Baka Gaijin

Hi Matt, If you can't find brass seppa, leather works really well.

Hi Peter, There's a practical impact thread over on Nihon no Katchu: http://nihon-no-katchu.proboards.com/thread/2054/Japanese-armor-thickness-watermelon

Hi Dave., I agree the second choice of Kabutogane looks the part. Job well done.

Cheers Johnnyi., I'll check this out in more detail.

Thank you Ian, As always, the voice of wisdom and experience.

Thank you Geraint and Piers. I wondered about spiking Cannon. One for IanB I think, did Cannon in general (i.e. Worldwide) come with their own preformed Spike? Does this even fit the Japanese aesthetic in terms of manufacture?

Good Afternoon all., A friend purchased this steel spike in Japan at a Flea market. He was told that it was a spike for cleaning out the touch holes of cannon that had been fouled with burnt powder residue. The seller apparently embellished by saying it would have had a Fusahimo for the Master Gunner to hang from his neck. I am really sceptical that this is even Japanese and am drawn to Marlinspike or something similar. Any thoughts on this?

Hi Luis., The Kamon looks like Maru ni Kourin Tsuru.

Hi Grev., I agree, top image looks like Katabami 片喰 - Wood Sorrel Lower image is difficult, but I reckon you are there with Water Lilly and I think it would be three, not one, hence Mitsu Kōhone 三つ河骨 Cheers

Often the term Gentleman and Scholar is trivialised. In Victor's case however it was firmly set as in Granite. I met him a number of times down the years in all three of his many areas of endeavour, as Budoka, Curator and Consultant. On every occasion he was truly eccentric in the finest sense of the term. A Gentleman and Scholar indeed.

Interesting to note the throng of young ladies eagerly snapping away........

Reminds me of the type of decoration found on a Gunbai 軍配

Kamon looks like Maru ni Kaji no Ha (Paper Mulberry within a circle)

Just a thought, the waka poem is called Fujimi Saigyo. No 9 of Hokusai's 36 view of mt Fuji is called 尾州不二見原 Bishu Fujimi ga - Hara Could this be the likely viewing point for Saigyo? Also, Piers' sterling translation aside, there are two further treatments of Saigyo's works Saigyô, Poems of a Mountain Home, translated by Burton Watson, Columbia University Press, 1991 and Saigyô, Mirror for the Moon: A Selection of Poems by Saigyô (1118-1190), translated by William R. LaFleur, New Directions 1978.

Good morning all., If it helps, I make it out as: いつとなき、Itsu to naki, 思ひは富士の、omohi wa Fuji no, 烟にて、 kemuri nite, おきふす床や、oki fusu yuka ya, うき島が原 uki shima ga Hara Any thoughts Piers or Steve M?

Hi Peter., I'll start you off with the inscription on your box, the first two from the top are: 軍 Gun 刀 To (Army Sword)

Hi Guys, I've looked at parings using 寿 Could it be 長 as in 長 寿 - Chō Toshi - Long LIfe

Hi Piers., I also thought Michi 道 for the Kanji on the right.

Hi Gary., Image 1, the first Kanji on the left could be Kotobuki 寿

Morning Dave, Check out the circular logo for Seki Hyaku Tan Sha Token Sei Saku Jo on the link I posted, it looks like you have a kind of circular logo at the top of your label. Can't make out from your pictures if it has the kanji in the center of the circle. If it's like an H on its side, it might be a later War all Japanese Kanji version of this: http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/6016-paper-label/ Which Puts it to Seki Cutlery Manufacturers' Association Gifu Ken as Bruce said earlier Cheers

Spot on Call Sean!!

Evening All., It looks like Maru Ni Mitsu Tsuru Gashiwa - 3 Flowering Quince within a Circle. Cheers

Hi Piers, I'd also heard "Seppa Tsumaru" meaning at the end of your tether. I'm sure there there are many sword related expressions which come from Pre-Modern Japanese Feudal culture, much in the same way as "Hoist with his own Petard" and "Lock, Stock and Barrel" are used in English. Maybe you could ask the older chaps in the Teppo group for their input. Cheers

Good morning Dave., I notice a sticker on the Saya, the image is a little unclear, however, this link may help in determining which Store either the Koshirae or the entire package was originally purchased from: https://www.japaneseswordindex.com/logo/logo.htm Cheers

Good morning all., Surely the state of polish on a blade is not going to affect whether the sword will cut any better or worse. Tameshigiri will show on the surface of the blade sooner than later due to the silica present in grasses, particularly in tatami omote. So why bother to polish a blade for Tameshigiri? Just a thought.