blokes were eager to get them dressed, photographed and undressed again. I got roped into this job too... 9:00 am to 5:00 pm standing and explaining; my legs are now shot. Can i really do this again tomorrow? (Better still, can I get up at 6 am tomorrow, Sunday, and drive to the antiques fair 50 mins from here and back without anyone noticing my tardiness?) :lol:

Well, I must admit that I started off the other tack with these words: "Such footage fills me with mixed feelings. Not easy to watch. Am I the only one?" I sensed danger and was afraid that such material might create a gap between the Western group here and the Japanese group, and having been in such a situation before I wanted the Japanese to see that the situation today is not as clear-cut as it might have seemed at the end of WWII. I was happy when Nobody admitted to mixed feelings too. There are members on both sides who can see both sides, regardless of those who only see one side. As long as we can keep up the numbers of people able to see the wood beyond the trees, there is salvation. This is the general feeling in Japan today, although there are small numbers of extremists. There are still virulent wounds out there and this thread stirred up deep memories of things I heard and learned as a child. I am married to a Japanese now, and my children are half Japanese and half British. I prefer not to visit the past and possibly get into vortex arguments where emotions can run ever higher. Such arguments can never be won; the war's end enabled everyone to take a deep breath and step back. Back in the UK I take prominent part every year in WWII remembrance ceremonies and it is my duty as head of my family to honour the feelings of all of those who took part, both those who can forgive and those who cannot.

Quick follow-up on this sword. I talked to a few people about what had happened and got some advice. Internally it became clear to me that if I wanted the sword badly enough I should go for it regardless of the prospects for Shinsa. I took my only Katana and Koshirae round to ask my friend to sell it for me at the dealers' auction. We agreed on a minimum price below I would not sell, and I had mentally ear-marked some money to bridge the gap between this sale and the new purchase. I handed over a wall-mounting Yari-kake as a present and a mark of apology for my sins. The mood was good. Finally during a pause in the conversation I took a deep breath and looking him straight in the eyes, asked for the sword that he had refused to sell me last week. He was a little taken aback and a look of apology flashed across his face. Oh, that one? It's not here any more. I sold it. Never mind, I am sure something will come along in due course, he said lightly. Are swords like women or buses? PS I took my trusty Katana back home with me. Now there is definitely no reason to sell it. Perhaps I will go for that Kikuchi yari Tanto I was offered yesterday, grrrrrrrr.........

A lovely story, Ron. Many thanks. PS The inside of the gun case.

Back to the changing rooms and the rain was gradually becoming not sporadic but constant. Reload, and get your helmets on! came the order. My headscarf and helmet uki-bari were still soaked with sweat as I put them back on for the 12 o'clock midday display, trying at the same time to load three guns in a mass of luggage and boxes and armoured bodies. There is a changing room, but not big enough, so most of us are struggling in the narrow corridor. Hurry, it's eleven thirty already, came the insistent voice. Cursing loudly and freely now. Total confusion. Are we really going out in this? I think incredulously. Finally came what I had been hoping for. Chushi, they say. It's been cancelled. Now we have to wash the gunpowder out, pull all the wet gear off and get some dry clothes on, well, for those that thought this far! hahaha :lol: What I really wanted to say today in recollection, is that if your Japanese Katchu armor/armour or weapons smell moldy, rusty, salty and sweaty, it's probably because no-one was ever able to take individual care of the stuff, leaving it thus exposed to the vagaries of the orders of the particular group leader, and above them the overall planners of the operation. (Mine is spread out in the hall and tearoom today, sprayed with Fabreeze and with luck gradually drying out.)

The gong at the front of the line was struck and everyone who had them started blowing their Triton Horagai. Where's yours? someone inevitably asked. Don't want to get the colored cords wet, I replied lamely. The 'rear-car' arrived to carry the O-zutsu big gun boxes to the field. Is there a plastic sheet to cover them, I asked, worried about my black lacquer 20 Monme in its not-waterproof box, even if no-one else was particularly bothered. People looked flustered and bewildered. Sheet? Huh? Luckily one of the members was also worried about his gun and sent his wife to get a plastic tarp from their car. We did the display in the rain. There were some misfires. We got a standing ovation on the way back from the 100-odd 'crowd' who were mostly festival staff, in thanks for putting this on in a spirit of cooperation with the festival, and with no thought for our own comfort. Well, that's what I think they were clapping for....

Well, it was obvious this was going to happen. The weather forecast had been saying for some time that the rainy season would start on Sunday the 13th. We had a big display scheduled for that day, the cherry on the cake of the Toki-no-week festival in Akashi, but I did not want to get my armor/armour and guns soaked. No information came, so I packed everything on Saturday and left the six bags and boxes in the hall ready to roll. Luckily I have a set of 'fake' repro Do, Sode, and Sune-ate as back-up and I found a light khaki Monpe that I could wear underneath at a pinch. Didn't want to get the good Hitatare wet... Left the house at 4 am. We met centrally and packed the van to the ceiling and set off, rain the whole way. (Two years ago we had managed a display at Amako in pouring rain with almost no misfires, proving that if you are careful the Tanegashima can be used in rain for a while, despite the body being soaked to the skin. This was in the back of everyone's mind.) The organizers kept arriving and checking whether we were really going to do this. I could see most of our members were ostensibly up for the parade and the first 10:30 display despite the rain. Sweat was coursing down my face even before I started to get changed. Inwardly I was cursing but once more I had to fall in line with the group plan. I hid my tachi koshirae in my bag, along with the Hayago neckband and my cord-wound Hora-gai and went out to stand in line. Many of them were wearing first-line armour/armor. Some members asked me what had happened to my Tachi, and I simply replied that I didn't want to get it wet.

It never fails to amaze me when people can put things together that have been apart at different ends of the world for hundreds of years, or work out that they were made by the same person/workshop.

Carlo, thanks for the link. Wow! I really want to read this when I get some time... :D

Agreed. Nice suit. Maybe he poked his head through a hole, au photoshop? Should have removed his glasses though. :lol:

Try doing searches in Japanese for 侍　写真 samurai photos or 武士　写真 bushi photos, eg http://www.google.co.jp/images?sa=3&q=% ... C%E7%B4%A2

There is a Korean one on display in the Museum on Tanegashima Island. The only shot I can find is just before half-way down this page, the middle photo of three on the left, but this photo only shows the lock section of the gun: http://www.geocities.jp/shimizuke1955/370hinawajuu.html And here's a pic of Sawada Taira giving 5 Korean-made guns back to Korea. http://www.sankei-kansai.com/2010/03/15 ... 021613.php

Well, I think the truth is somewhere in between. Second from left has his right Sune-ate upside down. One guy is definitely wearing a Hai-date around his ankles, which is unthinkable. (Did they not have enough Sune-ate to go round?) The guy on the right has his right Sune-ate on his left leg. Their Katchu are generally badly-fitting and very mixed stylistically, as if representing very different eras. They have absolutely no idea how to tie their helmets on properly. It has to be a posed shot possibly on fake grass in a studio for the camera. Still a fascinating cameo, and sets the brain juices flowing.

Excellent information Thomas. Many thanks. Actually many Japanese will say they do not like decorated guns and prefer simple sturdy ones. The highly decorated guns have mostly been sold to foreigners, goes the accepted story around here, although you do see some fancy ones in Japanese museums.

As above. What a mishmash, but a great shot nonetheless! I love it. Many thanks. :lol:

Thanks for daring to say it!!! :lol:

Tiger hunters. Are they Korean? (Chinese?) What a great photograph! The bird-beak dispensers are called Karasu-guchi in Japanese. (Crow beak) You can see separate ball bags and on the man on the left a priming powder flask and a matchcord. Almost everything in that picture I use regularly throughout the year. I have a collection of most of the equipment that was used way back when, but still missing a couple of very rare items. Yesterday BTW I saw a little glass case with a toy gun rack and two miniature Tanegashima, with all the supporting accoutrements done in miniature. Must have been hand-made by some ancient gun fan.

Well, I am feeling a little raw at the moment. The problem is that I mentioned the debate here and he said at once that with swords it's a dog-eat-dog world and you must be 100% sure in yourself and in the sword. He won't even let me see it now, for my own protection. With my first sword everyone told me it was Gimei, but it passed at Shinsa. He says it has to be like that. Thanks for the advice. And yes, I believe that the sword will find me! But was it that one???

Well, I roll my tissue up real tight and ram it down when no-one is looking just so that I can get a good report. Unfortunately a member of the public complained when a flaming ball of wadding threatened to go down the front of her dress, so I now put little rips in it beforehand to help it disperse once out of the barrel. Last summer I spent an interesting day at Bisley with a Yabusame friend firing blackpowder guns, mostly percussion cap. We had big Western blackpowder revolvers, some under-action rifle work, and I even survived skeet/clay pigeon shooting with a 4-bore elephant gun. Smashed the clay first shot too, and very proud of myself for not getting egg on my face (or a bruised shoulder).