Baka Gaijin

Hi Javier, I'll start you off: 1, 2, 5, 6 & 7 by the Artist: Toyohara Kunichika 2 & 7 - definitely from the series entitled "Mirror of Demonic People, Good and Evil" (Zen'aku kijin kagami). c. 1868 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyohara_Kunichika Cheers

"But what do you say when someone asks you for proof of age? " Piers, if you are having problems with people believing your age..... Firmly fix with a basilisk gaze and repeat the mantra: "I am of legal age to purchase and consume alcoholic beverages." Works every time. Pip Pip

Try this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antiguo-tant-tanto-Knife-Ca-1500-/131685937750?_ul=BO&nma=true&si=1NWHLHXLwDG%252BFfJTZlhsn6ghfYw%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557 The item in question is in Portland Oregon. Cheers

Could the name be a pun? Ito Ittosai Kagehisa alledgedly founded the Itto Ryu school of swordsmanship sometime in the late 16th early 17th Centuries. 8th Shogun Tokugawa Yoshimune was an advocate of the system. Anyway, if this helps, this is the kanji that the original Ittosai and Yoshimune used: 一刀斎 吉宗 If Ittosai Yoshimune was based in Kyoto, then he would most likely have been part of the Dai Nihon Butokukai 大日本武徳会 which was dissolved in 1946. If as it states, the dealer was a Kendo champion for 12 years, that's quite a feat, perhaps there would be a link via one of the Kendo Dojo in Kyoto. Perhaps try the Zen Nippon Kendo Renmei https://www.kendo-fik.org/english-page/english-top-page.html They can be a bit hazy about pre war Kendo. I thought it rang a bell, here's something on NMB: http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/9021-translation-assistance/ The documents in the post are no longer visible, but it states a date in Showa 23 (1948), so our chap was quite active. Here's another link for 1949 with pictures of a Kanteisho for a Tanto in Koshirae resembling those that you have: Look at image 5, although its upside down, I think there is an address: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antiguo-tant-tanto-Knife-Ca-1500-/131685937750?_ul=BO&nma=true&si=1NWHLHXLwDG%252BFfJTZlhsn6ghfYw%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557 It starts Kyoto- Shi Shimo ?? Cheers

Now try this: http://www.jp-sword....i/gendaito.html He's way down the bottom in the Seki Kaji Tosho list, together with his real name: 野口 平一 which I think reads Noguchi Heiichi

Hi Philippe look closer at the middle Kanji, it's not quite what you think it is. Clue: count the strokes....... you will find it on this page in the N section. http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/kanji/kanji3.htm When you work it all out, there's a listing of a swordsmith using the name here, along with his real name: http://www.jp-sword.com/files/seki/gendaito.html Gambatte!!

Hi Philippe: Here are some clues: http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/kanji/kanji1.htm Then this should provide you with lots of information: http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/gendai.htm Above all enjoy the process.

Hi guys I think it's something off a trophy or award. The first Kanji 賞 can be read asしょう (shō) which is award or prize. Over to you Steve san for the second kanji. Pip Pip

Hi Piers., Popping my Silver Dealer's hat on for a mo' All English Silver Flatware and Cutlery is 925, with the exception of Britannia Standard Silver which is 958.3. Given the shape and direction of use, it would be beast for the job! As an addenda, many surgical instruments were and still are made of silver. (Vampires, Werewolves and the Lone Ranger's Silver Bullets came into the mix here, but that's not really real is it.....) Pip Pip......

Just a wild guesstimate of the first few Kanji 宝 暦 十 ? ? ? ? 二 月 吉 日 Is it Hōreki Ju ? ? ? ? Ni Gatsu Kichi Nichi............. Cheers Malcolm

If the surface is ruffled all over with what look like soft wrinkles, it might be a material called Chirimen. Such material was used as the liner material for Haori Jackets: http://www.ichiroya.com/item/list2/327890/ Cheers

Good afternoon Ken., I have a Tanto in Silver mounts, the Tsuba is pretty close to this: http://art.thewalters.org/detail/13247/silver-tsuba/ Pure silver would be quite soft, but 800 to 925 would work. As you say, Silver is 2.5 on the Mohs scale, Copper is 2.5 to 3. So it may be possible as a decorative example.

Good morning Ty., More interesting pieces. The usual form when showing Fuchi or Tsuba is to always show the thinner part of the Nakago ana at the top as you did with your previous two signed pieces. The Tenaga piece is really interesting but so too is the piece you partially show on the left of picture 3 and wholly in Picture 4 (with the Chidori). At first glance I thought the Tenaga might be for a Tobacco case, but they are usually pressed metal, yours is solid and double sided. They may be Tourist pieces or small Bunchin (scroll weights). On the Tenaga, I think the signature in picture 4 is: ? 春 Kao . Which is something Haru and then Kao art signature. What is your opinion John? Cheers

Morning Ty., I would like to reference the fact that the woman depicted is riding a horse, which places her in high status. Is perhaps this a reference to an event in Genji Monogatari? Is the lady on the Horse meant to be one of the characters or a pun concerning Murasaki Shikibu herself? Are the male faces deliberately defined and hers, mask like by intent? Someone is getting a bit skillful with the Camera....... Cheers

Morning Steve., John Stuart has a recipe for Kusune クスネ on his site: http://www.johnstuart.biz/new_page_22.htm There are two versions of kanji if you are searching for a supplier 薬練 薬煉

Welcome aboard Ty. It's not such a scary place after all is it.... The H 10486.0 that John mentions is the reference number for the artist Toshinaga in the Haynes series I told you about. Here's a link you might find useful: http://www.shibuiswords.com/index.htm Now you've got the hang of it, you can show the rest of your treasures, but as Ken says, in the translation section. Not bad pics for a first attempt............ Ganbatte!! Cheers

Good morning Gentlemen., What other areas of pre modern Japanese society used these honorifics? or was it only for swordsmiths?

Good morning Piers., The old Toraba site referred to items such as Muchi, Gunbai, Sashimono, and Kegutsu as Sonohoka. I wondered if it was a general term for Accessories or literally the "et ceteras" of Armour. Pip Pip

Hi Piers., Would 床几 be included as その他 - "Sonohoka" in Katchu related equipment terms? Pip Pip

Good morning, I think the Kamon is a stylised fish eye with a single bar. I'm not sure but "Kago Jyano Me Ichino Ji" might be a possible search option. Pip Pip

The other possibility is that the entire blade was larger and has been reshaped, in order to take out edge chips and damage to the mune perhaps. From the angle shown, the habaki looks a little odd in shape, particularly where it meets the munemachi. If that was so, would it suggest that the original habaki position (Not the habaki currently used ) was further down in a position normal for the position of the lower mekugi ana.

Here ya go: http://www.mejiro-Japan.com/en/product/kintsugi-repair-kit Pip Pip

Hi Nick. What happens if you turn the second symbol over on itself? It occurred to me, the symbol might have been deliberately reversed to keep the owners intent secret if it was mounted on the Omote side of the tsuka? Just a thought.

Good evening Nick and Steve, The 180 degree shift sounds good, so if we are dealing with Bishamonten, there are at least five incarnations of Bishamonten. The Bishamonten sanskrit seed is Bei Maybe look at Tamonten and his mantra "On Beishiramanaya sowaka" おん　べいしらまなや　そわか Fascinating!