Ouch!

[Stephen]

Anyone know the story behind this if ther is one.

Double ouch on the price!

https://buyee.jp/item/yahoo/auction/x669083053?

[16k]

The story is quite simple. They hit the “0”key one time too many

[Stephen]

and the pulling of the tongue?

[Pete Klein]

It's a dental office manager collecting a past due bill...

[SAS]

Open up and say AAAAAAHHHHH!

[16k]

Not so wide open, I can see your knickers!

[Brian]

I recall something about this theme once before on the forum. No doubt one of our experts on legends and themes will solve the puzzle by tomorrow.

[SAS]

I did a quick search regarding shishi lions, which come in pairs, one with mouth closed and one with mouth open, representing the a-un of Buddhism; there  was also something from Lafcadio Hearn regarding some makimono describing various regions of hell, where a demon was pulling out the tongue of liars with red hot tongs. i do not know if that was a reference made by the tsuba or not....perhaps there is a more specific legend to explain the image.

[Tanto54]

Steve (SAS) is on the right track about Hell and the tongs.  For centuries, Japanese parents have warned their children that they had better tell the truth or Enma-O (the King of Hell) would pull out their tongue with a pair of tongs.  In this tsuba, it is actually Enma-O who is having his tongue pulled out (Enma-O looks like a beast but his hat is very distinctive - see the picture of him below and compare it to the hat on the guy getting his tongue pulled out on the tsuba).  On the back of the tsuba, it has Enma-O's famous sword, his mace (also seen in the picture below) and a book that he uses to record evil doers.

 

[Brian]

:clap:

[Stephen]

And thats why i love NMB!!

Thanks George!

[SAS]

Hey me too!