trip

[John A Stuart]

Hi All, I have confirmed my dates for my trip to Japan. Only 3 weeks this time. This is directed to those living in Japan or those well informed. Other than the obvious exhibits I will be visiting, musea, sword shops; is anything special happening between the 28th of March and April 17th? I am hoping to get some pics of the cherry and plum blossoms, if i have picked the right time and the weather is right. 2 years ago I hit it right but my film disappeared. Didn't go digital that time. I have seen most of the usual sights from Hokkaido on down and would like to see some of the sites related to sword manufacture. As usual I am using a rail pass and nowhere is too far to go if interesting. I must stay in Tokyo 1 week and Kyoto 4 or 5 days but the rest is open. Thanks for any ideas. John

[Stephen]

dont live in Nippon but i have a idea hire me as your porter. :lol:

[Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini]

Hi All, I have confirmed my dates for my trip to Japan. Only 3 weeks this time.

 

Hi John. Well deserved trip, after all those blizzards, nevertheless I still hate you :lol:

Can't remember if you've already visited Omishima :

 

[Bugyotsuji]

If you're going to see Omishima, John, then why not stop off at Osafune in Okayama and see the Sword Museum there with all the representative craftsmen tinkering away on Sundays? You could even combine the whole thing somehow with the monthly antiques fair held in Ako Castle on Tuesday 15th April.

[John A Stuart]

Great ideas. I shall put them on my agenda. I just got a 16 gig memory for my camera, so I am afraid I will tragedically bore you all to death on my return with pics. I certainly need a porter, last time I tumbled down the steps in the Tokyo underground with my gear, alas I'm cheap. :lol: John

[Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini]

I just got a 16 gig memory for my camera, so I am afraid I will tragedically bore you all to death on my return with pics.

 

To Bore me with pictures of NihonTo and Katchu (and everything concern ancient Japan) ?

You need more then 16 giga... :lol:

 

http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,12840 ... ticle.html

[John A Stuart]

Well, I hope they are worthy. Funny, I will also be bringing my 1/2 terabyte hard drive so I may transfer some but, 16 gig is one heck of a lot of pics. I remember the 8mm films I was forced to watch at family gatherings, torture. More interesting now. Any requests?? John

[Mike]

Hello John, this link sort of put together some interesting site as well as some shops. I believe nothing new but I find it comfortable as it has some useful info on every site.

http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Palace/1135/sights.html

Mike

[John A Stuart]

Good one Mike. I haven't seen some of these. John

[Ford Hallam]

Hi John,

 

not sword related but if you have any interest in bizen yaki, the local pottery, the the next train stop from Osafune ( travelling from Osaka side ) is Imbe. the centre of such. It's a good source of tokkuri and sake zue. enjoy.

 

Ford

[John A Stuart]

I might do that Ford, I collect a bit of everything but never have enough of each. John

[falconj]

Hi John,

your going home from Japan to early mate! :D

the Tokyo Hiwajima Antique Fair is to good to miss, got some very good bargains to be had there usually 3 - 6th May,

go on the last days, sellers really lower prices, going again this year!!

regards

John

[sencho]

Google "Heiwajima" Antique Fair... it's big by the way and even if you don't buy anything it is great to wander around!! I am going to the May one, and possibly June too.

 

Just near Tokyo Ryutsu Center Station

 

John... here is a good English language page for lots of antique markets in Japan and the whens and wheres.

 

http://www.weekender.co.jp/new/guides/a ... rkets.html

 

Cheers!

[Nobody]

FYI: the All-Japan Old Folk Utensil and Antique Fair held in Heiwajima Distribution Center

http://gold.ap.teacup.com/applet/kottoh ... e3/archive

[John A Stuart]

Hi, Thanks for the suggestions. I may be able to make the Utensil Fair but the May Antique fair is when I will be back to work, darn. John

[Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini]

Well, I hope they are worthy.

 

I know you're interested in Samurai history too so, believe me, Omishima is worthy.

Not sure you'll be allowed to take pictures there anyway... :|

 

Any requests??

 

Yes, have fun and drink a few Ozeki sake cups (cold) for me too.

[John A Stuart]

:lol: Ha ha ha. You must forgive what must have seemed rude in that you thought I meant whether Omishima was worthy. I assure you, I meant whether my pictures are worthy to be viewed by the board. I'll tip a few for you, I guarantee, but probably scotch. John

[falconj]

oops, yes Hiwajima is spelt "Heiwajima" my spelling mistake, still worth the visit

regards

john

[John A Stuart]

OK, I have been researching the island of Omishima as being on my itinerary. It looks so far to have to be a day trip from Mihara or somewhere close. There seems to be no hotels there. According to my info the Oyamatsumijinja treasure house has 80% of the armour designated as a National Treasure. A must see. I hope they allow pics. Maybe if I assure them no flash. John

[Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini]

OK, I have been researching the island of Omishima as being on my itinerary. It looks so far to have to be a day trip from Mihara or somewhere close. There seems to be no hotels there. According to my info the Oyamatsumijinja treasure house has 80% of the armour designated as a National Treasure. A must see. I hope they allow pics. Maybe if I assure them no flash. John

 

You'll find swords and weaponry too, but blades are mostly not showed but under permission, and I can't really say you who ask for.

 

Top Samurai of ancient times send their weaponry to Oyamatsumijinja as offers to the war

deities so you'll find items from big names there.

If you decide to go, purchase as many catalogues as you can.

[John A Stuart]

Hi Carlo, If you or anyone want what catalogs I find there sent to your home/office PM me the details. This is providing there are no unforseen hitches in my getting there. John

[Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini]

Hi Carlo, If you or anyone want what catalogs I find there sent to your home/office PM me the details. This is providing there are no unforseen hitches in my getting there. John

 

Hi John.

Thanks,I know I can count on you, but I got mines on due time.

If you find something on swords of the Shrine only and published recently, I'll reimbourse

you full amount and shipping fees if you've a paypal account.

 

This one should be affordable either in price and shipping costs to the ones that

might be interested in. No ISBN, armors only, Japanese text, :

 

[Ford Hallam]

and here's a link to the website of the Osafune Sword museum;

 

http://www.city.setouchi.lg.jp/~osa-token/english/index.htm

[John A Stuart]

Thank you Ford, I am going to Okayama straight from Narita bfore returning to Tokyo for a week. John

[John A Stuart]

Hi Guys, From hot Okayama. Well, hot for me. Arrived last night after 5 planes, 2 trains and one taxi. Wandered about today while waiting to attend the Ichimonji exhibition at the Bizen Osafune Museum tomorrow. So, I saw a few nice Nihonto at the prefectural Musem, no pics allowed but I have a museum catalog and will probably post some scans when I return to Canada. Bizen you say, of course!!! Jomon period pottery featured which I had only pics of and was nice to see firsthand too. I am sending a post card of sorts. U-jo or Okayama-jo, rebuilt after WW II like a lot of them but a nice pic. Too early for hanami here but I did visit Korakuen, one of the top three. John

[Bugyotsuji]

If you're in town, John, go and visit 'Tamayama Meishi-to' sword and gun shop, right where the Kencho doori Street crosses the Nishigawa, about 7 mins walk from the station. Tell Mr Ono, the Banto, that you know 'Piazu san'.

 

Wish I could be there, but in the UK at present. Hope you enjoy your stay in that area.

[John A Stuart]

Will do. I acted as deshi today swinging an hammer to forge tamagahane into a billet for a tanto in Osafune village by Kawashima san and then was given a meal of amazing quality cooked by him and his wife along with copious quantities of sake, beer and scotch. Also given a sake cup of Bizen yaki to celebrate the occasion. Wow!!! I can barely see the keyboard, so will fill you in when I get to Tokyo. John

[John A Stuart]

As I promised more on yesterdays activities. After meeting up with Paul Martin and his friend from Durham, Duncan Cadd, we went to the Hiyashibari Museum of Art where the Icimonji exhibition was held. Amazing collection gathered there, the utsuri was visible from 20' on some swords. The change of jitetsu was really evident as well fom early to mid to late Kamakurajidai. Saw one early Kam. signed Ichimonji that would have taken your breath away. We met Masahiko Sakamoto san the curator and received a poster from him. Then off to Osafune where many Bizento are on display, prominently early Muromachi but covering all periods. Many smiths about. This is where we met Yamashima Kazuki san and were invited to his forge. He started it up and had Duncan and I have our turns acting as deshi. We helped shape sponge-like tamagahane into a billet that will be used to make Duncan a tanto. What a thrill, and Duncan had a hand in some of the forging of his own piece, not much really but a ceremonial input from us into its' creation. This is where the celebrations began, enough said. Wee hours of the night and all. I added a pic of me hammering, not a very flattering view I know (Paul ) but who cares? Then a pic of the forge and the view of Osafune village from the forge. The chimney is the kiln stack of a man who makes Bizen-yaki. Saw the Yoshida which has levies to forestall flooding which caused a problem one time, as we know, no wonder Osafune flooded. If banks are breached the water can only inundate the villages. In Tokyo now and hanami is baka, baka. Ueno a mass of people. All for now. John

[Guido]

He started it up and had Duncan and I have our turns acting as deshi.

Sounds more like Sakite, "hammer man", than Deshi who is a full time student, often live-in.

[John A Stuart]

Yes Guido, that is probably a better description, ceremonial as it was but fun. Today we went on a course to make a ko-gatana and to familiarise ourselves with a forge. Kakuto Yoshiki san met us in Nerima and took us to the forge of Takano Yukimitsu san who, accompanied by his deshi Ozawa Shigenori san was to teach us. After a little kantei, which was great for me since I am a Mino fan, the course began. The swords were 1) wak, Kaneiwa; 2) tanto, Kane ?? (unknown kanji); 3) a real jewel, katana, 2 mei dated as Kanefusa (nidai) and Kanetsune, perhaps the earliest dated example of Kanefusa; 4) tanto, Wakasa no Kuni Fuyuhiro, a new one on me. So, we did the prep on the ko-gatana, yasurimei, mei and yakire. They go now to the polisher. This was a real eye-opener. My time with a tagane produced a mei that looked like it was done by a drunk epileptic. Put my chop on it which in Japanese reading is Nageyama. While waiting for the clay to dry I got to forge weld a billet of tamagahane onto the handle which forms the base to actually make a sword. A full days work for a one day novice. What a great day and great bunch of teachers to learn from. Pictures were taken by another full time student and I will devote a page on my website to it when I receive them. All for now.John