Baka Gaijin

Try: http://www.maclife.com/article/feature/ ... ing_itunes Cheers Malcolm

Edited Saturday 3rd September 2011 Morning all, here's more than a few links to some interesting 17th to early 20th Century books. According to the website, they are all in the Public Domain and can be printed off or converted to disc. (Some of them are Kindle friendly). If there are any restrictions, they are detailed in the small print. Latest additions: Warriors of old Japan & other Stories - Yei Theodora Ozaki - Published 1909 http://www.archive.org/stream/warriorso ... 7/mode/2up The Japanese Fairy Book - Yei Theodora Ozaki - Published 1903 http://www.archive.org/stream/cu3192402 ... 0/mode/2up ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Here's the gran'daddy of travel books by Johan Nieuhof 1618 - 1672 (and although not Japan related, certainly responsible for much of the western hack imagery of China & Japan in the 17th - 19th centuries). http://www.archive.org/stream/lambassad ... 3/mode/2up (The actual drawings of 1658 were thought lost until found recently (1984) amongst papers in the collection of Prince Roland Bonaparte). Hagakure: Book of the Samurai - Yamamoto Tsuneo - (Opensource no other details) http://www.archive.org/stream/Hagakure- ... 3/mode/2up Gods & Heroes of Old Japan by Violet M Pasteur - Published in 1906 http://www.archive.org/stream/godsheroe ... 5/mode/2up Occult Japan by Percival Lowell - Published c. 1894 http://www.archive.org/stream/occultjap ... 0/mode/2up Tales of the Samurai by Asataro Miyamori - Published in 1920 http://www.archive.org/stream/talesofsa ... 7/mode/2up Agitated Japan - The Life of Ii Naosuke by H. Satoh - Published 1896 http://www.archive.org/stream/agitatedj ... 2/mode/2up A History of Japan 1853 - 1869 by Kinsei Shiriaku (Trans: E.M. Satow) - Published 1873 http://www.archive.org/stream/kinsshiri ... 6/mode/2up The First Japanese Embassy to U.S.A. (1860) - Published 1920 http://www.archive.org/stream/firstjapa ... 7/mode/2up Epochs of Chinese & Japanese Art - Vol 1 by Ernest Fenollosa - Published c.1912 http://www.archive.org/stream/epochsofc ... 9/mode/2up Epochs of Chinese & Japanese Art - Vol 2 by Ernest Fenollosa - Published c.1912 http://www.archive.org/stream/epochsofc ... 1/mode/2up Noh - Accomplishment by Ernest Fenollosa & Ezra Pound - Published 1916 http://www.archive.org/stream/nohoracco ... 0/mode/2up The Japanese Sword & its Fittings (Museum Monograph) - New York - 1966 http://www.archive.org/stream/japaneses ... 5/mode/2up The Bamboo Garden by A.B. Mitford (Lord Redesdale) - Published in 1896 http://www.archive.org/stream/bamboogar ... 9/mode/2up The Satsuma Rebellion by Augustus Mounsey Published in 1879 http://www.archive.org/stream/satsumare ... 4/mode/2up The Life of Toyotomi Hideyoshi by Walter Denning - Published 1888 http://www.archive.org/stream/lifetoyot ... 5/mode/2up Thrilling stories of the Russo Japanese War by J Martin Miller - copyright 1904 http://www.archive.org/stream/thrilling ... 5/mode/2up Japanese Homes and their Surroundings by Edward S Morse - Published 1889 http://www.archive.org/stream/japaneseh ... 4/mode/2up In Togo's Country -Some studies in Satsuma - Henry Schwarz - Published 1908 http://www.archive.org/stream/intogosco ... 6/mode/2up Japanese Topsyturvydom by Mrs E. S. Patton - Published in 1896 http://www.archive.org/stream/japaneset ... 1/mode/2up Sketches of Japanese Manners & Customs by J. M. W, Silver - Published in 1867 http://www.archive.org/stream/sketchesj ... 1/mode/2up Manners & Customs of the Japanese by Philipp Franz von Siebold - Published in 1841 http://www.archive.org/stream/mannersan ... 6/mode/2up The Book of Tea by Okakura Kakuzo - Published in 1919 http://www.archive.org/stream/bookoftea ... 7/mode/2up Kwaidan by Lafcadio Hearn - Published Leipzig 1907 http://www.archive.org/stream/kwaidanst ... 6/mode/2up And here's the Film pt 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IE3mJvsOtk4 Kokoro by Lafcadio Hearn - Published 1896 http://www.archive.org/stream/kokorohin ... 8/mode/2up Saito Musashi Bo Benkei by James S de Benneville - Published Yokohama 1910 http://www.archive.org/stream/saitmusas ... 8/mode/2up Transactions & Proceedings of the Japan Society of London Vol 1 1892 - published 1893 http://www.archive.org/stream/transacti ... 8/mode/2up The Classical Poetry of the Japanese by Basil Hall Chamberlain - Published 1880 http://www.archive.org/stream/classical ... 2/mode/2up Things Japanese by Basil Hall Chamberlain - Published 1902 http://www.archive.org/stream/thingsjap ... 6/mode/2up A Handbook of Colloquial Japanese by Basil Hall Chamberlain - Published 1907 http://www.archive.org/stream/hand00boo ... 3/mode/2up Transactions of the Asiatic Society of Japan - Yokohama 1885 http://www.archive.org/stream/transacti ... 4/mode/2up Imperial Japan - The Country & Its People by George William Knox - Published 1905 http://www.archive.org/stream/imperialj ... 0/mode/2up The Sacred Books & Early Literature of the East - Vol XIII Japan - Published 1917 http://www.archive.org/stream/sacredboo ... 1/mode/2up Shinto - The Ancient Religion of Japan - by W.G. Aston - Published 1905 http://www.archive.org/stream/MN40077uc ... 5/mode/2up Tales of Old Japan Vol I by A. B. Mitford (Lord Redesdale) - Published 1871 http://www.archive.org/stream/talesoldj ... 7/mode/2up Tales of Old Japan Vol II by A. B. Mitford (Lord Redesdale) - Published 1871 http://www.archive.org/stream/talesoldj ... 7/mode/2up Japan in Days of Yore by Walter Denning - Published 1881 http://www.archive.org/stream/japaninda ... 5/mode/2up Japan in Days of Yore (Musashi version) - Published 1905 http://www.archive.org/stream/japaninda ... 9/mode/2up Bushido by Inazo Nitobe - Published 1905 http://www.archive.org/stream/bushidoso ... 8/mode/2up Ehon Taikoki (Life of Toyotomi Hideyoshi) by Takeuchi Kakusai - Published 1914 (3 Volumes) http://www.archive.org/stream/ehontaiko ... 5/mode/2up http://www.archive.org/stream/ehontaiko ... 3/mode/2up http://www.archive.org/stream/ehontaiko ... 3/mode/2up (Japanese text, lots of woodblock illustrations - Japanese format) Tsuba in the collection of the Cooper - Hewitt Museum (Smithsonian Institute) - Published 1980 http://www.archive.org/stream/tsubajapa ... 3/mode/2up The fighting man of Japan by F.J. Norman - Published 1905 http://www.archive.org/stream/fightingm ... 9/mode/2up Cheers Malcolm

Good morning all, Ref: http://www.nyoirinji.com/houmotu.html If you look below the poem image, you will see an image described as 楠木正行公短剣 - Kusonoki Masayuki's Dagger. This looks remarkably similar to those Meiji period Tourist items which often have inscriptions to Hachiman Dai Bosatsu. :? see: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=6705&hilit=items+of+interest Is this what they are based upon? Cheers Malcolm

Good Afternoon all, Here's the text of a book from 1905 http://www.archive.org/stream/fightingm ... 0/mode/1up Chapter III has some interesting details. Cheers Malcolm

Good Morning all, Does the term "Noki - Shita" 軒下 (Lit: Under the Eaves) ring any bells regarding older ways of creating black rust? Cheers Malcolm

Thanks to Moriyama san for the Photo link. The westerner is posing against a backdrop, the foreground greenery appears to be dressing. Whether he is outside in a three sided tent or in a Northlit "Rooflight" studio with natural light is difficult to discern, certainly the light is high sitter's left, camera right and wrapping aound the figure with a soft back shadow. The armour he is wearing is snug around the midriff and for a man six to eight inches smaller I'd guess, although seems well set on the sitter by someone aquainted with armour.. Cheers Malcolm

Good Morning all, Clive wrote: Gentlemen I remember seeing a tetsubo many years ago that contained a large blade inside it! I think the whole thing was from the Bakamatsu period and was not of great quality but interesting nonetheless.Clive Sinclaire I also recall seeing such a piece in London about 1981/2. It had two prongs (like the top of a goal post) protruding from the Tsukagashira this was described as a Musket rest. The blade was Mu Sori, massive and I suspect untempered. The octagonal wooden club was graduated and studded as I recall. My take on it was that it was produced more for show or export than actual use. The strength and endurance required to use Tetsubo/Kanabo must have been incredible. As an aside take a look at these demos of Tennen Rishin Ryu and Yakumaru Jigen Ryu, styles which saw active use in the Bakumatsu: Cheers Malcolm

Markus & Curran My sincere Thanks Again NMB does what it says on the packet!! Cheers Malcolm

Thanks Curran, Very much appreciated, regretfully I don't have Haynes yet. As for my reading Tomotada (Kao), is this correct? If so does anyone have any information on the Tomotada, were they a family with a lineage, or just a general name. I'm thinking Late Late Edo early Meiji. Cheers Malcolm

Good Morning I have a Tsuba (Which I bought here on NMB). I think it reads Bushu (Ju) Tomotada (Kao). I'd appreciate opinions as to it's school or style also please. Many Thanks Malcolm

Hi George, Re the appreciation of Star Stamped blades: There is a very telling insight in Tom Kishida's Yasukuni Blades, where Mishina Kenji writes candidly about his preconceived ideas and eventual discovery and appreciation of Yasukuni - To. Mishina san continues to say that Yasukuni - To had to be appreciated outside of Japan before being generally appreciated in Japan. No one wants to be the nail that sticks up perhaps. Cheers Malcolm

Good afternoon all, The members of Hideyoshi's mounted guard, who later became Generals were referred to as the Seven Spears of Shizugatake (After the Battle) - Shizugatake no shichi-hon-yari 賤ヶ岳の七本槍. Cheers Malcolm

Good evening Marek, If I had $5000 to spend, I would stick with the Bokuto and go to Japan and train. Cheers Malcolm

'morning all, 1. The reverse shot looks as if the Crab been roughly fixed to something in its past? 2. It looks like a Shakujo.... However: Are there more than six rings and how long is it? Does the box relate to it? Cheers Malcolm

Hi John, All I can suggest is to keep looking at the 180 reversed image, perhaps sweeping the eyeline from 45 degrees left through right. It should reverse to make an intaglio, but sometimes you have to "encourage" the flip in the illusion to occur. (I have to own up to being a child of the 60's and weaned on a heady mixture of Escher & Vasarelly.....) Cheers Malcolm

Morning All, Turn the image 180 degrees and the cameo becomes intaglio. (The illusion is a simple case of higher - level cognitive patterning) Can't help with the stamp though. Cheers Malcolm

Evening all, I guess something with: Banzai（万歳）" literally reads ten thousand years (of life)". It is written with the combination of the kanji characters for "ten thousand（万）" and "age（歳) It's worked well in the past..... Just a thought. Cheers Malcolm

Ok All join in: Yaora machi uke wo NATSU ni shite Hiyashi chuuka mo KIME te Yatte kitawa umi IKA yaki kusakute BIKINI BON ! KYU ! BON ! no BODII wa Ki ga tsukeba doko to naku FUNAMUSHI kusai Mucha shitai SAMAA Onegai yo Kami SAMAA BIG WAVE dakishime taiyou JIRIJIRI Hamaguri BONBAA ! Moeru shima de UTSUBO na FAITAA Itami wo shiritai no BONBAA ! Onna no ko mo Kawaku toki ga aru Uruo shite Oh dareka dareka dareka dare da ? KANI ga miteru Oh dareka dareka dareka dareka Dareka dareka dareka Soshite dare mo mina futari zure YAZIMA dake kazoku zure Okeshou mo kuzure HAI REGU mata zure MAMA wa YAKE de CHICHI wo GABU no mi Toori sugiru OTOKO ni FUJITSUBO nageru YOKOSHIMA na SAMAA Sanzan na ari SAMAA Hayaku shinai to KURAGE chan dechauwa Ah KURAKURA Hamaguri BONBAA ! Noshi oyogi de AWABI CHARENJAAA KOMASE wo maku keredo BONBAA ! Kotoshi koso to Kimeta NATSU wa mada Owaranai Oh dareka dareka dareka dare da ? Ha ni aonori Oh dareka dareka dareka Dareka dareka dareka Dareka dareka dareka Dareka dareka dareka Dare da ? Dare da ? Dare da ? Ishida ! Ishida ! Ishida ! Dare yo ? NE VA DA ! Thank you for the Link, do I understand Ford, that this is showing a typical day behind closed doors at the V&A? If so, what can the British Museum be like, after all it is in Bloomsbury............. Cheers Malcolm

Hi all, I don't think it's the Imperial Kikumon. That is usually 16 petalled. See the excellent Yoroduya Kamon site: http://www.yoroduya.co.jp/kamon/ Look in the section marked with the Hiragana "KI" - き third one down marked 菊　キク (Kanji and Katakana KIKU) where there are 26 Kikumon varients shown. Anyone know why varients so close to the Imperial Kamon were allowed in the Feudal period? Grace and favour?? Just a thought. Cheers Malcolm

Good morning John, I have some further references to names used to describe Japan: Ashihara no Nakatsukuni 葦原中国 (Central Land of the Reed Plains) Oyashima 大八洲 (Great Country of Eight Islands) Cheers Malcolm

Thank you for such a swift reply Moriyama san. Question answered fully yet again. Cheers Malcolm

Good Morning all, I've heard the term "Hamon" being used to exclude from a group or organisation, how does this differ from the term Hamon used in Nihonto? Cheers Malcolm

Evening all, Interesting thread, don't forget:- Sums it all up Happy New Year NMB Cheers Malcolm

Good morning Chriso, I'm reasonably sure it's a mekugi nuki. They come fixed or folding see below. http://www16.plala.or.jp/katana-iimura/oreasi-e.html Cheers Malcolm

Thank you Pete & John, Moving the topic on slightly, were there any terms for careless handling of the sword e.g. cutting one's own maedate or cutting oneself on noto? Cheers Malcolm