paper itomaki

[doomsdaymachine]

hello! a wonderful site. i am not new to nihonto, but i am at a stumbling point of sorts. a friend directed me here, and i have enjoyed what i have read so far. now i have searched both here and online, and i am not coming up with anything. i am not too internet savvy though, so i may be missing things. my question is this-

 

is there any significance to paper itomaki? i am in the process of acquiring a piece with lacquered paper wrapped tsuka, and i have seen it before but i don't know much about it. was it high class? low? inexpensive? more costly?

 

i look forward to learning

 

reggie

[Lingonberry]

There is a .PDF in the articles section about the different types of tsukamaki and it has a picture of something galled "Kigami (ganpi) maki." It's on page 14. The article is here: http://www.militaria.co.za/articles/Tsu ... Styles.pdf

 

A quick google of ganpi maki found this blog post about a tanto with a "paper base" itomaki: http://apps.tsukamaki.net/Blog/?e=34229 ... 20Koshirae

 

Not much info, I know, but hopefully it sets you in the right direction!

[Jussi Ekholm]

Welcome Reggie.

 

I would think that Takashi Iiyama who is a professional tsukamakishi and goes by the name kensen at http://www.thejapanesesword.com/forum/index.php could probably shed light on your question.

 

In this topic he slightly touches ganpi maki while the topic is about cotton ito. http://www.thejapanesesword.com/forum/v ... f=29&t=144

 

Thomas Buck's tsukamaki book has 2 styles of ganpi maki listed. As far as I know ganpi is a vegetable which was made to paper in Japan. Ganpi kigami maki is done with two strips of paper and resembles like a kumiage maki. The paper can be given a surface work which gives a nice texture to it and it can often be mistaken for lacquered leather, as the paper maki has to go through heavy lacquering process. The book lists also kigami ganpi maki, which is like regular hineri maki but made in paper. The very complicated lacquering process is described a bit here.

[doomsdaymachine]

adam and jussi thank you. I have seen mr. thomas buck's site and blog. thoroughly enjoyable and interestingto study. the pdf is new to me however. very appreciated! i have eaten salmon skin; i never imagined it on tsuka!

 

i will also search thejapanesesword forum in hopes of additional information. i will try to contact iiyama asn as well. thank you again!