Questions about kogai and kozuka

[GRC]

One of Dale's posts in the "Unaltered Nanban" thread got me thinking...

I've got some questions related to kozuka and kogai (not my area of focus, so I don't know too much about them):

 

1- Given that these are both Japanese implements, could one assume that "ALL" kozuka and kogai were made in Japan?

 

2- Does anyone have any examples of kogai or kozuka that were made in another country (other than cheapo modern knock-offs)?

 

3- Does anyone have any examples of kogai or kozuka that were fitted and used on non-Japanese swords?

 

4a- What do the earliest (pre-Edo to early Edo) kozuka and kogai look like?

4b- Were early kogai and kozuka entirely made of steel, or was the use of soft metals present from the beginning?

4c- Was the kozuka ever done with a one piece construction, or was the kozuka always made separately from the kogatana?

 

 

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help fill in some of these details 

My apologies for the barrage of questions... but I would suggest placing the blame on Dale for making me wonder all this 

[Geraint]

Dear Glen.

 

Here's something to get you going. https://www.mandarinmansion.com/item/nanban-kogai-and-kozuka-set-futakoromono

 

All the best.

[GRC]

Thanks Geraint, it was actually Dale's post of exactly that set that got me thinking about all those questions 

That Nanban set was likely made in Japan, possibly by Chinese smiths working in Nagasaki.

 

[Rivkin]

17 hours ago, GRC said:

1- Given that these are both Japanese implements, could one assume that "ALL" kozuka and kogai were made in Japan?

2- Does anyone have any examples of kogai or kozuka that were made in another country (other than cheapo modern knock-offs)?

3- Does anyone have any examples of kogai or kozuka that were fitted and used on non-Japanese swords?

4a- What do the earliest (pre-Edo to early Edo) kozuka and kogai look like?

4b- Were early kogai and kozuka entirely made of steel, or was the use of soft metals present from the beginning?

4c- Was the kozuka ever done with a one piece construction, or was the kozuka always made separately from the kogatana?

 

1. More or less so. There are some good continental habaki though.

2. Probably no.

3. Cutlery etc., always gimicky.

4a. There are plenty in books. They are surprisingly old instruments.

4b. There were periodic attempts to use iron, but those were not characteristic.

4c. There are some decorative kozukas which are entirely soft metal, including the hamon's emulation. They are rare and can be very good looking. Otherwise not being truly in the know on this question, but I think kozuka is actually considerably later than kogai and was intended to be two piece more or less from the start. This one needs to be checked, there are not that many really old kozuka in books.