Shogun8

That actually looks pretty good, Chris! Except that it doesn't seem to have that really tapered look that early mogami do have.

You beat me to the punch here, Uwe!

Normally, I wouldn't even attempt to answer a question like this because so much depends on all the considerations that Piers mentioned and many more. However, if I had to stick my neck out in terms of what would appeal to seasoned collectors and newbies alike, I would have to say that a proper akoda nari kabuto from the Muromachi period with it's unique-to-Japan, so-called "pumpkin" shape would have to be up there (even more so if complete with a haramaki or domaru, but that's probably more for connoisseurs as they are so rare and require some knowledge and scholarship to ensure a proper period piece and not an Edo revival). Also, a kawari kabuto from the Momoyama period, with their flamboyant, sculptural shapes. As mentioned, the Saotome are amongst the best kabuto makers of the Edo period. These are items that even the layman would appreciate. For connoisseurs, we get into some of the more esoteric items and schools: the Yashu; Joshu; Sansaku; Bamen; Saika; Nagasone; Unkai; etc.. And then you can drill down within categories. Even the common zunari offers a range of possibilities: ko-zunari; ballistic zunari; hineno zunari; etchu zunari; etc.. Very, very loaded question, with infinite answers really.

Great story! Congrats!

Thank you for all of the work, effort, time and blood, sweat and tears you put into the forum, Brian. We appreciate you.

This kabuto is reminiscent of a Nagasone.

Adding to Uwe's and Arthur's comments, the angle of the koshimaki (the plate encircling the base of the hachi to which the vertical plates are attached) would suggest a hineno-jikoro like the one shown in your third picture, with a more vertical shape. If your koshimaki was originally made to accommodate a manju or ko-manju jikoro (like the ones shown in your first two pictures, with a more horizontal orientation), you should be able to see vertical cuts in the plate where the resulting flanges would have been folded downwards.

What an amazing, deeply insightful and entertaining article! Thanks so much for sharing!

The JAS Grand Tour in November will spend a day at Oyamazumi - akin to Mecca for katchuphiles!

I think that the very name - Mogami - speaks to its origin from Mōgami in the Tohoku part of Japan. The Uesugi had several examples and of course Yoshiaki Mogami wore his namesake dou. As has already been discussed and illustrated, the mogamido is also clearly a precursor to the Yukishita dou (itself a prototypical product of Eastern Japan), with the angular riveted okegawa dou being the transitional piece in between. Several Japanese books reference the Tohoku origins of the mogamido.

That's a really great analysis for the "raison d'etre" and design of the okitenugui, Arthur. It's very interesting to hear how its design features might relate to its usage by gunners.

Top quality items.

In his book about the armours of the Uesugi, Takemura-san writes that many if not most Sengoku armours - even those of daimyo class - incorporated different elements that were not original to each other. Inevitable and understandable during a time of war when efficiency and practicality were paramount. Nevertheless, many of these armours - especially from the Uesugi - managed to still be beautiful even though not homogenous.

Thank you for sharing a glimpse into the life of a legend.

Looks a little crude, doesn't have the quality I would expect...

Fantastic find - bravo!

Bingo!

Does anyone know if the dates for Dai Token Ichi 2023 have been announced? If not, when is this usually announced?

One more to add for kabuto tatemono: kashiradate (crest on top of the helmet, often mounted in the hachimanza).

It looks great! I wouldn't touch it.

And I think it's actually signed! Hard to believe that anyone would want to put their name to this thing.

Always a pleasant discovery to find that your item is signed unexpectedly.

Very nice, David - congrats!

Agreed.

Very nice - thanks for sharing. Do I see a Nagasone kabuto?