Bugyotsuji

Just remember that a proper polish of the blade might cost more than 100 dollars an inch.

Well, M.Lee, what do you have? You have a very good camera, a sword blade and a set of fittings, with a businesslike Tsuba. The Fuchi Mei is upside down. The Nakago Mei reads

What the hammer? what the chain, In what furnace was thy brain? What the anvil? what dread grasp. Dare its deadly terrors clasp? When the stars threw down their spears And watered heaven with their tears: Did He smile His work to see? Did He who made the lamb make thee? Tiger Tiger burning bright, In the forests of the night: What immortal hand or eye, Dare frame thy fearful symmetry? The Tiger William Blake

Brilliant stuff. The last one is great!!! The wife is in the kotatsu watching TV. I called her over to see these but she just grunted, glued as always to the screen. Plus ca change...

These can probably still be ordered direct from the Museum, as in the link above. A friend had a few copies and there are two left. One of those I have asked him to put aside for me and I have just asked him to keep the other one for you, Barry. (If you could PM me your address.)

Small point, but the Nakago says Bishu, and the Saya says Bizen.

The final weekend of 2009 and Twenty-Ten approaches. Two of my Tanto have loose-shutting Saya. This can be dangerous, so I have asked for the Koikuchi and Saya inner to be adjusted with a sliver of something to create a tighter fit. Yesterday I purchased a very good book on Tanto, put out by Sano Bijutsukan for an exhibition running from Nov 28 till Dec 23 2009. Tanto no Bi, Kurogane no kirameki. I was assured by someone that I respect that this book is excellent. The photos are so clear that even unwanted scratches show up. (!) For anyone studying Tanto, this book is quite informative, indeed eye-opening, I was told. Goes into why Tanto of Shintogo Kunimitsu are so highly prized. Unfortunately a different friend wanted it, so I now have to go and beg another. (In Japanese) http://www.sanobi.or.jp/shop/shop.html

For anyone who might have missed it, Merry Christmas http://japantoday.com/category/entertai ... -christmas

Many thanks to all the people behind the scenes who make this place tick. Wishing everyone a fulfilling Twenty Ten.

The first two characters are problematical even for a Japanese, I believe. You probably read the family name either

To me that is scary. Surely someone should add a comment below the clip: WARNING! Never, ever use this method with a real Nihonto"...

Well, you lucky people. We have had two Christmas cards so far, well, both to my wife. I have no prospects of receiving anything from anyone, except the top prize in the draw, hahahaha, and some socks from the wife if I get lucky. The daughters have doubtless other things on their minds. My wife has told me she wants money for her Christmas present. Am I turning into Scrooge? PS Strongbow is one of the ciders that I enjoy when back in the UK. Unfortunately the Japanese seem not to have discovered the joys of alcoholic cider. The closest word to describe it is 'cidre' from French, pronounced She-doro, but most Japanese have never drunk it so we are usually none the wiser, even with this magic word to wave around hopefully. Saida- (as in Mitsuya Cider) or Ra-mune, means something like fizzy soda pop, (or what people call lemonade in the UK, but not in the US). Have you tried 'Scrumpy Jack', John? Merry Christmas or whatever greeting you prefer to all of you, and a very Happy New Year.

Steve, it may be free but the nearest parking that I could find cost me an arm and a leg. Where would you recommend leaving the car?

Ian, if ever you want to get some of our members over for some event like this, with armour and guns, let me know. Our lot are up with the best in Japan now in terms of equipment (variety of guns & armour), experience, show and Hojutsu Martial art Dan rankings. We can do any number of displays in Leeds or London or wherever if you can just get us blackpowder and permission to fire blanks. We would probably not ask for expenses, being only those of us who are self-propelled, as it were, and we would have at least one interpreter. Our first display in 2010 here in Japan (March) will be at a gathering of 23 musket companies from around Japan, but I cannot post details yet in public here. If you have any concrete thoughts, please PM or e-mail me.

What Malcom said above. Mekugi-nuki, no question. Looks like solid silver. Nice little object.

A pretty looking Yari there. Congratulations. One thing to be aware of is that recently there is a trend/fashion for polishing the ha to look more beautiful than it was originally intended. This can actually hide the original ha and make it more difficult to read, I have heard. I bought a sue Bizen Munemitsu Yari which I was proudly waving around until someone pointed this out to me. Not saying that this is the case with your yari, but another avenue to explore.

No idea what did or didn't happen, but in my experience Stephen has been nothing but a good influence here. Period. I hope you will continue to provide your light, humorous and well-considered input, guidance and comments here as always. The dogs may bark, but the elephant moves on...

John I am sure you did that for the sake of your soul, a labor/labour of love, but why don't/didn't you just take a photograph of the relevant paragraph?

That seems quite likely, Ian, and may in fact be the answer. Another thought is that the second one was made for a look-alike to sit on the lord's horse and attract bullets. (As small a target as possible?) :lol:

The wording in their records, and presumably on the display cabinet is: 紺糸裾素懸威胴丸 1領 伝鶴姫着用。 Notice the word 伝

Now that is interesting. The article says that after examination, armor/armour' researchers have concluded that the possibility they are genuine is 'high'. I have an armor/armour specialist friend here in Japan, (not to mention the one in the UK :lol: ) and must ask him about this. 島津忠義（１８４０～１８９７）と同夫人のものだった可能性が高いことが、市教委と歴史資料センター黎明館（鹿児島市）の調べで分かった。甲冑研究の専門家は「夫婦の甲冑が確認された例は聞いたことがなく、研究資料としても価値が高い」と注目している。 (There has to be a strong possibility that these were made after the beginning of Meiji, though, I guess.)

Many of the myths need a good popping, I agree. With this particular 'do' on Omishima Island, the explanation given is that it is the only remaining 'kosher' woman's armour/armor in Japan. There is even a one-line description of how the bust is generously built to allow for the fullness of a woman's breasts, something that with a little concentration most of us can figure out, I am sure. Either way, a healthy measure of doubt is always a good thing. There was a real Tsuru-hime in Okayama who was left by her husband to defend Tsuneyama Castle with the other women. When surrounded by Mo-ri's army, they all 'swallowed' their swords, whatever that is supposed to mean. As to what you say about wearing the 'do', my own experience backs that up 100%. There is a peculiar ache that starts in the shoulders and becomes unbearable after an hour or two of marching and waiting. The tighter you can close the waist, the more the whole thing floats off the shoulders and the longer it staves off the pain.

LOL, that is very good. In the following link towards the bottom of the page you can see a statue of Tsuru-hime and below that her Do, (normally in a glass case), which is very popular with Japanese men. O-yamazumi-Jinja. http://blog.goo.ne.jp/raishou0213/e/6dd ... 9064393b5e

"A white face and long black hair"? "Good with the sword and with the bow"? She is wearing a busty Do. And the portrayal looks very similar. By Jove, Koichi sama, I think you've got it! Tomoe Gozen. That's brilliant. We live and learn. I have the Heike Monogatari beside my bed. This what I am now going to read next.

Well, that is a very good question, Koichi sama. Do you know something that I don't? These Kuchi-e or Sashi-e were folding inserts for novels around the turn of the century and usually featured Bijin, I have read. Kajita Hanko illustrated for the Bungei Kurabu, etc. http://www.oberlin.edu/staff/fzwegat/Default.html#Iris http://www.ukiyoe-gallery.com/kuchie.htm I have searched for another example of this picture but have not yet been successful. Was there a famous man in the Tale of Genji who looked like a woman? Or in the Heike Monogatari? The Tales of Ise?