Baka Gaijin

Good evening Matt., Sorry to come late to this. The image shows many of the products produced by Aramaki Budogu which is in Miyakonojo, Kirishima Sankei region of Kyushu. This will explain far better than I:

I'm with you Bazza, the Inclinometer or sometimes known as a Gunners's Quadrant................

I would plod on with Customs and Excise, they are usually very helpful, albeit painfully slow, due I believe to chronic shortage of staff. The fact that the sword came to you from Aoi is a matter of Tsuruta san's record, so there is a start. It will be recorded on the Customs and Excise database and probably at the Central Hub from whence it was dispatched to you. Don't get me wrong, I am not saying it will be an easy task. So Good Luck!!

Often real items (Converted to Blank Fire) are used for closeup work in Film and TV production. This should help clarify terms: http://www.bapty.co.uk/

Japan Sword Co Ltd in Tokyo certainly had repro Gunto with Duramilium blades in the 1980's.

Is it the cloth reacting? Does it smell the same using Nugui Kami or an unfraganced Tissue?

Hi Bob, Jan (or Jam as he sometimes signs) is being very modest here. He is the author of a very fine Book: http://www.lulu.com/shop/jan-pettersson/the-yonezawa-matchlock-mighty-gun-of-the-uesugi-samurai/hardcover/product-23384395.html I and many others here have a copy. I would heartily recommend it.

As Pete says, that is the poster for the exhibition, the Museum Catalogue is entitled Tagane no Hana たがねのはな Which reads "Flowers of the Chisel" and refers to the Publication which Mitsumura Toshimo created in 1902. (This is illustrated in the catalogue) Pinnacle of Elegance is perhaps more apt. I wondered if Ford had any input on the Silver blades, as I showed the catalogue to a UK Goldsmith and he was blown away by the technical expertise of producing an even and controlled curve in Silver. (And he does not know the first thing about Nihonto but creates the most sublime Diamond and Gemset Jewellery in Platinum, Gold and Silver, so knows his way around the Metallurgical block, so to speak). Back to Mitsumura Toshimo, who created the collection, as well as being a Collector and Patron, he was a businessman and advocate of pushing the boundaries of contemporary Photography. He was one of those true Renaissance men (eg Shibata Ka) who made mastery of anything they turned their attention to in late 19th, early 20th Century Japan. Inspiring!!!

I wish, they are really hot about photography at the Museum. Despite my best impression of Hugh Grant and an Idiot Abroad (which some might say is one and the same), they would not relent. Just found another: Exhibit 138: Chiisagatana: Ribbed Sword Mounting with Ribbed Design (Silver Sword Attached) By Goto Ichijo Silver Blade dated 1870 They are in the catalogue and Paul Martin has said that if enough people are interested then he would buy some in bulk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=du9foStZ49U You can briefly see 216, 215 & 214 at 0.28 and 138 at 0.42 seconds.

Unfortunately it stopped me, as I have to be in Japan for the early part of November every year. I attended the Kamakura Benkyokai both when it was actually in Kamakura and at Cinq. It was way over my head but a tremendous learning experience and as you rightly say, camaraderie. Please enjoy a fond memory:

Certainly when it was at the beginning of the month, many visitors who had come to both see and participate in the Meiji Jingu Embu on November 3rd would also roll up at the DTI.

Thank you Guido and Piers, very much appreciated. I'm unpacked now, so I can detail a bit more using the catalogue: The Silver blades are all fully formed with Yasuri mei and Mei to the nakago and carving to the blades Exhibit 213: Wakizashi: Wave Design in Makie Lacquer Silver blade by Ikeda Takao with Ascending and descending dragons and Manyogana ? script Metalwork by Goto Mitsuyoshi, Sasayama Tokuoki, Yokoya Somin, Ichinomiya Nagatsune and others. Meiji period c.1905 Exhibit 214: Katana: Chrysanthemum design in Makie Lacquer Silver blade by Ikeda Takao with Chrysanthermum design and Sosho script poem Metalwork by Unno Shomin and Kawarabayashi Hidekuni. Meiji period c. 1905 Exhibit 215: Wakizashi: Bamboo leaf Design in Makie Lacquer Silver Blade by Honjo Yoshitane with Kurikara and Vajra Ken horimono Metalwork by Ogawa Tomotsune, Kawarabayashi Hidekuni Wada Isshin and others. Meiji period 20th century Exhibit 216: Wakizashi: Plover Design in Makie lacquer Silver Blade by Yoshida Shiei / Bamboo Design, sketch by Takeuchi Seiho Metalwork by Sasayama School. Meiji period 20th century

Hi Guys., What made me chuckle was this: We are not familiar with Chinese items. Check out the country of origin of the seller's 750 other items in the store................

Hi Matthew your Kamon looks to be Maru ni Moko. Moko means Melon and Maru ni means contained within a circle. Cheers

You can get the kit here: http://www.mejiro-Japan.com/en/product/kintsugi-repair-kit-aka-kintsukuroi I've dealt with them for years and they are most helpful.

So Guys, back to my post, has anyone seen Silver blades for Katana and Tanto before? Why were they produced? What is their significance?

Here's a look at the amazing garden at Nezu Museum:

Just been to the Pinnacle of Elegance exhibition at the Nezu Museum and it is truly extraordinary, if you are going to DTI, don't miss this. http://www.nezu-muse.../en/exhibition/ Photography is prohibited, but the all the items are illustrated in the catalogue which costs ¥2000 It's an eclectic mix, including important Cultural properties and masterworks from all periods as well as Utsushimono commissioned by the Collection's founder Mitsumura Toshimo 1877 - 1955. For me, the most arresting items were: Two Nobuie Tsuba. The set of Sword Fittings with Millet design by Araki Tōmei which are sublime. A pair of huge woodblocks from which a massive mounted Kakejiku was printed. Three Koshirae which have Silver blades, that's not a typo, blades made from Silver and each engraved with extraordinary crispness. The Nezu Museum itself, which is something to behold, contains an amazing multi level Garden enticing the visitor to a series of successive contemplative spaces and Tea Houses set around a meandering Lake, not three hundred meters away from Prada and Stella McCartney in the heart of Aoyama. I'll post pictures of the Garden on Instagram, when I get back to UK.

Vegan Sourced Ergonomic Disaster and Material Structure Dilapidation Tool - Advanced Sonic Notification Type (Pair). (CITES Approved). PS check out Kurosawa's Yojimbo, the Nightwatchman uses a pair to count the hour. Nice Bronze Cool Patina, totally unsuited to South African climate. Can house it for you and send images free of charge............

Urushi Kabure 漆 かぶれ is one of the old terms used for the contact dermatitis which can affect some from exposure to Urushiol.

Gentlemen., our esteemed Elder statesman will take the title of Ō - Oyabun of course. And a Shodai Tadahiro set of Steak Knives with genuine red plastic handles stamped with Kitty Chan. Not to forget the supreme accolade of unlimited use of the term "Da Boss Man" Which may be freely used on Tea Shirts, Baseball Caps and as a Horimono on any RJT or Mantetsu Blade of his choice. Clear it up any? You Rock Stephen!! PS can you send me the $5 Dollars by airmail?

Congratulations Jan. Just ordered using the Code LULU15 and it works a treat. Here's some Viking inspiration for you to get to work on Hinawaju Book 2....... (It's in Heavy Metal German and English, could not find old Norse but the feeling is the same) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjbEad5nw2I Pip Pip Cheerio Tokyo and Kyoto until the 12th of November. So something great to study when I get back.

Looks like Kamon have been removed from the Fukigaeshi. See the holes and slight crumple to the left (from the wearer's perspective) Fukigaeshi.

Good morning Piers, What material is this cast or thrown from?

This about sums the situation up in the grand scheme of things.....