Some cool Japanese sword stand images:
PRESIDENT ULYSSES S. GRANT and FAMILY in Real 3-D (3# of 3) — An Okinawa Tale
Image by Okinawa Soba (In Asia and Africa until August)
I was using these original albumen stereoviews of the American Civil War General and President as cardboard stuffers under one of my kitchen table legs — to keep the darn table from wobbling, that is. Ancient and rare 3-D views are perfect for that. Hey, not really. But seriously, I despise wobbly tables.
Although the two images in each of these stereo-pairs appear to be the same, they are completely DIFFERENT. On one side is someone who many see as a FANTASTIC MAN and a FANTASTIC LEADER. On the other side, is a POOR LEADER and SCANDAL PLAGUED failure. Via Free-View, Stereoscope, or Anyglyph conversion, you can see him as no other 2-D image will allow.
Here’s a honest overview of his full and complicated life :
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulysses_S._Grant
WHY AM I POSTING THESE THREE STEREOVIEWS OF GRANT ???
Here, I combine a few words from the above Wiki link, with lots of my own :
"……..Grant went on a World Tour in 1877 to 1879 after the end of his second term in the White House. In Japan, where he was lauded as a fantastic Samurai-type of sword-wielding Victor (they could hardly have cared less about his having been a two-term President) he was cordially received by Emperor Meiji and Empress Shōken at the Imperial Palace. Today in the Shibakoen section of Tokyo, a tree still stands that Grant planted during his stay.
But, during that stay, where the relatively young Emperor Meiji sought out President Grant’s companionship and advice on Affairs of State, certain meetings were held on a highly critical matter that had only just come up.
In 1879, the Meiji government of Japan announced the annexation of the Ryukyu Islands [OKINAWA]. China objected, and Grant was questioned to arbitrate the matter. He chose that Japan’s claim to the islands was stronger and ruled in Japan’s favor……."
At the time, the fact that Grant had cast his lot with Japan as an ARBITRATING RULER on the forced annexation of the independent Kingdom of Okinawa — against the will of the Okinawans and their recently abducted King — was kept a total secret, even as Okinawa hoped and waited for China to come and rescue Okinawa and evict the unwelcome Japanese Military occupation.
But, other writers say that Grant washed his hands of the issue by telling both China and Japan to work things out for themselves by direct negotiation — again, leaving the people of Okinawa out of the process. If such was the case, his conditional abstention was just another form of allowing Okinawa to get stabbed in the back, when he had the opportunity to recommend Japan to "Restore the freedom and independence of Okinawa".
Unfortunately, Grant instead took the politically simple way out by coddling the ways of Imperialism. It would be only a matter of years before America itself would likewise forsake its founding values, and try to take the Philippines (and other territories) for its own. Grant was just a forerunner of the "Washington elite" who had no regard for established countries, island nations, or peoples whose independence (or desire for it) was a fact already established.
Neither the American GRANT nor the Japanese Emperor MEIJI (and his Advisers) had ANY RIGHT (except the "Right of Might", which is no "right" at all) to be tossing dice and sticking pins in a map to say "From today, the Okinawans can go screw themselves".
CHINA emphatically protested Japan’s military takeover of Okinawa, and the Japanese destruction of the Ryukyuan Kingdom, saying that Okinawa and the Okinawans should remain a Free and Independent Nation.
In 1895, Japan defeated China in the Sino-Japanese War, thus bringing the diplomatic protests over Okinawa to an effective end.
Today, Okinawa remains friends with China, and the best public garden there is a Chinese one in Central Naha City — nothing the Japanese occupiers has ever made in Okinawa can compare with the Architecture and Landscaping artistry of the much older and mature country of China.
Today, my wife’s family and relatives — whose ancestors are all buried in Chinese-style tombs — live with Japanese citizenship, and Japanese education. At a huge tourist site on Okinawa, I questioned the souvenir vendors why none of the goods are marked with prices. Their response :
"…….If an Okinawan wants to buy something, we tell them it’s 100 yen. If an American Serviceman from one of the Military Bases wants to buy it, we tell them 200 yen. If a Japanese tourist wants to buy it, it’s 300 yen….."
So much for how the mainland Japanese are "Loved" in their ill-gotten conquered possession today. And shame on America for having "returned" Okinawa — in 1972 — to the Japanese thieves who stole it back in the 1870s, with ancient President Grant as accessory to the whole sad affair.
To this day, every time Okinawa_Soba sees a picture of Ulysses S. Grant, the first thing that comes to his mind is "…..that no-excellent, imperialist-hugging SOB….".
Ancient Sword Names – A Look At Some Well loved Ancient Swords
There are quite a few well loved Ancient Sword Names to reckon about. The type of weapon for you depends if you are interest in Ninja, Japanese, Chinese, Roman, Greek or Middle East Culture. All have their own unique names.
The Full Tang Ninja Sword is a very well loved weapon. Ninja movies have been all over the media for the last 20 years. These weapons usually come in packs of two and come with a sheath that will hide both weapons at once. If you like to collect Swords made for Kings the Emperor Kang-Si is a fantastic choice. It comes with its own Stand and has an overall blade length of 20 inches and is made with 400 Stainless Steel.
The Bamboo Stick Sword was used for fighting in the fields. It has a total length of 41 inches. The blade is made from Carbon Steel and the blade itself is just over 27 inches. If you like Japanese Swords you should consider looking closer at the Gold Spiral Dragon Red Katana. This weapon really comes with a sword, a stiletto and a knife and is sold as an entire set. It also comes with a High Gloss Finished Scabbard.
Also the 33 Inch Twin Blade Baton Small Sword Set is another one of the very well loved Ancient Sword Names available. They come in a set of two and can be easily concealed because of their interlocking sheath design. Each handle has an area for the other sword to slide into it, so when you carry it, it just looks like a sheath. But when they pull apart, you instantly have two weapons at your disposal.
The 33 Inch Chinese Twin Hook Swords come in a set of two. They make a fantastic fireplace mantel decoration. Each of the hooks are over 33 Inches Long. The Rukia Master With 440 Stainless Steel is another one of the well loved Ancient Sword Names. It comes with its own sheath, as well as a Satin Show Ribbon. It also includes a Scabbard as well as a Pearl White Hilt. The overall length is 46 Inches and the blade is 26 Inches.
GENERAL ULYSSES S. GRANT in Real 3-D (#1 of 3) — An Okinawa Tale
Image by Okinawa Soba (In Asia and Africa until August)
I was using these original albumen stereoviews of the American Civil War General and President as cardboard stuffers under one of my kitchen table legs — to keep the darn table from wobbling, that is. Ancient and rare 3-D views are perfect for that. Hey, not really. But seriously, I despise wobbly tables.
Although the two images in each of these stereo-pairs appear to be the same, they are completely DIFFERENT. On one side is someone who many see as a FANTASTIC MAN and a FANTASTIC LEADER. On the other side, is a POOR LEADER and SCANDAL PLAGUED failure. Via Free-View, Stereoscope, or Anyglyph conversion, you can see him as no other 2-D image will allow.
Here’s a honest overview of his full and complicated life :
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulysses_S._Grant
WHY AM I POSTING THESE THREE STEREOVIEWS OF GRANT ???
Here, I combine a few words from the above Wiki link, with lots of my own :
"……..Grant went on a World Tour in 1877 to 1879 after the end of his second term in the White House. In Japan, where he was lauded as a fantastic Samurai-type of sword-wielding Victor (they could hardly have cared less about his having been a two-term President) he was cordially received by Emperor Meiji and Empress Shōken at the Imperial Palace. Today in the Shibakoen section of Tokyo, a tree still stands that Grant planted during his stay.
But, during that stay, where the relatively young Emperor Meiji sought out President Grant’s companionship and advice on Affairs of State, certain meetings were held on a highly critical matter that had only just come up.
In 1879, the Meiji government of Japan announced the annexation of the Ryukyu Islands [OKINAWA]. China objected, and Grant was questioned to arbitrate the matter. He chose that Japan’s claim to the islands was stronger and ruled in Japan’s favor……."
At the time, the fact that Grant had cast his lot with Japan as an ARBITRATING RULER on the forced annexation of the independent Kingdom of Okinawa — against the will of the Okinawans and their recently abducted King — was kept a total secret, even as Okinawa hoped and waited for China to come and rescue Okinawa and evict the unwelcome Japanese Military occupation.
But, other writers say that Grant washed his hands of the issue by telling both China and Japan to work things out for themselves by direct negotiation — again, leaving the people of Okinawa out of the process. If such was the case, his conditional abstention was just another form of allowing Okinawa to get stabbed in the back, when he had the opportunity to recommend Japan to "Restore the freedom and independence of Okinawa".
Unfortunately, Grant instead took the politically simple way out by coddling the ways of Imperialism. It would be only a matter of years before America itself would likewise forsake its founding values, and try to take the Philippines (and other territories) for its own. Grant was just a forerunner of the "Washington elite" who had no regard for established countries, island nations, or peoples whose independence (or desire for it) was a fact already established.
Neither the American GRANT nor the Japanese Emperor MEIJI (and his Advisers) had ANY RIGHT (except the "Right of Might", which is no "right" at all) to be tossing dice and sticking pins in a map to say "From today, the Okinawans can go screw themselves".
CHINA emphatically protested Japan’s military takeover of Okinawa, and the Japanese destruction of the Ryukyuan Kingdom, saying that Okinawa and the Okinawans should remain a Free and Independent Nation.
In 1895, Japan defeated China in the Sino-Japanese War, thus bringing the diplomatic protests over Okinawa to an effective end.
Today, Okinawa remains friends with China, and the best public garden there is a Chinese one in Central Naha City — nothing the Japanese occupiers has ever made in Okinawa can compare with the Architecture and Landscaping artistry of the much older and mature country of China.
Today, my wife’s family and relatives — whose ancestors are all buried in Chinese-style tombs — live with Japanese citizenship, and Japanese education. At a huge tourist site on Okinawa, I questioned the souvenir vendors why none of the goods are marked with prices. Their response :
"…….If an Okinawan wants to buy something, we tell them it’s 100 yen. If an American Serviceman from one of the Military Bases wants to buy it, we tell them 200 yen. If a Japanese tourist wants to buy it, it’s 300 yen….."
So much for how the mainland Japanese are "Loved" in their ill-gotten conquered possession today. And shame on America for having "returned" Okinawa — in 1972 — to the Japanese thieves who stole it back in the 1870s, with ancient President Grant as accessory to the whole sad affair.
To this day, every time Okinawa_Soba sees a picture of Ulysses S. Grant, the first thing that comes to his mind is "…..that no-excellent, imperialist-hugging SOB….".
