Need Help Reading a Japanese Date

[Raindrop]

I know many people here can read kanji and some are even Japanese so I couldn't think of a better place to ask this. ^_^

I need to figure out this date:

Click here for image (http://img67.imageshack.us/img67/4741/datejaprk0.jpg)

I know it says meiji era, and then a 2 and then 2 for month and then 5 for day (so theoretically: 2nd Feb; Meiji year 2 (1868)), but there is this one character inbetween (I put a red box around it) that I don't know and I don't know what it means. I tried looking it up by radicals but I can't even make out which radicals it could be made off. It looks like two English Cop beating-stick-things xD lol

I'm thinking it coule mean "20" or something like that, so I need to know in order to get the right date...

Seeing as the document it's on is from the 19th century I'm thinking maybe it's an old kanji-thingy that's not used anymore?

Anyhoo, I really appreciate any help you guys can give me. I need this for work (I'm not hired for anything japanese but cause I do Kendo people always ask me for help with Japanese stuff... so I say yes but now my ego is hurt cause I am stuck on that weird sign :3 )

[Fonsz]

Just printed it and will take it to practice tonight. I will ask Ken or the Sensei what this mysterious kanji means,
Why are we talking English by the way???

[Raindrop]

Just printed it and will take it to practice tonight. I will ask Ken or the Sensei what this mysterious kanji means,
Why are we talking English by the way???

Aw thank you! I'm thinking it means "20" but I'm really not sure. That's the problem with old documents, modern day dictionaries are of no help

I didn't feel that bothering sensei with stuff from my work was appropriate xD

[Fonsz]

Aw thank you! I'm thinking it means "20" but I'm really not sure. That's the problem with old documents, modern day dictionaries are of no help

I didn't feel that bothering sensei with stuff from my work was appropriate xD
You will be surprised about what he feels appropriate. He likes to talk and philosophize about Japan and everything else. Don't forget to mention Japanese food as well.

[Oroshi]

It's 20. (廿). This is an old character that isn't used in modern Japanese.

The whole date is the 25 February, 22nd year of Meiji (1892)

[mingshi]

明治廿二年二月廿五日
Meiji Year 22, Month 2, Day 25

Two 十 makes 廿

卅 will be 30

[Raindrop]

Ah, thank you, guys!! I already suspected something like that but it's great to have confirmation! :D

[Fonsz]

Goes to show that virtual friends are faster than real life friends.:eek:
You do realize that from now on you'll be the resident expert on matters Japanese......:ponder::paranoid:

[Oroshi]

The whole date is the 25 February, 22nd year of Meiji (1892)
For 1892, read 1889. Maths isn't my strong point.