Well it’s rainy season in Japan so not much to do but sit around and stare at past finds. I’ve always wanted to do a ‘finds exchange’ with somebody from another country so I finally got around to putting together a little cultural package from Japan. I’ve tried to get a mix of items and time periods. I don’t think any of it is really valuable (hey, could be wrong, no idea!) but it’s fun stuff anyway for somebody who might be interested in the history of Japan.
What I’m hoping is that a few of you Europe-based guys will put together a mix of your stuff and post a pic or PM me. Hopefully I'll get a few and then I’ll choose whichever looks most appealing and we’ll simply send each other our little collection of finds. If you want more detailed pics of any of the items just say the word. Below the pics I’ll give a brief description of the items…keep in mind that I’m just guessing on some of them. Not looking to profit in any way from this, just gain some cool little bits of history from a place I've never been and to do the same for somebody else.
The big disc is an old roof tile end from an ancient temple in Kyoto, Japan. When the temples are re-tiled the old ones (tiles, not temples) are usually tossed down the nearest embankment and smashed to bits. If you’re lucky though you can sometimes find a complete picture like this one. Not sure how old this exact tile is but the temple it is from was built in 717. Gonna be a good five or ten centuries though I would guess.
The long pipe is called a kiseru and is probably bronze. It’s in very good condition as they are usually broken or bent. Very fine tobacco resembling hair was smoked in these. I guess this one is from the 1700s ~ 1800s. I also chucked in a few mouthpieces for different types of pipes I found.
The other long, flat item is an old pocket knife with the blade long disintegrated. There is a name carved into the handle. No idea on age.
No idea on the little buckle.
The item on the far right is a medal from the Japanese Imperial Navy for gunnery I think. Probably late 1800s, early 1900s.
The thing with the guy praying is a religious amulet inscribed with Buddhist names and prayers. Found in the mountains behind an old temple from the Nara Period (710~794). Don’t think the pendant is that old though…no idea to tell you the truth!
A few musket balls, a junior-high school cap badge (early 1900s), a 1953 Kyoto pin.
The coins are also a mix. There is a hard-to-find aluminum one from the 1930s (hard-to-find because they usually rot in the ground quite quickly and this design was only made for 2 or 3 years). Four dragon coins from the Meiji Period (late 1800s), a kanei-tsuho or 1 ‘mon’ coin from the 16 to 1700s (Edo Period), and I also included a real oldie: a Chinese coin (Japan used to use Chinese money) from around 1094 ~ 1097. This is the only one I’ve ever found this style.
The thing at bottom centre that looks like two fans stuck together is called a menuki. Very cool item. These were used on the handle of Japanese katana (swords) to hide the wooden 'nail' that held the blade into the handle. They sat on the sharkskin handles and were held in place by the silk cording that was wrapped around the handle. You definitely do not find these everyday as they were rarely lost (they don't really fall off very easily). Again, age would be hard to determine but it was found at an old castle site dated 1497. The design definitely also matches that time period. Very cool piece of military history.
So that's it. A few oldies, a few more recents, a few rarities, a few commoners. Bring on thy piles of dug treasure and let's make a deal!
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Originally Posted by Cumbrian Fox
Personally I keep everything I find and it all has it's place in my collection - apart from the tat of course, and even some of that turns into ID'able finds every once in a while.
I believe these were both incidental digs if memory serves correctly. 
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