Bungo-to Exhibition in Oita, Japan

[kyushukairu]

If any members are in Japan, and close to Kyushu, a special exhibition has been organised on the swords of Bungo province (modern-day Oita prefecture), by the NBTHK Oita branch.
The exhibition is being held in Usuki History Museum, in Usuki city. The exhibition will run until 20th December, though, there are effectively two exhibitions with a second set of swords on display from the 15th of November.  If interested, I can also send a list of the swords on display, which was discussed and arranged at the Oita NBTHK meeting.

Usuki is also a lovely place for sightseeing - it's famous for its stone buddhas, which are a national treasure, and there is also a wonderful castle ruin, which was the main castle of Otomo Sorin, the daimyo of Bungo province, in later life. I would also be happy to meet up with anyone who wishes to attend the exhibition.

 

 

[Kaigunto230]

I wish I was back in Kyushu and could attend. I’m very jealous! My first Nihonto is a Bungo-to Fujiwara Yukinaga. A school that mixes art with purpose and takes the best from all others.

 

If they allow it, could we trouble you to please take some photos and post them here?

[Jussi Ekholm]

Thank you for posting Kyle, I hope the event goes well. I would appreciate the list of items for display as I have bit of a thing for very old Bungo stuff. Would be nice to see what items were selected.

[kyushukairu]

Michael, Kyushu is a wonderful place. There’s so much European-Japanese history here. I also forgot to add that de Liefde, the ship which William Adams was aboard, washed ashore at Kuroshima, which is an island just off Usuki in Oita. I’ll try to get a couple of cheeky photos for you.

Jussi, I’ve attached the lists for the two displays. I agree, koto Bungo-to can be very elegant indeed. A few months back, I was fortunate enough to be permitted to view several early Bungo tachi in a local shrine which were owned by the Otomo clan. 

[Jussi Ekholm]

Thank you for posting Kyle, there seem to be many interesting items in there.