This is a statue of the Kuroda Bushi 黒田武士 (Kuroda samurai) created by Junichiro Hannya 般若純一郎. “Kuroda Bushi” refers to a legendary warrior of the Kuroda clan, most famously Mori Tahei (Mori Tahei Tomonobu) of the Fukuoka Domain. The term is closely associated with a famous drinking tale and with the folk song “Kuroda Bushi,” which celebrates his bravery and extraordinary drinking ability. The Famous Tale Mori Tahei was well known as both a master spearman and an exceptional drinker. One New Year’s day, he was sent as an envoy to the powerful warlord Fukushima Masanori, a heavy drinker who owned the legendary spear Nihongo (The Japan No.1 Spear)—a treasured weapon once passed from the Emperor to several of Japan’s greatest rulers. Mori’s lord, Kuroda Nagamasa, strictly ordered him not to drink at all to avoid trouble. However, Fukushima repeatedly pressed him to drink, and when Mori refused, he mocked him: “Are the warriors of the Kuroda clan so weak that they cannot finish even this cup?” Insulting not only Mori but the entire clan pushed him beyond his limit. Mori finally accepted the challenge. He took an enormous ceremonial cup—holding several liters of sake—and drank it in one breath. Then he asked for more and drained cup after cup. Impressed by Mori’s courage (and bound by the samurai code of keeping one’s word), Fukushima granted Mori any reward he desired. Mori boldly chose Fukushima’s prized spear, Nihongo, and Fukushima—honoring the samurai vow—handed it over. Mori then returned home in high spirits, carrying the spear while singing what later became the folk song “Kuroda Bushi.” The Folk Song “Kuroda Bushi” The famous lyrics celebrate this moment: “Drink, drink— If you drink, then drink enough To win Japan’s greatest spear. Only then are you a true Kuroda warrior.” Junichiro Hannya is a master of Takaoka copperware. Born in 1931, he studied under Yoneji after graduating from Takaoka Technical High School, mastering sculpture techniques. In 1965, he won the Mayor's Award at the Takaoka City Exhibition, Takamine Award, and has been selected for the Prefectural and City Exhibitions 10 times. He was selected for the Nitten Exhibition for the first time, and has been selected several times since. Height 45.2 cm Width 39.0 cm Depth 17.1 cm Weight 10.65 kg Condition: The condition is relatively good. There are some scratches, dirt, scuffs, stains, and discoloration, but no major damage. It was stored at home. There are also many photos, so please take a look. Atention: The items listed for sale are all used collectibles. Please consider them to have signs of aging, such as stains, scratches, scuffs, tears, discoloration, fading, fraying, and changes in thread color. We will post as many photos as possible to make it easy to understand. As these are old items, we appreciate your understanding before making a purchase. Shipping: The lot will be carefully packaged and shipped from Japan. We will use either DHL or FedEx for a safe and secure transportation. It usually takes about 2-3 weeks for delivery, and the package will be shipped with a tracking number. Import duties, taxes, VAT, and any other charges are not included in the item price and shipping cost. Please check your country's import duties before bidding. 113021181204