Bugyotsuji

Agreed. As I suggested earlier above, a Shikami. *Be careful not to say 'Shigami' or 'Shishikami/Shishigami', despite how the kanji look; they have totally different meanings. Don't ask, I've been there... (But it does have elements of shishi too.)

https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2126614537572848&id=100054495068210&locale=ja_JP&http_ref=eyJ0cyI6MTc1OTkyODczMDAwMCwiciI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbVwvIn0%3D Morimoto Naoyuki is the potter’s name. (I don’t do f/b though…)

By the way, I have a Netsuke also reminiscent…

Hokke, I will ask them, for more detail on this story. Interestingly a young and enterprising Bizen-Yaki potter near here has made a series of sword tōsōgu in fired clay, including a full-size reproduction Sanchōmō with patterns representing hamon! He told me that it took countless experiments to create one without any cracks developing during the process. (Not as expensive as using Tamahagane though!)

Seven-year jump, but agreed!

One of the local Osafuné smiths was asked to replicate the Sanchōmō a few years back. It was when Setouchi City were purchasing it for the Osafuné Sword Museum. A little birdie told me he had to create several blades at great personal expense and time, discarding all of them, before finding a possible candidate to work with. (Not strictly on topic, but somehow related)

Menuki pairs did not need to be exactly the same and many had deliberately differences. A foo dog is a Chinese-English expression, but these do seem to be a kind of Shishi-Shikami cross. (Some similarities with this tsuba?)

If it’s a special order sword for one’s overlord, the smith will strive for perfection. If it’s almost perfect but not acceptable for some reason, maybe he might have considered dedicating it to a shrine.

mmm... nice! Bamen Tsunemasa + Kao

Bradley. Sweet little object with a rather comical facial expression. I suspect it is not so old, a work of ‘mingei’民芸 or even something later. From those two shots alone the stain generally hides the nature of the material. It could be rather crudely carved ivory, but I can’t be sure.

A very modern interpretation, I suspect.

Not sure where this comes from Jean, but it says 残雪酷似 'looks very much like lingering, (unmelted, accumulated, remaining) snow'.

No sheep in Japan traditionally; mutton was eaten by the Mongols etc., but uncastrated it was considered too pungent for Japanese tastes. Raxa was an expensive imported woollen felt cloth but open to attack by insects and the elements. Most people would not have known what a sheep was, let alone a ram.

Hold on a mo. Most people know but they probably haven’t yet seen this thread. I’ll have to go and look it up. It’s me old memory failing me. Don’t have things at the fingertips any more. (Some time later) Got it! Les Stewart.

No secret, Jean, but I do not have his full contact details in Scotland.

"Of Kunishige it is deduced that there were more than one artist..." it says in Uwe's appraisal above.

Yes, but they may be busy.

Nice Satsuma style tsuba

There is no defined age cut-off point. When do you stop driving, for example? Everyone is different, though health and advancing years do play an increasing part. Some of the people I know in Japan have been discussing decluttering, and letting go of some of their collections. I know people who have gradually narrowed it down to their two or three favorite blades, wishing then to either pass them on to an interested relative or to donate them to a museum. Personally I am not yet ready to give up driving, but I have found that my general enthusiasm and desire to collect in various fields has gently begun to evaporate. Having said that, if I see something nice...

Try for line 2 曇りても佳し and hiragana is used for the okurigana 変わらざりけり

What makes you think it is gimei, Francis?

Hizen Jakushi link sounds reasonable. Here’s one I had until recently…

Rawa, re “paper”. (if it has papers, it’s papered.) Etymology: papyrus

If you look at a Noh stage you see pine trees and a passage or landing leading off left to where the gods resided. Golden eyes on a Noh mask indicate a godly, not human figure. When you see pine trees with clouds, we are in the realm of gods and dragons, begorrah! (In Japanese art we find several species of Japanese pines, each depicted rather conventionally, i.e. not strictly accurately.)

Never bought anything from Aoi myself, so no expectations to start with.