mecox

Nice kaigunto. Kinmichi 金道 Hibino Ichiji 日比野 一二 (can read as “Kanemichi”). With large Seki stamp. Born: Taisho 6 (1917) May 6. Registered as Seki tosho: 1942, Sept 10. Address 1942: Oyama, Tomida-mura. Died 1945, August 20 (age 28) (the surrender of Japan was announced by Emperor Hirohito on August 15, 1945)

Folks, an interesting but undocumented Seki swordsmith. Be good to find out who he was. I have compiled what I could find and tried to make some sense of it. Would welcome comments, corrections and ideas. Following are my notes and pics. UNJOSAI KATSUNAGA 雲上斎 勝永 An apparent mystery with wartime Seki swordsmiths is Unjosai KATSUNAGA, who produced a wide range of blades, but for whom no records were found (so he is reported as “undocumented”). He is not in the 1940 Seki City lists and is not in the Seki swordsmith registration list from 1939. His blades look to be both Showato and gendaito, most are mounted as Army shingunto in various fittings, there are some Naval kaigunto and at least one in wartime civilian mounts. A number are in post-war shirasaya or have been mounted for iaido. He has a number of mei, which may reflect types of swords produced. Katsunaga 勝永 (H, O) Unjosai Katsunaga 雲上斎勝永 (B, C, D?, E, F, G, M) Seki Unjosai Katsunaga 関雲上斎勝永 (A, J, K) Unjosai Katsunaga saku 雲上斎勝永作 (L) Unjosai Katsunaga kitaeru kore 雲上斎勝永鍛之 (I, P) Katsunaga saku 勝永作 (N) In regard to his mei, “Katsunaga” is his swordsmith name, however, “Unjosai” is probably not a family name and more likely is a “go” or pseuydonym/penname. “Katsunaga” is said to be a masculine name and there were several noted samurai of the Edo period with it. There was also a samurai in the 1800’s, Sagae Chuzaemon Katsunaga (1806-1864) who became a swordsmith in Edo Tokyo and was of the Mito Domain, Ibaraki. So what would be this Katsunaga’s family name? He signs as katana mei, but with variations. Showato blades are signed on the shinogi-ji with a “chippy” cut style (nakirishi mei) that reflects mass production work. Those with well cut mei reflect custom work and are larger characters and centrally located over the nakago shinogi. Mei on custom blades have both a neat formal style, and an artistic cursive style; one variation is of vertical “squarish” characters that are deeply cut using “interpretive” kanji (N and O). Possibly the custom blades are signed by the tosho (shoshi mei). Only one blade (J) of the examples found has a stamp reported, which is the large “Seki”. One example (A), has a bohi-hi kaki-toshi groove through the nakago; this blade is both neatly finished and signed and could be semi-traditional. The shape of the nakago also varies, with different amounts of taper and several styles of kiri tip; some with ha-agari Seki type, others slightly angular. The yasurime filing is angled sujikai, with varying degrees of neatness; on some blades there is a criss-cross hagaki section (but possibly just rough work). Differing hamon were found. The Showato examples tend to be more of a Seki style midare-gunome (A, D, F, H, J, M) some are slightly notare. It appears that the better made and custom blades have suguha hamon (G, I) some with nie-deki (I). No images were found of the other custom made blades. The typical blade has an average nagasa of 63.0 cm (61.7 to 64.5 cm) and small sori of 1.0 to 1.2 cm. Several blades vary from this: C: this is a custom blade of 67.4 cm length and sori of 1.8 cm. D: this is a longer blade which is shortened around 10 cm to 52.7 cm (wakizashi length) with the mune moved and a new nakago ana drilled; the mei is also shortened. The blade has been remounted in shorter shingunto koshirae. I: this blade has a nagasa of 64.3 cm, however, it has two mekugi ana and is probably shortened by around 7-8 cm. The mei is below the lower hole and kiri nakago tip indicates the shortening. The suguha hamon on this sug-gests water quenching. Of note, it is in wartime civilian mounts. Basically there appears to be three types of swords: (a) Showato oil quenched Seki work suggesting some form of mass production. (b) quality Seki work possibly semi-traditional with hand forging/folding and neat finish. (c) top end custom orders, traditionally made and on request with name of client. Of interest is sword K which has a label on the saya of “The Seki Cutlery Manufacturers’ Association” and “Seki Gifu Japan”. The label shows “Passed” presumably approved for sale. The nakago of sword K is a little rough, no stamp is obvious; these labels look to be used mid to late war, however, are mostly found on “budget” swords with basic wooden saya. The mei of sword J is the same as that of K, both stating “Seki”, and possibly has a similar hamon. Nagasa for these are K of 61 cm and J of 62.8 cm. Overall, production of Katsunaga blades suggests a smaller workshop, or several workshops, linked to a sales outlet, with a number of craftsmen involved; the various styles of mei are likely by different people. The examples here show Katsunaga was a Seki smith, and he does look to have some training as a tosho, however, he is not in the Seki registration list. But who was he and what was his name. There must be a record somewhere. Malcolm Cox, 2025

He is also called TOSHIHARU Yabunaka Toshio (藪中俊夫) as well as Mori. He was born Taisho 4 (1915) April 18 and registered as a Seki swordsmith Showa 14 (1939) October 8.

Does it have fittings? Need to see the whole item. But others will be best to comment on a price.

Paul, for information and examples of Amahide and his forge go to NMB Downloads, Member Articles (top line of front page) and find paper on Ichimonji Amahide.

Steve, for details and examples of Kojima Katsumasa go to NMB Downloads (line at top on page) and find paper " Kojima Tokijiro Kanemichi etc" . That is interesting example of a wartime civilian koshirae.

Rob, this is a sword made in Kokura Arsenal in Fukuoka dated May 1944. Or it may be in an arsenal factory after moving due to bombing, The mei is "Kokura Rikugun Zohei Sho". For much info on the arsenal and these swords go to NMB Downs (in line at top of page) and find paper on Showa Period Fukuoka and Kokura Arsenal.

Jan, this is a genuine wartime Naval kaigunto, probably later war. Need to see the nakago under the handle. It is likely to be stainless steel with the anchor stamp. For information, have a look in NMB Downloads (bar at top on page) and find following paper: Japanese NAVAL SWORDS Swordsmiths & Workshops Part 2

@kogel Mike, as noted sword is by Miwa Kanetomo a good wartime smith. Born in Seki in 1916 and registered early in October 1939. In the following NMB Download is info on him. Star stamp shows traditionally made blade using tamahagane.

Noshi Seki ju Toshimasa saku “Toshimasa” (敏正), real name Asai Eikurō (浅井 栄九郎), born January 15th 1886 (Meijin 19), student of Watanabe Kanenaga (渡辺兼永). Registered as a Seki smith Showa 16 (1941) August 18. Died October 25, 1958. In 1942 Banzuke ranked as ryōkō no retsu. he had a son: YASUTSUNA 安綱 real name Asai Tamotsu (浅井保), born March 21st 1924, the son of Toshimasa (敏正) and died Heisei 2 (1990) January 3, his gō is Ittōsai (一刀斎). Both Toshimasa and son Yasutsuna received Nyusen-sho in Dec 1944 gunto exhibition run by the Army.

John, suggestion is: Name (bottom left); Okuma Masahisa. Military unit? (top left): No. 7 Dainanago. Location (right column): Shimomizuuchi-gun, Tokiwa-mura, Kotsugi (?) (possibly is in Nagano Prefecture)

Listed in 1937 national report as Gifu smith (see NMB Downloads) #4. 兼丈 Kanetake (福田 丈太郎 Fukuda Jotaro) (can read “Taketaro”) [kanji is not “fumi” 文] Born: Meiji 43 (1910) May 10; Reg: Showa 14 (1939) Oct 26. Deshi in 1937: 0. 1937: Seki-machi, Otsu 1754; 1939: Seki-machi, Misono-cho. History: living in Seki-machi and trained under Matsuda Kanetaka (#26) who had early trained under Kojima Kanemichi (then as Kanetoki) probably in the Nipponto Tanren Juko. Summary: died in 1989 age 79. He made numerous swords for both Arrny and Navy. Example mei: Fukuda Kanetake saku 福田兼丈作 Seki ju Fukuda Kanetake saku 関住福田兼丈作 Noshu Seki ju Kanetake saku 濃州 関住兼丈作

Possibly is Takekoshi Hideo 竹腰　英夫

Steve, I should have sent this link: check Kai Gunto Mei and Miwa

Steve, looks like MASAYUKI (正行) , real name Miwa Tomoo (三輪 友雄), born August 8, 1895 (Meiji 28). A Seki smith and this blade has Gi-sakura stamp (Gifu). Registered as a Seki smith Showa 14 (1939) October 26. In late war rinji seishiki mounts and dated Showa 19 (1944) December.