Baka Gaijin

I thoroughly applaud Dave for his determination in pursuing the dream and making it reality.

I can think of a few this side of the pond who would jump at something blinged out by that. And they all, to a man, have the title Soke or Professor somewhere in the CV.

Hi Piers., By Okuden, does that literally mean access to the Himitsu? Is Keppan involved? Or is that Okuden meaning entrance into the higher realms which are not Himitsu??

To echo wise old Stephen: RED BALL BAD!!! WHITE BALL OK ish Agree with Thomas et al : nihonto.co.au Pip Pip Cheerio!!

Hi Bohan., Guido probably knows this one's precise name, but it looks like a variation on Inro style, maybe something like inro maki nuri??. Cheers

Hi Manuel., The signature and seals on the left looks like that of Yamaoka Tesshu. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaoka_Tessh%C5%AB If it's right, then you have quite a valuable item. However there are many contemporary and modern fakes of Tesshu's work, not to mention modern facsimile prints of his more famous works. I'll do some digging and see if I can find more information for you. PS the signature looks like the style he used in his late 40's early 50's ( See John Stevens "The Sword of No Sword") https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=FLwuAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT119&lpg=PT119&dq=tesshu+signatures&source=bl&ots=IdOQWe_ap3&sig=jrcJ45LA4_PFLVUmcutawM3SBeM&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiO0oGQ9LvQAhXHAMAKHfBJD68Q6AEIJTAC#v=onepage&q=tesshu%20signatures&f=false (See also Anatoliy Anshin "The Truth of the Ancient Ways"). https://www.amazon.co.uk/Truth-Ancient-Ways-Biography-Swordsman/dp/0984012907/ref=la_B00765M5J6_1_1/254-6270469-8384434?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1479802551&sr=1-1 Cheers

Hi Guys, Paper Mulberry is known as Kajinoha Here's the Kamon sometimes known as Suwa Kajinoha https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Japanese_crest_Suwa_Kajinoha(White_background).svg It also comes in a maru ni (Contained within a circle) Form. Here's a few takes on it: http://kamon-db.net/portfolio/kajinoha

Hi Grev., Normal Tracing paper works a treat to diffuse light. Also don't buy photographic lamps if its a one off, just play about with what you have at home, LED torches work well to get edge definitions. If you have some black card, you can play about behind and in front of the diffusing material and get quite subtle tones and shadows on the diffuser which will reflect on the surface. Plenty of small grip clamps like the ones used on files will hold the card in place. Prepare to tear your hair but above all enjoy the process of creating the image.

Hi Steve., Doh!! I did not twig the Amakuni route, even though John spotted it early on in the thread, well done both. I've seen that cherry bark style of lacquer before on items from the early 20th Century. Agree tourist piece, as in the souvenir shops which surround larger Temples and Shrines. I'm thinking 1910 - 1920? What do you guys think??

Hi Grev., If you don't feel it appropriate to do the shoot yourself, the easiest way is to look for a local commercial photographer who specialises in pack shot and product photography. Take some internet images of the style of photography you want and the rest should be a breeze. Reflective surfaces are reflective surfaces whether they are on a sword or a Rolex makes no odds if you are trying to show subtle aspects of detail. I speak here with certainty, having in my previous career incarnation, been a Cinematographer specialising in Television and Cinema Commercials for 30 years. Cheers

Hi guys, Could the Kanji read thus 寳 Takara or Ho 釼 Tsurugi 天 Ten 國 Koku Which maybe sounds a bit like "Heavenly Treasure Sword". Also, the reference to Naritasan Shinshoji maybe has a resonance as the grounds are filled with sculptural depictions of Fudo No Myoo, Tsurugi and Kurikara. I have more images taken at Naritasan Shinshoji, if they are deemed relevant, I'll post them.

Hi Jason., I'll start the ball rolling with Image 1 The top 5 Kanji running down from left of your image is a date: 昭 Sho 和 Wa 十 Ju 四 Yon 年 Nen Showa 14th year (1939) Showa began in 1926, so that's the 14th year of the Showa era - 1939 (Not 1940 as is sometimes easy to confused by adding 14 to 1926, 1926 is year 1) The same format applies in images 2 & 3. Have a try and see if you can work out the dates on Images 2 & 3. This link will help you: http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/kanji/nengo.htm Cheers

Hi Chris., The Kamon on the Tsuka looks like Maru ni Kikuza Tachibana, and the one on the Fuchi looks to be Kikuza Tachibana. Need clearer images to be more definite. Cheers

Hi Peter., What is the rest of the koshirae like? More to the point what is the quality of the blade? My reasoning being as it has a number, and possibly a name, might it have been entered in the manifest of an Armoury in 1801?

Hi David., Let me expand upon my previous comment in para 3 about the number of swords. In 1588, Hideyoshi instituted a Katanagari (Sword Hunt) Here's what Wiki has to say about it: In 1588, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, having become kampaku or "imperial regent", ordered a new sword hunt; Hideyoshi, like Nobunaga, sought to solidify separations in the class structure, denying commoners weapons while allowing them to the nobility, the samurai class. In addition, Toyotomi's sword hunt, like Nobunaga's, was intended to prevent peasant uprisings and to deny weapons to his adversaries. This hunt may have been inspired by a peasant uprising in Higo the year prior, but also served to disarm the sōhei of Mount Kōya and Tōnomine. Toyotomi claimed that the confiscated weapons would be melted down and used to create a giant image of the Buddha for the Asuka-deramonastery in Nara. "Taikō's Sword Hunt", as it came to be called, was accompanied by a number of other edicts, including the Expulsion Edict of 1590, by which Toyotomi sought to establish a census and expel from villages any newcomers who arrived in or after 1590. The chief goal of this was to place a check on the threat posed by rōnin, masterless wandering samurai who had the potential not only for crime and violence in general, but for banding together to overthrow Toyotomi rule. Hideyoshi, like most of this period, believed in rule by edict, paying little or no attention to legal principles. While the Sword Hunt ostensibly succeeded in denying weapons to potential rebels, it also created discontent throughout the nation, increasing the number and passion of potential rebels. Cheers

Hi David, Take the following with an enormous pinch of salt: I believe the Gourd (Hyotan) is sometimes associated with Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Also if you look at the Warrior, he has more than his fair share of swords....is this a reference to the Hideyoshi sword hunts? Also the Kabuto looks a little like a Momonari hachi (Peach shape bowl) The Peach (Momo) also being a Hideyoshi motif: Momoyama Jidai (lit: Peach Mountain era)....after Hideyoshi's Momoyama Castle (AKA Fushimi - Jo in Kyoto)

Hi Steve., I see what you mean about whether it is Ni or San. Looking at it again, the top line is way thinner and scratch like as you say, so I'll say Ni also. Could the final Kanji on the left hand column be two, the final simply expressing a day 日? I'm not suggesting an Imperial link, but in recent times Imperial gift swords were inscribed "Onshi" on the Habaki (See Ohmura san's site): http://ohmura-study.net/931.html Does anyone else on NMB have inscribed Habaki which imply a Pre-Modern era?.

Hi John, 福 人 ? Not sure about the bottom kanji, looks like 八 ?? Fuku Hachi?? 8 Fortunes or blessings? There's quite a few food related businesses using Fuku Hachi in their name titles according to Google, so I guess it's a very popular symbol of Luck multiplied? 8 being the lucky number?: http://www.fukuhachi.com/ https://tabelog.com/en/tokyo/A1311/A131102/13092931/ On the other side, I think I can see 三 十 九 San Ju Kyu "39" something? on the left column 吉 "Kichi" - Auspicious/Lucky on the top of the right hand column? 之 Is that Kore? implying "This" as the standalone Kanji in the middle??

Dear Fellows., It is with great sadness that I note the seller may not ship to the UK. True Myochin pieces are rare enough in themselves. This is indeed a Horse of a different chromatic designation.

Hi Guys., No 75 is known as Maru ni Watanabe Boshi Knock off the Maru ni (Contained within a circle) for No 76 and you have Watanbe Boshi. Boshi is the hardened form of Hoshi for Star as in the celestial form, not the Kim Kardashian form (Wait, that's not a star, that's something else entirely............ ) Pip Pip Cheerio, off to Tokyo in 17hrs and 36 minutes!!!

Hi guys, It looks like the mount ferrule has been welded to the wrong side, when mounted as a maedate, would it not display as mirror writing? Pip Pip Cheerio

Heads up chaps: http://www.popularwoodworking.com/Japanese-joinery-pdf Pip Pip Cheerio

Hi Bruce., I regret to say, we cannot assume that the Sagari Huji Kamon on your Kai Gunto means the Family Fuji. Since the Bakumatsu and Meiji Restoration periods, the free usage of most Kamon apart from the Imperial Kamon has been pretty much a free for all. However, Sagari Huji was once the Kamon of the Fujiwara: Here's some enlightening information on the great clan: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fujiwara_clan It would be nice to have a direct link, but sadly anecdotal provenance is no provenance. Without documented evidence like a surrender tag with a name and address, the Kamon has no firm link to a specific Family. Cheers

Hi Bruce Sagari means falling or hanging down. Huji (Fuji) means the flowers of the Wisteria (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wisteria). Maru ni means a circle around a Kamon i.e. contained within. And just for good measure Agari means rising or ascending. Pip Pip Cheerio

Hi Bruce, from what I can make out, the Kamon looks like hanging Wisteria, it's known as Sagari Huji. If on your close inspection there is a ring around the central form then it would be Maru ni Sagai Huji, however from what I can make out, it is the former not the latter. Just to liven things up, as I could not see how it sits on the Tsuka when worn , there is a possibility it is the reversed form which is called Agari Huji Agari / Sagari whatever, it's definitely Huji Wisteria Cheers