Dewa501

Thank you Sebastien, for such a prompt answer, Kanroji I have not come across, I guess his town, village, place of work? Chris.F.

Gentlemen. I ask for help with this mei on a Naginata that I have, I have puzzled for some time now, consulted my books only ending up with Naga. I would be very greatfull for any help anyone can give me. Thank you very much. Chris.C.

Hello All. This is an idntification disc ? that was once attached to a Gunto, many years ago I had a translation, but now unfortunatly it has been lost. I seem to remember something about a doctor, but the memory has not improved with age!! Can someone help please. Chris.F.

How about this one, its diferent anyway ! Chris. F.

How about this guy could not read or write at all, and someone drew what he wanted on a piece of rice paper, he took it back to his workshop and placed the paper upside down on his bench and copied what he saw. Just a thought. Chris.F.

Hi all, Brian, Hear are the Fukuro yari. From L to R. Nobukuni Nobukuni Choshu Morihide Nobukuni Nobukatsu. Nobukuni group Dated 1772. Nobukuni ??? Jumonji. Unsigned. Hope this is of interest Regards. Chris.F.

Hi Brian. I suppose on reflection, and then realising the price was in dollers, I guess it wasn't so bad. I think my problam is that all my Fukuro Yari have no poles. I have seven in all, and one Fukuro jumonji yari. Fukuro yari are fairly scarce hear in the U.K. but I will say (am I aloud to ?) I have never payed more than £400 for one other than the Jumonji. Most are Nobukuni spears, I have one signed Choshu no ju Morihide. I would be pleased to try to take a group picture tomorrow if it would be of interest. By the way, I thought the Ishizuki on that spear was awfull !! Regards. Chris.F.

Hi Brian. Thank you for the pictures of the Fukuro Yari, my computer is supposed to notify me re Yari, what a let down! I think the Yari is a fairly standard Chikuzen Nobukuni spear with Goma-hashi on one side but without the usual Bonji character on the other, plus the typical double mekugi-ana through the Fukuro, suprised that theres no signature, several of mine have been lacquered on the socket, one has traces of red lacquer with black over it and another is lacquered gold, both signed under it all. However, what an amazing price, ouch!! A typically beautifully shaped and gracefull Fukuro Yari. Thanks again. Chris.F.

Hi all. Anybody got a couple of pics of this fukuro yari, I seem to have missed it. Thanks. Chris.F.

Thank you for your replys, thanks Sebastian, and Ford, as usual sorting it all out for us, I have only ever heard of sentoku being brass, thanks for the explnation. Chris. F.

Thank you both gentlemen for such quick replys. Thierry,thank you for the link, I dont think I would have seen it as a Mon. Thomas, Thank you, you are of course quite right about the Fukurin, I should have known better, you say a common design, would this represent a ginger plant? I thought it was pettel based, any idea of school, age, etc. I can do more pic, I didnt do more because other side is the same! thickness is a tad under 5mm. Dia. is 8.4cm its a nice big Tsuba. Regards to you both. Chris.F.

Hello all. Seeking information on this Fuchi Kashira, plain brass (I dont think its called that) raised dots done with a concave punch I guess in very straight lines, with tiny borders, no signature, plain, but rather atractive I think. Any thoughts will be very welcome Thanks. Chris. F.

Hi all. Can any one help with the idendifercation of this Tsuba. It is iron with a silver mimi and unsigned. Interesting is the small design at the bottom of the tsuba, does it represent something or is it just a decoration? The usual questions follow, School, age, Anything!? Thank you in advance. Chris.F.

Hi All. Sorry for the delay in getting back to you all, have been away for two days. Hear is a better pic of the seal. Tsubako ???? Explain! Thanks Thomas.

" You just begun an very interesting threat here!-Thank you for this!" All. Sorry that the "interesting thread" degenerated into a somewhat comic strip situation, any one else got any thing serious to say about punch marks? Thank you all for your help. Chris F.

Thanks Pete, you must have been sitting on your keyboard for such a prompt replay ! You have answerd my questions. Many thanks. Chris F.

Dear All. A question reguarding Tsuba, am I right in thinking that the punch marks that close the nakago-ana, (I don't know the correct name, please advise) are always punched from the side that faces out when being worn, are the punch marks ever put on the other side, are they ever punched from both sides? I have consulted my books but not found any answers. Regards, Chris F.

David, Morita, Jacques, Yes, a slip of the keyboard! Kane it is. Thank you all for your input, I was just interested to see the seal, has anyone seen the seal on any other of his works? Jacques, lovely looking yari, must have my little one polished! Thanks. Chris F.

Hi All. I have just come across a Yari signed Kawachi no Kami Monju Kunisada (I think!) interestingly, it also has an impressed seal, something that I have not come across on a Yari before, can anyone shed any light on the seal or the smith? Thanks. Chris F.

Hi Eric. A hasty pic of two Nobukuni fukuro yari showing the two cross holes through the socket, the larger yari has had its socket lacquered first red then black, also shows the bonji on both blades, you may have to enlarge to see details. Regards. Chris F.

Hi Eric. Very nice Nobukuni fukuro yari indeed, although lacking the usual bonji on one side and futasuji-bi on the other which seems to be a charicteristic of Nobukuni. also usually with two peg holes through the socket at right angles to each other, the faceted Nagaye is also unusual to see, none of my yari have one, incidentally the hole though the ishizuki is to retain the spear in a yari kake, found at check points and barriers, (so i've been told) Chris F.

Sorry David, Peter is right, this Yari is undoubtedly new made. Chris Fox.

Gentlemen. As a collector of Japanese Yari, and never finding them plentifull here in Europe I have been very suprised to see, over the last year or so? a large number of spears eminating from an area around Hiroshima, some looking decidedly odd (I have been carefull with my word) and now I see Yari in shirazaya with wonderfull Sayagaki which my source in Japan tells me are Buddhist readings.I wonder if someone has found a cache of them? Your comments would be appricated. I have one more question, can anybody tell me anything about KUBOTA KANEKIYO and in particuler the first word. Thank you. Chris.F.

To all that have joined in on the translation of this Sayagake, I would like to thank you all once again and admit that I think you are right in saying that this is not right, there are just too many famous names involved here, its too good to be true, but you cant win them all as they say.Thanks to Moriyama san for his expertises, also Piers, and Guido, and Brian, who pointed out that he though it most unlikely that you would find a Masamune on e-bay, Brian, you ruined my day!!!! Chris.F.

Once again I must thank all who contributed to the translation of this sayagaki, we have a tremendous resource here and are very lucky to have these people to help us out. So pushing my luck with the last two pictures I once again ask for your help, as you can see one is on the end of the saya, and the other is on the end if the short pole. Thanks again. Chris.F.