translation

[Shepherd]

Can anyone help me with what this says? My sensei says the style of writing is older.

 

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii22 ... G_0944.jpg

 

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii22 ... G_0943.jpg

 

is this a "souvenir" knife ?

 

thanks,

 

Sean Shepherd

[Brian]

Sean,

I can't translate it, but it is likely a poem and is written in "grass" script which is like artistic cursive. If Morita san is around, he might be able to assist.

I am tempted to say this looks like one of the WW2 soldier's knives, but those usually have an artificial hamon or oil quenched one, and this one looks like it might have a real water quenched edge and has a chance of being traditionally made. Can't say for sure. It you can, remove the peg in the handle and show a pic of the nakago (tang) as this will help indicate if it is WW2 or earlier.

 

Brian

[Nobody]

That is a poem composed by Motoori Norinaga (本居宣長).

The inscription is as follows (maybe?);

志起しま能大和心越人とはは

阿さ日尓匂ふ山桜花

 

Several letters are witten in Hentai-gana in the above poem. An ordinary writing is like this.

敷島の大和心を人問はば

朝日に匂ふ山桜花

 

If someone inquires about the Japanese soul of these Blessed Isles,

say mountain cherry blossoms, fragrant in the morning sun.

Ref. http://everything2.com/e2node/Shikishim ... 2520Gokoro

 

BTW, the poem also appears on the home page of NBTHK.

http://www.touken.or.jp/

[Shepherd]

doumo arigatou gozaimashita

[Bugyotsuji]

Never heard that one before. Not bad poetry. Not bad at all... :|

 

 

 

 

(PS I love it)