A Few Online Resources for the Japanese Re-Enactor:

SCA LISTS AND FORUMS:

Tousando, http://rhinohide.cx/tousando/ belongs to the Outlands' Otagiri Tatsuzou. Visit Tanki Yoriaku, to discover what a properly armed samurai needs - including some links to patterns and DIY instructions for certain items. If you're puzzling over a name, you can try the random name generator using elements of period Japanese names. A young but growing bulletin board went live in September 2004 for discussions of Japanese subjects within the SCA: Tousando, the "road for Japanese in the SCA." Actually, it's more like a roadside inn where good company and conversation are never lacking. The armor board is particularly active and people have been posting some truly impressive work there.  I am convinced the hospitable and erudite Otagiri-dono never actually sleeps as he's constantly recommending new resources or keeping us updated on his many projects.

SCA-Japanese mailing list: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sca-jml/ Worth joining just to check out the links and files section which includes patterns for clothing and armor, instructions for making waraji, etc. Just promise you'll search the archives first before posting the question, "Can I use Kitsune as a name?" 

THE "BIGGIES":

Kyoto’s Costume Museum, http://www.iz2.or.jp/english/ (English version) or http://www.iz2.or.jp/index.htm (Japanese) has good photos of life size mannequins in clothing from different historical periods and a textile gallery. 

Anthony Bryant's Sengoku Daimyo, http://www.sengokudaimyo.com/ includes sections on men’s clothing, armor, names and other useful information. Also known in the SCA as Edward of Effingham and Hiraizumi Tôrokurô Tadanobu, Mr. Bryant, who has published several titles on Japanese military history for the Osprey series, is the owner of this site. I trust his expertise. Now if we could just get him to finish all those "under construction" pages?  

Clan Yama Kaminari, http://www.yamakaminari.com is the home of an SCA household based in the northeastern United States. Their site includes a wealth of information on armor, archery, taiko drumming, camp accoutrements and other projects. 

Kabuto Graphics, http://www.kabutographics.com features the work of Yama Kaminari's Date Saburou Yukiie. Date-dono produces exquisite SCA-legal armor, ebira (quivers) for kyudo and some marvelous graphic art with Japanese themes. Visit the Projects section for a Japanese history timeline, as well as features on Asian archery, Japanese characters you can use on your computer, and join the  Great East Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere. Besides, this provincial bushi from Mutsu even writes the occasional poem.

Reconstructing History, http://www.reconstructinghistory.com/japanese/index.html. Kass McGann is the one who got me started. Her line of historical patterns now includes women's Heian garments.

Anneliese’s Fibers and Stuff, http://www.geocities.com/anne_liese_w/Japanese/japindex.htm  overlaps much of the material on Heian women's clothing from Reconstructing History, but is noteworthy for having a menu for a Japanese feast. 

Mokurai’s Temple, http://www.geocities.com/mokuraibozu/. Matsuyama Mokurai's website is of interest if you want to portray a Buddhist monk.

For ladies interested in portraying Buddhist nuns, Ki no Kotori has allowed me to host her article on Zukin (veils) at http://www.wodefordhall.com/zukin.htm

Black Hydra Armories: http://www.blackhydraarmouries.com/ Kurodachi no Mykaru does beautiful SCA-legal Japanese armor, including the elusive kabuto. He even has list-legal jingasa for the low ranked fighter, starting at only $130.

Japanese names from The Academy of St. Gabriel, http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/solveig/nanori/biblio.html

CLOTHING, ACCESSORIES, FOOTWEAR:

"A History of Japanese Clothing and Accessories", Master Edward of Effingham's Sengokudaimyo articles on clothing http://www.sengokudaimyo.com/garb/index.html

"AnneLiese's Fibers and Stuff "Includes articles on basic garb construction and some clothing references, http://www.geocities.com/anne_liese_w/Japanese/japindex.htm

JAPANESE CLASSICAL COSTUME AT THE IMPERIAL HOUSEHOLD , The Takata Institute of Japanese Imperial Classical Costume, http://www.takata-courtrobe.co.jp/en1.htm

A 14th-15th century hiogi (cypress slat fan) from the Miho Museum, http://www.miho.or.jp/booth/html/artcon/00001861e.htm

Heian hair care, in Japanese, describes the author's experiments with Heian hair care http://kyoto.cool.ne.jp/eva_genji/040103hair-3.htm

Japanese accessories at the Sugino Costume Museum

http://www.costumemuseum.jp/french/collection/j_komono/index.html

Japanese costume at the Sugino Costume Museum http://www.costumemuseum.jp/french/collection/j_isho/ie.html

Karaginu mo dressing demonstration by the Ladies Culture University http://www.rindo.com/105/kimono/obi-img/karaginu/karaginue.html

Karaginu.jp website on Heian costume (For non-Japanese readers, paste the URL into Google Translate at http://www.google.com/language_tools?hl=en  ) http://www.kariginu.jp/

Kyoto Costume Museum (English Language Version) http://www.iz2.or.jp/english/
Kyoto Costume Museum (Japanese Language Version) http://www.iz2.or.jp/

Men's kimono/hakama dressing demonstration , Modern kitsuke http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=Ic7O0FxVZV8

Mr. Cardon's Basic Japanese Garb, Sir Koredono's simple instructions for making kosode and hakama http://www.dementia.org/~djl/sca/japanese/patterns.html

Textile Colours & Patterns http://www.demoivre.org/Japan/textiles/

The Geta Page Includes information on making - and walking in - your own geta http://www.egeorgeonline.com/getapage/index.html

Tokyo DV Presents "Twelve Layer Kimono Dressing"  Video clip of dressing in karaginu mo http://www.tokyodv.com/culture/HinaKimono.html

Traditional Japanese Footwear from Nipponia Three pages of geta, zori, gutsu, waraji, tabi and other footwear http://web-japan.org/nipponia/nipponia21/en/topic/index.html

ONLINE FABRIC RESOURCES:

Dharma Trading Company Undyed silk yardage, fabric paints and dyes http://www.dharmatrading.com

ITA Textiles Excellent source for linen (an alternative to more expensive hemp). Be sure to check the "Oops" and "Doggie Bag" sections for bargains. http://www.fabrics-store.com

Phoenix Textiles/Fabric.com Silk and other fabrics, this vendor offers lots of promotions and discounts. http://www.fabric.com

Pick Hemp A source for hemp fabrics. I have not tried them myself, but they were recommended. http://www.pickhemp.com/

Rupert Gibbon & Spider/Silk Connection Silk fabrics and dyes http://www.silkconnection.com

Thai Silks Silk fabrics http://www.thaisilks.com

TEXTILES:

Dyeing Fabric - Shibori Techniques from Burdastyle.com Photo essay of some stitch-resist shibori techniques http://www.burdastyle.com/howtos/show/658

Dyeing and weaving website Divided by district, descriptions of local specialties in traditional weaving and dyeing http://www.kimono.or.jp/dic/eng/

Dyeing with safflower by Kass McGann https://www.reconstructinghistory.com/japanese.php?s=&c=8&d=101&e=&f=&g=&a=217&w=2

Japanese Dyestuffs by Kass McGann https://www.reconstructinghistory.com/japanese.php?s=&c=8&d=101&e=&f=&g=&a=222&w=2

Shibori Dyeing Part 1 - Introduction Video demonstration of shibori tie-dyeing techniques. In Japanese. http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=wSj2l8wacR8
Shibori Dyeing Part 2 Video demonstration of shibori tie-dyeing techniques. In Japanese. http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=G2DQcthvg4g&feature=related
Shibori Dyeing Part 3 - Dyestuffs Video demonstration of shibori tie-dyeing techniques. In Japanese. http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=lUELnOQLFcc&feature=related
Shibori Dyeing Part 4 - Tsujigahana Video demonstration of capped-resist shibori technique popular in Muromachi and Momoyama periods. In Japanese. http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=xC_KaQRuxTw&feature=related

Textile embellishment and dyeing techniques A partial glossary, cribbed from Kosode 16th -19th Century Textiles from the Nomura Collection by Amanda Meyer Stinchcum (New York: Japan Society and Kodansha International, 1984) pp. 220-222 and posted to the Immortal Geisha Forum. http://www.immortalgeisha.com/ig_bb/viewtopic.php?t=4042

NAMES, HERALDRY/MON/KAMON:

An Online Japanese Miscellany Master Edward of Effingham's website: Scroll through the menu at the left http://www.sengokudaimyo.com/miscellany/names.html

Japanese Formal Masculine Given Names Lady Solveig Throndardottir's article from the Academy of St. Gabriel http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/solveig/nanori/

Japanese names  Ii Saburou Katsumori is maintaining a list of actual Japanese names as he finds them in his reading. http://modzer0.cs.uaf.edu/~logan/JapaneseHistory/index.php?var=na

Otagiri's Japanese Name Generator Can't decide? This random name generator uses name elements taken from A.J. Bryant's "Online Japanese Miscellany" http://rhinohide.cx/tousando/name/name.html

An Essay on Mons How to appropriately design a traditional mon for SCA use as it would be seen in period. http://heraldry.sca.org/heraldry/laurel/mons/

Heraldry From the Online Japanese Miscellany at Sengokudaimyo.com http://www.sengokudaimyo.com/miscellany/heraldry.html

Otomiya Digital Emblem Library In Japanese, mon designs organized by style (plants, animals, etc.) http://www.otomiya.com/kamon/

SCA Heraldry Home Page http://heraldry.sca.org/welcome.html

FURNISHINGS FOR CAMP OR HOME:

Akunoya (tents) From the Online Japanese Miscellany at Sengokudaimyo.com http://www.sengokudaimyo.com/miscellany/tents.html

Akunoya images and discussion From the Tousando forum - images are stills from the miniseries "Shogun" http://tousando.proboards18.com/index.cgi?board=research&action=display&thread=1701

Banners and flags From the Online Japanese Miscellany at Sengokudaimyo.com http://www.sengokudaimyo.com/miscellany/flags.html

Buke Yashiki - Saiako's war house Minamoto no Taikawa Saiaiko's portable house http://www.redgeta.com/Yashiki/index.html

Jinmaku (Camp Curtains) From the Online Japanese Miscellany at Sengokudaimyo.com http://www.sengokudaimyo.com/miscellany/curtains.html

The Japanese Art of Illumination Traditional lanterns and lamps http://www.lasieexotique.com/mag_illuminations/mag_illuminations.html

LITERATURE AND POETRY:

Aha Poetry! A site devoted to haiku, tanka, renga and other poetic forms http://www.ahapoetry.com/

Internet East Asian Sourcebook http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/eastasia/eastasiasbook.html

Japanese Historical Text Initiative, UC Berkeley You will have to email the university for login privileges http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/JHTI/search%20gateway.html

Makura Kotoba (Pillow words) Words and phrases used to make an allusion or create a mood. http://www.temcauley.staff.shef.ac.uk/makurakotoba.shtml#komoriku%20no

Poetry From the Online Japanese Miscellany at Sengokudaimyo.com http://www.sengokudaimyo.com/miscellany/poetry.html

 Some brief comments about the traditional performance of The Tale of Heike (Heike monogatari) http://www.sonic.net/~tabine/Heike/Heike_performing.html

The Five Hundred Essential Japanese Season Words Thematic motifs sorted by season and type http://renku.home.att.net/500ESWd.html

The Tale Of Genji Tour A photo tour of sites associated with Murasaki Shikibu's The Tale of Genji http://www.taleofgenji.org/

World Kigo Database  Another online collection of seasonal words http://worldkigodatabase.blogspot.com/

MUSEUMS:

Asia Society Collection (New York) Japanese art in the Asia Society Collection http://www.asiasociety.org/arts/japan/introduction.html

Asian Art Museum, San Francisco http://asianart.org

DNP Museum Information JAPAN List of Japanese museums by area. States when a site is in Japanese only, but some of the other pages contain much more Japanese text than English. http://www.dnp.co.jp/museum/icc-e.html

E-Museum - Japanese national treasures http://www.emuseum.jp/

Kyoto National Museum http://www.kyohaku.go.jp/eng/index_top.html

Los Angeles County Museum of Art - Japanese collection http://www.lacma.org/japaneseart/japan.htm

 Metropolitan Museum of Art http://www.metmuseum.org/home.asp

Miho Museum http://www.miho.or.jp/english/index.htm

Pacific Asia Museum (Pasadena, CA) http://www.pacificasiamuseum.org/

Smithsonian Freer/Sackler collections http://www.asia.si.edu/

The Clark Center For Japanese Art and Culture http://www.shermanleeinstitute.org/index.html

The Stibbert Collection http://www.picure.l.u-tokyo.ac.jp/arc/stibbert/

Tokugawa Art Museum http://www.tokugawa-art-museum.jp/english/index.html

Tokyo National Museum http://www.tnm.go.jp/en/index.html

TEA CEREMONY:
"An Anthropological Perspective on the Japanese Tea Ceremony," article by Herbert Plutschow, Anthropoetics 5, no. 1 (Spring/Summer 1999)  http://www.anthropoetics.ucla.edu/ap0501/tea.htm

"Chanoyu, Tea Cult of Japan" by Yasuoke Fukuit, originally published as part of a series of tourist books - Third Edition, 1937 Board of Tourist Industry Japanese Government Railways
http://www.terebess.hu/english/fukukita.html

"Omotesenke Fushin'an," website of the Omotesenke school in Japan (English language version) http://www.omotesenke.jp/english/tobira.html

"The Tea Ceremony in Japan." Originally published in 1892 in the San Francisco Call. http://coffee.quickfound.net/japanese_tea_ceremony_1892.html

The Urasenke Foundation (San Francisco, CA) http://www.urasenke.org/
Urasenke Chanoyu Center of New York http://www.urasenkeny.org/
Urasenke Konnichian Web Site Website of the Urasenke school in Japan (English language version) http://www.urasenke.or.jp/texte/index.html  
Urasenke Seattle http://www.urasenkeseattle.org/
Urasenke Washington, DC http://www.urasenkedc.org/  
Urasenke, Los Angeles http://www.urasenkela.org/

Return Home