Jesper

Thank you, Steve! Much appreciated! Kind regards, Jesper

Dear all, I have a tsuba box with text on the lid and inside. The tsuba is unfortunately missing. I would be grateful for any help translating it. With best regards, Jesper

Thank you very much!

HI all, I have a tsuba with an older certificate with the name "R.O. Bretnor" written on it in handwriting. I like to update my archive with previous owners, but cannot fine any info on him (I guess it is a man), except maybe being an American science fiction writer, who died in 1992. I am grateful for any information on "R.O. Bretnor". Is it the author? With best regards, Jesper Shimizu_Jingo5_Bretnor.pdf

Dear all, I know this may be a little off-topic question, so please remove if not appropriate. I am asking for help translating kanji on the back of a stick which I believe has been used for religious purposes, also called Ikapasuy, by the Ainu people of Japan. Any help is much appreciated. With best regards, Jesper P.

Thank you for info. and references, Steve. Much appreciated. I was not aware of the shrine connection.

That is strange. Here is the text again. Yes, good neighbors, indeed!😉 Dear all, I would like to ask about the use of a mon showing a fence (Magaki) in a ring. I have traced it to the Ooka clan in Iwatsuki / Iwaki in Musashi. It is however not the main mon of the clan. I have gathered information on the Ooka clan but have not succeeded in finding information about this particular mon. I would be grateful for information about the use of it, which daimyos or sub-lines of the clan used it, where and and when, etc. Thank you in advance. With best regards, Jesper

Dear all, I would like to ask about the use of a mon showing a fence (Magaki) in a ring. I have traced it to the Ooka clan in Iwatsuki / Iwaki in Musashi. It is however not the main mon of the clan. I have gathered information on the Ooka clan but have not succeeded in finding information about this particular mon. I would be grateful for information about the use of it, which daimyos or sub-lines of the clan used it, where and and when, etc. Thank you in advance. With best regards, Jesper

Thank you for your comments. Much appreciated! I have the "Katchūmen : mononofu no kasō" book by Iida, but would like to ask if you are aware of any similar publication or study focusing on facial armour? With best regards, Jesper

Hi all, I would like to ask your opinion on this Hanbō. It has rather pronounced cheeks and smooth lines and if of four-piece construction with a four-step Yodare-kake throat guard. The lower part with a very huge Ase nagashi no ana drain hole under the chin is riveted to the upper part. The drain hole is 16 mm in diameter. The ear protections are decorated with a pierced design and are also riveted. The metal is rather thin and the edge along the cheeks and mouth has a slightly raised rim. Please see the photos' for details. With best regards and thank you in advance. Jesper

Thank you very much!

Dear all, I kindly ask for help to translate a Yari mei. I cannot identify the two first Kanji. The last three Kanji are "Masa Yoshi Saku". Any help is greatly appreciated. With best regards, Jesper

Thank you Geraint, Piers and Robert, Much appriciated. Jesper

Deal all, I have problems reading the entire signature on an old NBTHK paper issued for a Kiyoshige wakizashi. I find the handwriting somewhat challenging. All inputs are appreciated. Thank you in advance. Best regards, Jesper

Very nice tsuba! There are two tsuba by Masafusa with the same design on page 46 in Tanko: Bushu Ito Ha (Tsuba Craftsmen of the Bbushu-Ito School) by Akimoto, Arai and Kasahara. 1999. Jesper

Congratulations Jussi! Looking forward seeing the sword at one of our meetings in Stockholm someday!

Thank you for your feedback, Alex and Bruno. Much appriciated. Very nice Tsuba, Bruno! Thank you for sharing. I too, think it is a Utsushi-mono piece. Conditions may of course vary, but it has a newer feel to it. The plate seem too even and the surface does not look old enough, also compared with one of my own old Tsuba (with Hozon), see photo. My main question was concerning the use of very thin plates for Utsushi-mono of Katshuchi Tsuba, since they tend to be thicker in the Edo period. Jesper

Dear all, I would like to ask for your opinion about this Katchuchi tsuba. The diameter is 93mm, including a good quality shakudo rim (mimi-gata), decorated with very fine lines.The Tsuba is very thin, ca 1.8 mm throughout the iron plate. The rim is ca 2.8 mm thick. It is decorated with stars, suns(?) and flowers. The Tsuba has two elongated Hitsu-Ana which are irregular placed. The thickness and shape indicate old age, but I bought it as an Utsushi-Mono, i.e. a legitimate emulation of an older work, rather common in the later part of the Edo period. I am however puzzled by the thin plate since they tend to be a little thicker on Edo period Tsuba. The patina is quite dry and it need some TLC. Thank you in advance. Jesper

Here is a similar invocation on a kabuto. Moderators: I took the photo as screen dump from a Japanese auction site. If inappropriate, please delete my post. Best regards, Jesper

Dear George, Thank you very much! Best regards, Jesper

Hello all, I am trying to identify the battle scene on an ivory kodzuka. Most likely late Edo, unsigned. I think it may be a scene from the Genpei war, for example from the battle of Dan-no-Ura (1185). Numerous scenes from the battle have been used as motives on Tosogu and woodblock prints, but I haven´t been able to pinpoint this particular scene yet. The motive is ships with opposing samurai archers and a cavalry charge. On the right side two samurai seem to be lying (dead?) on the deck of the ship. Any help is much appreciated. Thank you in advance. Jesper

My sincere condolences to the family.

I am also interested in ordering a translation from Markus.

Hi all, I am conducting a small study on the Shin-Shinto smith Koyama/Katayama Munetoshi and am looking for examples of how he signed his yari. He mei is shown in the basic references I have (Fujishiro, Shin-Shinto Taikan, Kanzan Oshigata Shinto Jiten, and others) but they are all on wakizashi or katana. I have located a nice drawing of a yari mei (UK Sword Register no 88), but I would like to have more examples to compare. I would therefore be grateful if you would post/send close-up photos or oshigata of the yari mei you have. Thank you in advance! Jesper

The next meeting of the Scandinavian section of the NBTHK European Branch is on 24 February. 12.00 – ca 17.00 in Stockholm. Guests are most welcome! You do not need to be a NBTHK member to participate. Meeting agenda: Swords: Shin-shinto Koshirae: -Hizen - Namban - Tsuba kantei Report from Dai Token Ichi Bring & tell (Bring something interesting and tell about it: sword, tsuba, laquer work, okimono, armour, etc.). Dinner (Sushi at the meeting place). Please let me know if you are interested and I will provide you with details. Thank you Jesper