Dewa501

Hi all. Thanks to Guido we now have "Goro Masamune" Here is the next picture. maybe difficult, is the right hand short column the place where he lived (Kuni?) Unfortunately the top kanji is partly obscured by tape, I didn't notice until I had taken the picture but can do again if necessary. Thanks guys. Chris F.

Guido. Thank you very much for such a quick and interesting reply, not sure that the big man ever made Yari, but we can always dream. Will post another picture this evening. Thank you. Chris F.

Hi All. Can I ask you learned guys out there to translate these kanji for me, there are four lots that I will post separately, all I can read is Masamune Saku, but some of it is the name of the original owner apparently. You help will be much appreciated. Chris F.

Just to add my halfpennyworth, I also think think that this is a cut down Kikuchi yari, the nakago has that huge width across the back shown in the picture of the cut, absolutely Kikuchi nakago. Looks like a nice blade too. Anybody any idea of age ? Chris F.

I also saw this Yari last weekend, an interesting coincidence, maybe we have opened a few cupboards around about, looks interesting, Nakago looked a tad newish to me ? and the Nakago jiri is different to all the ones Iv seen, but so what, anybody know how long these Kikuchi Yari were made for ? would it be possible to come across one dated for example to 1650/1700. Saya gaki reads Kikuchi Senbon Yari, interesting. Chris F.

Hi all. Picture of Kikuchi yari and all of the bits. Sorry that its so lousy, It seemed OK on the computer.......... I guess you guys can do something with it. Chris F.

Hi all. Brian, thank you for your interest and enthusiasm, yes, I am the owner of the yari in Kntusen's book, and looking at my notes I see that I have owned it since 1995, It came from a Gun show in the US where it laid on a dealers table for three days or so before my pall spotted it, no one showed any interest in it at all, these yari are very few and far between and it seems that is the case in Japan too, so far we have only come up with a handful, 4/5 in museums, (I'm sure there a more) Most of the research done at the time (98%) did go strait in the book, and its been an ongoing struggle to dredge up more info from Japan ever since. I could not believe my eyes when I saw Mr. Morita's photograph, I've been looking for something like this for years, it is surprising to find no trace of the Kikuchi yari in most of Japan's books on spears old or new. No one, as far as I know has seen one mounted on a pole, obviously, much the same as any other yari, but it was great to see one in the photo, its all grist to the research mill, however Roald Knutsen has found one depiction of a Kikuchi yari in an old triptych, from about the right time which appears to have a candy stripe pole maybe nine feet long, a very nasty weapon in the hands of a trained man. I think that's about all, but I must say that one has a strange feeling looking at it and thinking that it mat have been at Hakone on that day ! I will try more pics. Chris F.

Kikuchi Revisited photograph (maybe)

Having visited this sight for quite some time now I have been compelled to join in when I saw the threds about Kikuchi yari. I have been collecting Japanese spears for twenty years or so, and am lucky enough to own two full length Kikuchi yari. The first has a blade of eight inches and a nakago of twelve inches, not in good polish, but a clear sugaha hamon visible, the spear is signed Hishu no ju Kunitoki and dated to Kemmu, it is contained in a box with its history brushed on the inside if the lid (see Roald Knutsen's second book on pole arms) The second and larger spear has a blade of fourteen inches and a nakago of eleven inches, the blade is not signed and is out of polish so no great details, but is certainly contemporary with the other. Both spears have a huge thickness across the mune at the machi end, the larger spear has two mekugi-ana, no file marks remain on ether. Many questions need answers, the Kikuchi Han's history and records were destroyed in a castle fire, but we have managed to do some research though the good offices of a professor of history at Saga university. Thank you all for your most interesting inputs and thank you for the remarkable photograph. I will try to upload a photo, but I'm not to good at this sort of thing !! Chris F.