Baka Gaijin

Cheers Dirk Malcolm

Morning Zanshin, When I use the link provided on page 1 of this post: http://www.Nihontoden.co.uk. I get "Not Found" URL/error php was not found on this server. I get the same result also using Google. There is a flashing mysql repeat image when you try to access via: http://www.nihontoden.co.uk/site/forgotpasswd.php Is it IE8 playing up? (I've had some problems with Internet Explorer 8 recently.) Or is the site down? Cheers Malcolm

Good Morning all, I have a problem accessing the new auction site, I'm using Internet Explorer 8. Cheers Malcolm

Good Evening everyone, Can anyone help to clarify this: According to several Japanese websites, Yamaura Saneo's father was called Yamaura Masatomo (山浦昌友), but in Oi no Nezame, Saneo refers to his father Nobukaze (Inami: Nobukaze信風). It may be that his father's true name after his adulthood (Inami) was Nobukaze, and his Aza (common given name) was Masatomo. We are preparing a paper which we will share on NMB. Best Regards Malcolm

Thank you Brian, I suspected that might be the case, but I wasn't sure. Best regards Malcolm PS It's interesting to watch Gunto emerging, one supposes from ancestral "Kura" in Japan......

Good Morning all, A point of clarification between Gendai-to and Showa-to please. Tsuruta san currently has a Navy Gunto in the Aoi Art Auction, the blade of which he describes as Showa-to. https://www.aoi-art.com/auction/en/auct ... 1213703271 Cheers Malcolm

Good Evening all, Hi Ian, I wonder if the holes are contemporary with the object, which is quite skilfully executed. The holes are pierced crudely, cutting the bottom hanging spray of foliage, and I agree that a clock movement might have been secured to it. The hooks may have been left to secure a wire or chain weight and pendulum on something like a Vienna Regulator movement, if the double hook was rotated 90 degrees to the right, the pendulum arm could be pushed into it whilst the clock movement was being wound. I think the playful cat is a clue and suggest Shinto festival and the hooks, which look "right" may have supported something like a shimenawa or similar straw offering to the Kamisama related to the season and pursuit. Cheers Malcolm

Hi Rich, If you zoom in and look carefully at the tsuba in question, the line seems to continue the other side of the nakago ana, which suggests that if it is a sword damage, then it occured when the Tsuba was unmounted. I've a vague recollection of an article concerning the destruction testing of blades in the late Edo period using various items of varying resistances including Tsuba. Can anyone expand on this? Cheers Malcolm

Good Morning all, I suggest that we don't see many tsuba with battlefield damage due to the fact that with the exception of the Bakumatsu/Boshin war period, the bulk of tsuba were produced during the Pax Tokugawa and thus pass down from an age with little conflict apart from personal. Tsuba surviving from Momoyama and before, survive perhaps for aesthetic reasons, the battlefield damaged pieces being discarded when a blade was remounted, in the same way Katchu becomes modified as it passes down the years. However, there's a tsuba with a suggested musket ball dent on No 9 of Grey's 30 Tsuba sale currently showing in For Sale or Trade. Here's some actual examples of a documented combat, the blade and habaki showing the scars to ha side: http://www.ksky.ne.jp/~sumie99/katanainfight.html and a Wakizashi with scar to mune: http://www.ksky.ne.jp/~sumie99/Taema.html Cheers Malcolm

Good Evening all, Just picked up on this thread, and Moriyama san's observations about reversed menuki. In support of his opinion, I draw your attention to Tozando Budogu's Yagyu Koshirae Iai-To with "Sakasa Menuki" (Reversed position according to: the document of the historical Yagyu diary (sic) http://www.tozandoshop.com/Yagyu_Koshir ... 6-s106.htm Cheers Malcolm

Thank you Moriyama san. Edited accordingly This is what makes NMB such an important study tool. Cheers Malcolm

Thanks again Steve M. Here's a link to Saneo's work (No 4): http://www.choshuya.co.jp/0705/thanks_info.htm And to Kiyomaru's work: http://www.christies.com/LotFinder/lot_ ... 26a106b238 On a wild aside, it seems that the Historical novellist Yoshikawa Eiji (1892 - 1962) wrote something about about Yamaura Kiyomaru's turbulent life in 1942 http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/1335 ... 3details Cheers Malcolm

Good Morning SteveM, Thank you, any light shed on this would be excellent, I've come across oblique references to it over the years and have always drawn a blank. This is the first time I've had glimpse of the actual work. For the record, as far as I can work out, Yamaura Saneo was the elder brother of Yamaura Kiyomaru, and "Oi no Nezame" was Saneo's summation of the key elements which made a sword practical as opposed to the more flamboyant forms of the early Bakumatsu; (based upon his experiences as a swordsmith). I'm not sure, but I think he is praising Masahide's work in several places in the text. I think he writes that he wrote this in 1871 at age 68. Addenda: The navigation button at the bottom of the text takes you to a brief overview of the work. Below this are three text hyperlinks: 郷土の偉人；刀匠山浦真雄とは takes you to some pictures and text relating to workplace and grave I think. 芳扇書；『老いの寝覚め』の自運 The calligraphy seems to be written by the owner of the web site. She (the owner) is a calligrapher, and 芳扇 (Hosen?) may be her art name. Courtesy of Moriyama san. 随想録「老いの寝覚め」（全文）returns you to the original page you started from The nav button at the bottom of the overview page takes you to the origianl poster "BarBa".. Thanks BarBa Good old NMB Cheers Malcolm

Good Evening all, Is there an English translation of "Oi no Nezame" (The waking of an old man) by Yamaura Saneo (1804 - 1875)? Cheers Malcolm

Good morning all Again NMB comes up with the goods. Thank you gentlemen for your input and oblique humour. Cheers Malcolm

Morning all, Hope I'm in the correct section. What does the term "Zokumyou signature" mean? http://www.aoi-art.com/sword/wakizashi/09062.html Cheers Malcolm

Good morning everyone, Herewith a slice from the dreaded You Tube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_gcPGI-ZMI& Cheers Malcolm

Afternoon all, 1964, Christmas Steps, Bristol, Wakizashi, £4.10s, could have had its longer brother for another £6.00 but being 12 at the time, it was a small fortune.......still is in these enlightened financial times!!! Cheers Malcolm

Good morning all, Some time ago Stephen mentioned Iwai Zashi, and the general opinion was Boy's Day Sword. Tsuruta san of Aoi Art has listed for auction a Boy's Day Sword which he describes as Chigo Zashi, together with a useful description. https://www.aoi-art.com/auction/en/auct ... 1213703271 Cheers Malcolm

Good Morning Everyone, The red paint reminds me of several items in the Sir Frank Bowden Collection Sales which took place at Christies in London during the early 1980's. Cheers Malcolm

Good Morning everyone, I'm a little perplexed, is the image the Ura side of a Kodzuka? Cheers Malcolm

Good Evening Peter, I've seen something like this before, I think it may relate to the Yasakami no Magatama, one of the three sacred emblems of Japan. Check out Tesshu Yamaoka's Calligraphy, I think he may have depicted a similar subject. Cheers Malcolm

Thank you both for the information Cheers Malcolm

Thanks to everyone for the input. Here's another question: What is Senfuri? Which plant is it obtained from? It is relating to prevention of insect attack on Tsuka, particularly in the glue that holds same down. It is mentioned by Otake Risuke (Teaching Headmaster of Tenshinsho Den Katori Shinto Ryu) in the excellent book introducing the Ryu, recently reworked and published by Koryu Books. http://www.koryu.com/ The only mention I can get from t'internet is: United Nations HS 2002 Subheading 1211.90 - - Other (Stand-alone description: Plants & parts of plants, incl. seeds & fruits, OAKU primarily in perfumery/pharmacy/for insecticidal/fungicidal/sim. purps., n.e.s. in Ch.12, fresh/dried, WN cut/crushed/powdered) :? Cheers Malcolm

Thank you Ford Questions answered.......But more forming as a result I suspect :lol: to all Cheers Malcolm