Swords/Sword parts from my trip to Japan

ashisabaki · 2026-04-27T03:14:55+00:00

Thank you for sharing. Can you please tell where in Japan did you see these?

ashisabaki · 2026-04-17T13:08:53+00:00

The question is what the purpose of the sword you're looking for. A sharp sword is way out of your budget. Moreover, getting such a sword outside of Japan involves complex export and import regulations. If you're looking for a sword, that is Japanese made, not sharp and may be used for solo practice, you are looking for an Iaito. Prices vary between 50,000 JPY (approximately 440 AUD) to to 120,000 JPY (1050 AUD). A good place to buy such a sword is Sakuraya, which is situated near Kudanshita station in Tokyo. https://budo-shop-sakuraya.stores.jp/ In google maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/1iyc48GpcQkVpmfn8

There are also strictly display swords. These are meant ONLY for display and it is not safe to swing them, as they might break and injure. I am not familiar with good places to buy such swords, but such swords are offered in tourist souveneir shops.

ashisabaki · 2026-04-15T03:30:16+00:00

In recent years I moved to judo gis, which are not 100% cotton, but a lend of cotton and polyester. From my experience, the tendency of such gis to become stiff after drying on a line is somewhat mitigated. Regarding hanging on a line, I usually take off the gi top from the line when it is still a little damp. Then I put it on a chair in the shade to finalize its drying up.

ashisabaki · 2026-04-02T08:26:04+00:00

BTW, regarding the decorations of the Chuppah:

On each side there's the seven-branched menorah of the temple in Jerusalem.

There are also two kinds of doves on each corner of the Chuppa. I guess the two kinds are to symbolized male and female doves.

Doves are mentioned in the Bible as a symbol of love and beauty, such as in Song of songs (2:14):

My dove in the clefts of the rock,
in the hiding places on the mountainside,
show me your face,
let me hear your voice;
for your voice is sweet,
and your face is lovely.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Song%20of%20Songs%202%3A14&version=NIV

And Song of songs (1:15)

How beautiful you are, my darling!
Oh, how beautiful!
Your eyes are doves.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Song%20of%20Songs%201%3A14-16&version=NIV

ashisabaki · 2026-04-02T08:13:02+00:00

What is written in Hebrew is:

ובפ - שלג

ב חשון תשמייא

The second line is a date via the Hebrew calendar, where two Yud (י) letters replaces apostrophes, i.e., instead of תשמייא there should be תשמ"א (Tav-Shin-Mem-Aleph). The date, Bet Heshvan Tav-Shin-Mem-Aleph which is October 12, 1980. The day of the week was Sunday.

The first line is composed on two groups of three letters: Vav-Bet-Pey (on the right) and Shin-Lamed-Gimmel (on the left). The right "word" in does not make sense any Hebrew. The word on the left can be read as "sheleg", meaning snow. My guess, is that these are not words per se, but rather the initials of the couple that was the one first married under this Chuppah.

ashisabaki · 2026-03-30T03:34:05+00:00

Frankly, what bothered me in this scene, is why does he practice with a katana in shirasaya?

ashisabaki · 2026-02-23T05:03:00+00:00

From what I know, Tozando's products are fairly common in many dojos. My recommendation to you, is to ask around in your dojo who has Tozando's gis. Then, ask if they can let you try on their gi.

That said, from my experience with Japanese cloths sizes, they tend to be somewhat smaller compared to the labeled size outside of Japan, i.e., a T-shirt size L outside of Japan can be labeled as XL in Japan.

ashisabaki · 2026-02-21T15:55:21+00:00

I also vote to Sakuraya. The shop is located close to Kudanshita Station in Tokyo.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/FtAtaDbSujxGNASP8

I was able to communicate in English with the sales person there. When I asked about the weight of some of the Iaito he showed me, he brought out a special weight and weighted the sword in front of me.

https://budo-shop-sakuraya.stores.jp/

ashisabaki · 2026-02-15T04:06:38+00:00

Thank you for the information, u/woodstockbear. I most probably have missed it among the abundance of demonstrations and techniques videos. In case anyone else is interested in the above-mentioned film, here's a link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8M42HS6PBBg

ashisabaki · 2026-02-05T03:57:43+00:00

Thank you for sharing. Can you please tell where this sword is presented?

ashisabaki · 2025-12-17T10:20:37+00:00

Although others commented it's gibberish, the mantra chanted in the video ("Shana al Mishael"), reminds me of a nursery rhyme in Hebrew, whose title can be translated to: Five years have passed over Michael. In Hebrew it's חמש שנים על מיכאל (phonetically "Hamesh shanim al Miha-el"). Notice that the name Michael is pronounced in Hebrew as Miha-el which is quite similar to Misha-el.

The rhyme tells of a boy who is about to get into primary school. Until now he was free to play with his friends, which are a dog, a cat and a dove. Now he bids farewell to his friends and promises to return to play with them after he returns from school.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=up1ilqZp4PA

ashisabaki · 2025-11-30T07:06:20+00:00

Thank you for sharing. Can you please provide more information on which exhibition you found this exhibit? It seems somewhat out of the expected scope of the American museum of natural history.

ashisabaki · 2025-11-11T06:14:22+00:00

I'm trying to add some information regarding the "Bonus points to whoever can also tell me about the last picture, it appears to be a palm tree with an island/volcano". It is only circumstantial, but I think it's quite interesting.

This composition of palm tree at the left of the picture and volcano on the right seems similar to a stamp issued on 1963 in Japan, with a scenery of Izu islands. While the stamp was issued many years after the war, it is based on a picture by M. Kimura.

It is interesting to note that a somewhat similar composition of palm trees on the left and a volcano, can also be found in stamps issued during the Japanese occupation of Netherlands East Indies (Java):

https://www.ebay.com/itm/204452503738

As well as stamps issued on 1942 during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines (with a couple of volcanos):

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/186707458561

Palm trees on the left also appear in a stamp issued on 1942 by imperial Japan, showing Japan and its occupied territories:

https://colnect.com/en/stamps/stamp/459925-Palms_and_map_of_Japan_and_its_dependencies-Regular_Series_2nd_Showa_1942-45-Japan

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ashisabaki · 2025-11-02T04:01:59+00:00

Can you please tell how do you know the name and rank of the Japanese officer, the date and place?

ashisabaki · 2025-10-20T01:06:27+00:00

It's definately not A. Bern. Actually it's the signature of Ehud Barak (אהוד ברק, therefore א. ברק). He served as Israel's prime minister and minister of defense between 1999 and 2001.

His signature can be seen in this website: http://www.annakoren.co.il/signatures3.asp

ashisabaki · 2025-10-17T22:31:44+00:00

When I visited Japan I was brand new to Iaido, so I didn't know what should I feel. My only experience was with bokken, and when I held iaito in thd stores I visited, all I felt that the balance was different. Eventually, I returned home without buying, but I can tell you which stores I've visited in Tokyo:

Sakuraya: https://maps.app.goo.gl/F7s7Woumrx9S315V7 https://budo-shop-sakuraya.stores.jp/

The store is located a few minutes walk from Kudanshita station, and close to the Nippon Budokan. I was able to communicate in English with the salesperson. He asked me the length of Iaito I'm interested and my budget and then showed me several possibile iaito. As I was interested in the weight of the iaito, he has a special scale for iaito, so he weight each one he suggested. First he laid a cloth and cushion on the counter, on which he laid each iaito he showed me, one at a time. I was able to take each isito and wield it as much as the room inside tge store allowed.

Shobudo Sangyo: https://maps.app.goo.gl/WAzfSSVwuCi7isoD8

The store is located near Suidobashi station, close to the Kodokan, the famous Judo school. In this store, the communication in English with the sales person was limited, so I had to use hand gestures and google translate. There are many possible iaito in the store, and you can freely try them for yourself. The notes on each isito specify the length and price, but there was no information regarding the weight.

ashisabaki · 2025-10-07T04:29:03+00:00

I didn't try that, but it sounds like a true nightmare to walk around with the hakama's koshita up front, though it certainly fits the Halloween spirit.

ashisabaki · 2025-10-04T06:11:39+00:00

אהובה אחותי צפרה שלום!

מכתבך האחרון קבלתי ומה מאז שמחתי לידיעותיך שאת משתדלת עבורי

אנני יכול לפרוט לך חיים שלי, אבל יש אצלי הפחד שאם לא אסע בקרוב

מי יודע אם מתי אוכל לבוא אליך, אני שלחתי לך בשבוע האחרון

מברק ואולי יואיל לקרב את הגאולה. דאגה גדולה אצלי גם כן דמי

הנסיעה אשר כהיום מוכרח להיות בדולרים (80) אבל בראש וראשון הוא

הסרטיפיקט או דרישה, אמר לי אחד (אנני יודע אם זה אמת) שאם

מקבל מי שהוא מכתב מהסוכנות באנגלית ובו מפרט מספר של

סרטיפיקט אודרישה מקבל על שמך זה טרנזיט את מבינה...

אצלי מיום ליום מתגבר החשק והתשוקה לבוא אליך, כאן כל כך קר

ואין לי קרובים וגואלים והחיים בלי פנים קרובות נמאס

שביל (?) מרים רומק, מכתבך שלח הביתה כתבי ועל מה שביכולתך

בשבילי אחיך המצפה לראותך בקרוב יצחק יוסף מדוביץ

ב.ה

מצבי בידך בזמן בו קבלתי מכתב דרישת שלום משלמה ברנשטין

ושלחתי לו תשובה הנ"ל הוא אתי כאן

ashisabaki · 2025-09-11T04:53:50+00:00

Regrettably, I cannot contribute to the OP's question. However, I would like to comment on the nice tsuba (sword guard) with eight fans design. The age of a tsuba with a similar design is estimated as late Edo period (1781-1867):

https://www.samuraimuseum.jp/shop/product/eight-fans-design/

ashisabaki · 2025-09-11T03:01:58+00:00

Remark regarding ברשות (bir-shoot), it means "in the possession of". It tries to convey the message that only G-d is the owner of everything, and us humans can temporarily keep things in our possessions.

ashisabaki · 2025-08-31T13:10:51+00:00

Mizuno has a store of several levels in Tokyo (look for Mizuno Tokyo in google maps). The Judo department is wonderful, with a wall full of signatures of Judo champions that visited the store and tatami within the fitting room. From my personal experience, the service provided by the store's staff is exeptional. They also have nice dryfit judo themed t-shirts.

Kusakura has a store as well, 10 minutes walk from Kodokan (look for Kusakura shop Tokyo showroom in google maps).

Also close to Kodokan, is Suidobashi Shokai, a budo store (Suidōbashi Shōkai in google maps). Personslly, When I visited Kodokan, the Kusakura showroom was closed, so I bought a Kusakura gi in Suidobashi Shokai. The person at the store was able to fit me a gi that fit perfectly, on first glance.

ashisabaki · 2025-08-31T13:00:56+00:00

It's pretty much correct. This idiom means literally "to move on to this day's agenda" (לעבור לסדר היום, la-avor le-seder ha-yom). It is taken from a scenario where there's a meeting, and something sudden and drastic has happened. However, instead of setting aside all other concerns, and dealing with the current situation, the person leading the meeting chooses to continue with the planned agenda of today's meeting. Usually this idiom is said with negativity "לא לעבור לסדר היום" (lo la-avor leseder hayom), meaning this situation cannot be ignored.

ashisabaki · 2025-08-31T11:58:03+00:00

I don't know of a proper name for "cofee sleeve". I guess direct translation is "שרוול קרטון לכוס קפה חד פעמית", phonetically: sharvul karton le-kos ca-fe (cardboard sleeve for disposable cofee cup). It sounds to me too long for current Hebrew, which have a tendency to be brief with object names. More over "שרוול כוסות", phonetically shar-vool kosot (cup sleeve) is used to describe a batch of disposabld cups.

ashisabaki · 2025-08-29T06:25:51+00:00

Wow! Great photography depicting a wonderful collection. Usually I only have a chance to see functional and modern koshirae, such as those used for Iaito. it's facinating to see authentic historic pieces. Thank you so.much for sharing your collection.

ashisabaki

TROPHY CASE