Kanazawa Castle, Sakura and a Sword
Parking the car, we are out front of the antique store and they first thing I locked on to is a katanaCurved, single edged longsword traditionally used by Samurai. housed in a locked glass case at the front of the store. Too busy staring at it to pay attention to notice the store owner if I want to hold it Ken tapped me on the shoulder and repeated the offer to me. I didn't have to think about it long and yes spilt over my lips as the stores owner unlocked the case and took the sword off the "kake" which is the sword stand.
I thought it was weird as there was no "Saya" in the cabinet and had not asked Ken about what he had to deliver but it was long and wrapped in something like a sheet of foam wrap. Handing the mystery item to the antique stores owner and asking me to put the blade back in the display case, I said a very big thank you and goodbye. About three hundred metres walk across the road was the bridge across to Kanazawa Castle and we were upon it.
With the SakuraRefers to both ornamental cherry trees and their blossoms. in bloom this is one of the most amazing locations I have actually seen in the flesh in sakura season, with sakura leaves falling over the sides of the bridge onto the underpassing road below. Entering the Castle Park the size of Kanazawa Castle is a bit of shock considering I have only visited small castles previously. It is not your average compact castle and sprawls out before your eyes as we enter into the castle it self. The main thing that got me with Kanazawa Castle is there as no western style internal steps like in Kishiwada or Osaka Castles. Kanazawa Castle has the good old style ladder steps between levels which from memory are like on a seventy degree angle, going up is no great drama but coming down give you the shakes and with the crowd behind pushing you along it is quite scary.
The interior is amazing with extremely long hallways and anyone interested in Japanese architecture with get something special from a visit to Kanazawa Castle. Time to go Ken tells we as he wants to show some garden called Kenrokuen which is part of the castle park precinct, we enter Kenrokuen Gardens and the place is huge and the crowd is massive. It is one place you have to see as words can not describe it's scope of the place.
With a circuit of the garden complete a stop for lunch is in order and we find a tea shop in the garden and fill up on a teishoku and I sneak a beer in. Time to head home but ken wants to got back to antique shop for some reason so we go. On entering to the usual welcome greeting I wonder why the owner of the store is smiling at me so badly, sure he is friendly but this smile is like I just won lotto and he is my newsagent. He asks me if I want to see the katana again before I leave and I agree, something is different now as the sword is inside a bag that looks like it is made out of some vibrant kimono fabric. He unlocks the cabinet and asks me if I know what it is to which I reply "that is a katana". He says I am half right and to take another guess, I give up and ask "if I am half right what is the correct answer"?
"It is yours" he told me, Ken knowing how much I wanted real antique katana had payed for the blade and decided to make a "saya" from scratch out of wood, stingray skin, black lacquer and Gold. The "Saya" was the mystery item he had to deliver to the store when we arrived in Kanazawa.
I have seen "Saya" in castles that belonged to Daimyo or Shogun with 24 carat gold in museums are on display inside castles but never dreamt I would have one. Sure it is not the most elaborate "Saya" I have ever seen in a book or museum but this one is mine and the time Ken has spent making would be very hard to measure let alone the cost. He has priceless skill and a generous heart.
So my first day trip to Kanazawa was stunning and won't be forgotten.
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