U178 & Japan connection

[greyman]

I have an unusual item,relates to the U178's service in Sth east asia and visits to Japan.

The link below will take you to a page with photographs and details, your feedback would be appreciated.

www.collectorsloot.homestead.com/junk.html

[SLIM]

hi roy good to see you here

[greyman]

Thanks

hi roy good to see you here

Just wish I had known about this site befor I sold off my Kriegsmarine collection.....

Thanks for the welcome.

[Stu W]

Disregard my previous question, I now understand what you are asking.

Regards,
Stu

[Nick Komiya]

I am afraid that the sword stand was put together by someone who has no idea about the Japanese language. Someone cut the characters out of a press die or something, because they are all reverse stampings, requiring a horizontal flip to become legible. And what is written is also gibberish. I'm sorry for the bad news.

[greyman]

not so urgent

I'm confused. Are you trying to sell that group or asking for assistance with more research?

Regards,
Stu

Initially it was sale as I need a stair case, but as I have sold some items from my collection this is now not so urgent.
Once a collector always the search for information and research sits there like an irritating itch..... would enjoy knowing more about the final outcome of the crew and of course U178.

At the time of buying I was not interested in other than the Kai Gunto which for obvious reasons are quite rare. Now sadly I find that I should have asked more questions, asked for old photo's etc, often the story is more interesting than the items involved.

When I decided to move my collection of forty years, the majority of Kai,Kyu & Shin gunto had little or no history but fortunatly I had a fileing cabinet of letteres,medals and other ephemera that linked to some swords. One even had a recording of an interview with a chap who won the MC.........I digress.

Hope this answeres your quoestion, at the age of 70 all must go but it still has a factor that needs to be satisfyed.

[Stu W]

Hello Roy,

Nice to meet you. I realized after Nick replied what it was you were asking.

Although I can't recall his site name at this moment we do have a member here who has made a study of the U-boats in the east. He has a web site on it as well. As soon as the name comes to mind I'll let you know. Possibly he, or another member, will respond sooner.

Don't forget now, there is lots of life after 70 and it's you "mature" collectors that have much to offer us newbies!

Kind regards,
Stu

[greyman]

Restoration

I am afraid that the sword stand was put together by someone who has no idea about the Japanese language. Someone cut the characters out of a press die or something, because they are all reverse stampings, requiring a horizontal flip to become legible. And what is written is also gibberish. I'm sorry for the bad news.

Thanks for that Nick, I had the stand restored some years ago as it was partially rotten, the Japanese characters were off the stand and in a bag,apparently they should translate as something with reference to a Japanese tea ceremony....Any news is good Nick,although all metal parts are original I may have made a mistake in allowing these to be applied....if proven they could easily be removed.
R

[greyman]

ood thing

Hello Roy,

Nice to meet you. I realized after Nick replied what it was you were asking.

Although I can't recall his site name at this moment we do have a member here who has made a study of the U-boats in the east. He has a web site on it as well. As soon as the name comes to mind I'll let you know. Possibly he, or another member, will respond sooner.

Don't forget now, there is lots of life after 70 and it's you "mature" collectors that have much to offer us newbies!

Kind regards,
Stu

Thanks Stu,odd thing about age is that curiosity seems to increase,I have just asked in another section for information re my fathers involvement in the WW1 battles of Cornel & Falkland islands.....perhaps we should all ask more questions at the time
Roy

[Stu W]

Here's an interesting site.

http://monsunuboats.wordpress.com/

[greyman]

Splendid

Here's an interesting site.

http://monsunuboats.wordpress.com/

That is fascinating Stu, thank you.

Should add that the lady who supplied the sword & stand was never questioned {Stupid in retro} was from Bristol,UK. sadly she will no longer be with us to ask more.
Roy

[Stu W]

Thanks Stu,odd thing about age is that curiosity seems to increase,I have just asked in another section for information re my fathers involvement in the WW1 battles of Cornel & Falkland islands.....perhaps we should all ask more questions at the time
Roy

I know what you mean. Trouble was neither my father nor grandfather would talk about their service. Grandfather was regular Army, went overseas in WWI and retained a deep hatred of the German people all his life. Dad was in Navy in WWII. Dad was fluent in German and from what little I can recall him saying he spent much of his time listening to intercepted conversations then reporting on the contents. He'd never say where or discuss the contents of those conversations. Now he's long gone and it's too late to get more information.

Bye the way. I was just checking out your web-site. That's not a collection my friend, THAT'S A MUSEUM!

Cheers,
Stu
PS: I'm still working on the name of the member I mentioned above. For the life of me I can't recall it at the moment...memory, where is it when you need it.

[greyman]

Thats a pic in time

I know what you mean. Trouble was neither my father nor grandfather would talk about their service. Grandfather was regular Army, went overseas in WWI and retained a deep hatred of the German people all his life. Dad was in Navy in WWII. Dad was fluent in German and from what little I can recall him saying he spent much of his time listening to intercepted conversations then reporting on the contents. He'd never say where or discuss the contents of those conversations. Now he's long gone and it's too late to get more information.

Bye the way. I was just checking out your web-site. That's not a collection my friend, THAT'S A MUSEUM!

Cheers,
Stu
PS: I'm still working on the name of the member I mentioned above. For the life of me I can't recall it at the moment...memory, where is it when you need it.

LOL {as they say}
You should have seen the full collection,had to build a loft conversion to house it.....child bride of 40 years kicked it all off by buying me a Shin Gunto one christmas......what a girl.

[Nick Komiya]

Now I have a good idea where the Chinese character decorations came from. It probably came from a tea can from this Taiwanese Tea, Tonpin tea. http://www.tungpin.com/e-about.html Ton is missing, but Pin and Tea are there along with the Chinese character for Happiness, which the Chinese like. The Happiness symbol 福is often shown upside down in China, and this reversed symbol is called Daofu in Chinese, a good luck charm signifying happiness that can't walk away on its feet. The Germans having supplied the Chinese with M35 helmets and weapons before WW2 brought this symbol back to Germany and used this emblem, too. You can see it on a Tiger tank from the 2nd SS Das Reich, vehicle S33 of the 8th Company to be precise. So upside down was not entirely out of question, but not upside down and horizontally flipped as well. And that is a Chinese practise anyway, nothing at all to do with Japan. The stand design is also very non-Japanese. Sorry, but that can only be a fabrication, it has nothing to do with Japan.

[greyman]

accepted

Now I have a good idea where the Chinese character decorations came from. It probably came from a tea can from this Taiwanese Tea, Tonpin tea. http://www.tungpin.com/e-about.html Ton is missing, but Pin and Tea are there along with the Chinese character for Happiness, which the Chinese like. The Happiness symbol 福is often shown upside down in China, and this reversed symbol is called Daofu in Chinese, a good luck charm signifying happiness that can't walk away on its feet. The Germans having supplied the Chinese with M35 helmets and weapons before WW2 brought this symbol back to Germany and used this emblem, too. You can see it on a Tiger tank from the 2nd SS Das Reich, vehicle S33 of the 8th Company to be precise. So upside down was not entirely out of question, but not upside down and horizontally flipped as well. And that is a Chinese practise anyway, nothing at all to do with Japan. The stand design is also very non-Japanese. Sorry, but that can only be a fabrication, it has nothing to do with Japan.

The only flaw in your comment is that on the stand,,Katana & Tachi kake vary slightly but conform to a simple design. I have seen Military stands{By that I mean robust stands used during WW2} that were less elegant than the traditional but of course the design rule has to be the same. I have one plain wood Tachi stand that was brought back from singapore,the shin gunto that came with it looks not so elegant when in situ but is right. Cannot see that a lady of sixty plus would fabricate........

An Australian collector way back in the eighties sent me some photographs of an IJA officers sword,two sets of military mounts & The blade in shira saya with saya gaki. The Splendid Kyu gunto mounts were on a Tachi stand while the Shin gunto and shira saya were on Katana kake.

Roy

Aside....I see you are in Germany,wild card question, I sold a sword on my set aside programme to a chap called Rowland Mueller, he paid several installments but for two years have been unable to make contact,can you help?. Have both his money and the sword.
R