Baka Gaijin

Good Evening all, Here's a Hachiwari/Kabutowari which has just come into my possession. I reckon it's late late 19th/early 20th Century Tourist???. Missing its habaki and probably a threaded screw type mekugi. Carved and lacquered with Cinnabar coloured Urushi. Interesting "stepped" Nakago Jiri. I throw it open to you all: Cheers Malcolm P.S. Thanks Guido for the knots

Absolutely correct Guido. Thanks to everyone, but Guido hit it on the head!!! Cheers Malcolm

Thank you for your able knowledge as always Moriyama san. The backs of the blocks/sticks are plain apart from two or three kanji. Cheers Malcolm

Hi Henry, They are not printing blocks, but blocks of Pine needle soot ink used in calligraphy and painting. I may have mislead you by referring to them as ink blocks, let me relabel them as Ink Sticks and amend the topic posting accordingly. http://www.theartofcalligraphy.com/ink-stick.html I'm reasonably sure sticks of this quality were given as high status gifts, and rarely if ever used. Cheers Malcolm

Good morning all, I've just obtained this beautiful set of presentation ink blocks. I think they are originally Chinese, late 19th/early 20th Century, although they came from a collector of Imari and Kutani wares. Now I'm trying to work out what the calligraphy refers to, Analects of Confucius is one thought, poems of seasons or years is another........Help please. Cheers Malcolm

Thank you Dick for the info. I've also seen some shorter styles of tying, often just the length of the tanto, ending with the sageo tied in a knot at its ends or fanning out as if jabara ito had been woven like kumihimo. :? Cheers Malcolm

Good morning all, What are main styles of tying or presenting sageo on Tanto? Cheers Malcolm

Good Morning all. Small postscript: I now have a paperback copy of Koop & Inada's - Japanese names and how to read them. What an extraordinary book. Thank you Gentlemen. Malcolm

Good Morning all, Agree with John & Brian, perhaps a pinch of client's remorse mixed with a hint of irrational expectation.... a "Master Mooney" blade to be included in the deal and somehow not mentioned in the description.... . Did the client know what the term Koshirae means? You could perhaps advise the client to take a look at Ohmura san's Gunto site for comparison. http://www.h4.dion.ne.jp/~t-ohmura/gunto_002.htm Cheers Malcolm

Hi Piers, it looks like what was described to me as Sanada Himo. Here's a useful "how to tie the knot" used on some boxes http://www.hakoyoshi.com/mame/mame01.html The company are very friendly and will custom make paulownia boxes. Cheers Malcolm

Job Done... Thank You Stephen. Cheers Malcolm

Good Evening Gentlemen. Thanks to John, Ian and Grey. I've found the titles mentioned on Amazon. Where does one obtain the Kanji Flashcards? Cheers Malcolm

Good Evening all, What books would you suggest for Kanji and reading Japanese art names etc? Cheers Malcolm

Late Evening to all, I'll leave page one to the experts, but throw my hand in for page two. Top cartouche gives the reference number 299584 and the date the application was received: - Heisei 20 nen 6 gatsu 17 nen - 17th June 2008 Under your name, in ink: Heisei ni ju nen ju ichi gatsu ni ju hachi nen, being when the kanteisho decision was confirmed, or the papers ready for return:- 28th November 2008, although looking at page one the actual date of Kantei was Heisei ni ju nen hachi gatsu ni ju ni nen = August 22nd 2008 Hope my first attempt at translation was helpful...... :| Cheers Malcolm

Thank you Piers, Is the flat himo called "Sanada Himo"?; like the type you find on Tea ceremony bowl boxes??? Oh and Stephen, it depends upon the caliber of the Futon Cheers Malcolm

Afternoon all, Piers, is the timber Keyaki (Zelkova)? And could we see some pics of your Teppo Box? Hi John, also thanks for showing some Great Tansu. Cheers Malcolm

Afternoon Piers, Great find!!! Looking at the internal dividers, it looks set up for 4 katana length. Are the internal dividers free to move? If so, it looks as though it could fit three katana and three wakizashi. Cheers Malcolm

Evening Kyle, I reckon it's Chinese, Dr Stein has a section regarding these on this excellent site. Cheers Malcolm

Good Evening All ThaiTsuki simply isn't Nihon - To, save your money and get something real. Here's a link to the swordforum thread regarding them: http://forums.swordforum.com/showthread ... adid=64157 Cheers Malcolm

Thanks to you both Moriyama san and Jacques D for the information. Reading through the To-Ken G.B. article in the link given, it mentions a feature being blue colour in the Jigane. This reminds me of the depiction of Nihon - To in 19th Century woodblock prints. Again Gentlemen thank you for your information. Cheers Malcolm

Good Morning Everyone, On the Kashima sisters Usagiya site they mention the term "Kuwana" in the context of fake signatures: Quote: "This is a Shin-shinto blade with a fake signature "Sukesada". Such a blade that Shin-shinto with Koto signature is called "Kuwana-blade. Kuwana-blade was made as originally trick blade. That is popular in 19th century." Unquote: Can anyone expand upon this? Cheers Malcolm

Good Morning all Herewith a Taisho period Woodblock showing a war axe amongst other pieces of Samurai hardware. By kabutogane at 2009-01-13 Got there!!! :D Cheers Malcolm

Good Evening all, This is a bit of a sideways question regarding Mekugi - ana and modern era Japanese Sword Laws. Am I correct to say that once a Mekugi - ana is formed in a blade, that goes toward the Smith's yearly total? So, if a Mekugi - ana is formed and the blade subsequently develops a fatal flaw on polishing, before going to end user, can the blade be rejected and destroyed, without affecting the Smith's yearly total? Cheers Malcolm

Evening All, I drift towards a kind of boxed Shaving tool for Katsuobushi, the first drawer being to catch the shavings, the second drawer to contain a spare blade. Cheers Malcolm

Good Morning all Adopting the Devil's Advocate position briefly: Hagire is an extremely emotive term. Looking closely at the images of the blade, I can only make out a faint line, very very small which looks like a 90 degree Hagire about a "screen" inch away from the Yokote. As far as I understand, Hagire can be acceptable in a blade providing it does not go through the hamon into the core metal. The blade is described as being quite wide and thick with Suguha Hamon, which suggests a more robust edge strength. Perhaps one of our sword swinging members can elaborate. Best regards to all Malcolm