SUMO TACHI KOSHIRAE

[Guest Simon R]

I'm just on the way home from the NBTHK museum, having collected my Yasukunito following shinsa.

 

Before going home, my wife and I visited the Sumo Museum next door - and very interesting it was.

Among all the other displays, there were three Tachi mounts fitted with tsunagi (apparently the blades are in the storeroom) and I thought the members might like to see the photos I took of each.

 

According to the very kind lady at the museum, each one is tailor-made for the yokozuna who receives it. Therefore, the length is based on their height etc.

 

Simon

Edited April 12, 2023 by SRDRowson
Poor photo quality

[Nanbokuchu]

Considering most yokozuna were 6ft and above the mounts must be huge. 

[PNSSHOGUN]

Thanks for the pictures, however they are very small - would it be possible to re-upload bigger versions?

[Guest Simon R]

15 minutes ago, PNSSHOGUN said:

Thanks for the pictures, however they are very small - would it be possible to re-upload bigger versions?

Hi John,

 

I've managed to load bigger versions of the tsuka but I'm having real problems with the other six pictures! 😳

I'll keep trying. 🤔

 

Simon

[Bugyotsuji]

They're fine for me. Click on the pic and you get a new frame. Click on the + and you get a slightly larger pic. Click on the + once more and you get a HUGE picture.

[Michaelr]

They are beautiful. Thank you for sharing   

  MikeR

[PNSSHOGUN]

Thanks Simon, those are much better. The cost to produce these must be very high, they are absolutely exquisite.

[Guest Simon R]

3 hours ago, PNSSHOGUN said:

Thanks Simon, those are much better. The cost to produce these must be very high, they are absolutely exquisite.

Glad to hear it, John - still having problems with the other six though!

The tachi koshirae were lovely - I'm adding a couple of quick shots of the museum flyer as it shows a tsuba face-on and three Yokozuna, two of whom are holding their swords (currently displayed).

[The Blacksmith]

Beautiful koshirae! Thank you for posting them.

 

For the record, the three yokozuna pictured L-R are,  Kakuryu, Hakuho and Kisenosato. All three now sadly retired. Hakuho, being of course the most successful rikishi of all time. Terunofuji is the sole yokozune wrestling today. With the exception of Kisenosato, all the yokozuna I have named were born in Mongolia!

 

 

[PNSSHOGUN]

Takakeishō has a good chance at being a Japanese born Yokozuna, if he can keep injury free.

[The Blacksmith]

Indeed. I had thought possibly Takayasu might have succeeded too, having been Ozeki for so long, but alas he has slipped well down the ranks now, as has unfortunately my favourite, the Georgian, Toshinoshin, who dropped rapidly from Ozeki, and who I think will perhaps retire soon now.

[Guest Simon R]

The greatest Yokozuna will always be Chiyonofuji in my humble opinion.

I stumbled across his grave in a temple a few years ago and the priest there told my wife and I a very sad tale. Apparently, 'The Wolf' knew about the funerary statue before his demise and instructed that it should face the grave of his little daughter (who had died tragically young) so that he could always look over her.

[Guest Simon R]

As the conversation seems to have drifted to the (very interesting and enjoyable) topic of Sumo, here are a few more pics of the museum displays!

[Guest Simon R]

As a footnote, my wife just told me that the lady at the museum was explaining to us that Sumo brings together virtually every ancient tradition In Japan; the sport itself, swordmaking and fittings, urushi, textiles (embroidery, weaving, dying) etc.

Food for thought, neh?

[The Blacksmith]

With regard to the excellent photos of the original post. If the koshirae are mounted on a tsunagi, why the horrible cord tying the tsuba to the saya?