mecox

Simon, many thanks for very interesting info and background. The pic with tape indicates the nagasa (cutting edge) is about 59 cm. This make it a middle size sword (wakizashi), but I note the collar (habaki) is a bit longer to extend it. I am currently writing up a paper on naval swords for NMB, could I use the photos and info (no family name) as it is very valuable material. and referring to source. Mal .

Jason, there's a good story here for the family. The blade is made in 1929 from steel (reworked) from the Japanese battleship Mikasa damaged is a 1904 sea battle with Russia. War ended in 1905 Japan victorious. There has been good discussion around this as many swords and dirks made in 1928 to 1932 same metal to commemorate. But its likely the blade and tsuba were refitted to the naval mounts as they were not introduced until 1937.

Simon, fantastic item and pictures. Do you have a date for this surrender. Is your dad in the pic? Could you measure the length of the cutting edge of blade. Thanks for posting. Mal

Motte gunkan Mikasa hō hagane　Hideaki 以軍艦三笠砲鋼　秀明. 昭和五年五月二十七日𫝹之 May 27, 1930 this year. The concept was: It reads "nenn kore" which is something like "this memory" "this memorable date". ......which was the 25th anniversary of the Battle of Tsushima in which the battleship Mikasa 三笠, was damaged and the main gun destroyed. The steel from the gun barrel was used to make memorial 250 + long swords and 900+ dirks between 1928 and 1932.....and this was one Hideaki changed his name in 1932 to Toshihide @Kiipu

John , good to have these extra ones. Your 1943 Shigemasa is in shirasaya I guess. We have been tracking the KJT smiths, so far looks to be less formal that RJT and more facility based

Thanks for measurements. Your pics are fine. The suguha is interesting.

Yes Rob, looks like a nice kaigunto from a solid smith and group. Its just in time to go into Part 2 of my Japanese Naval Swords. Could you send me the nagasa and sori in cm? Have you seen this paper on their group? cheers Mal

Thanks for input Trystan.

Colleagues I have updated a new version of Japanese Naval Swords WW2 Swordsmiths & Workshops Part 1. This 2024 paper is an upgrade of the 2021 version, it is reorganised with appreciably more examples but with some significant corrections. Of note is the issue of Naval arsenal stamps and some long held, but incorrect views, in particular in regard to the Toyokawa Arsenal in Aichi (this arsenal did not produce swords). If you have the 2021 version, please delete it and use this one. It was outdated and I hope any errors addressed. Part 2, is likewise being upgraded and will soon be uploaded. I found it all a rather challenging topic. cheers Mal

I guess you saw this one Musashi on JS Index The other has different kanji "yuki" AKIYUKI (昭行), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Gunma – “Akiyuki” (昭行), real name Kurihara Washio (栗原鷲雄), he worked as a rikugun-jumei-tōshō http://www.japaneses...oshigata/akiyuki.jpg

yes but the lighting distorts it

@RobCarter3 @Bruce Pennington Rob re the Tenshozan anchor stamps the strong indication is that the general Navy acceptance stamp (anchor-in-circle) was used from early on, throughout the war and into the post-war souvenirs. The Tenshozan stamp (anchor with chevrons/bars) had some dated blades which show it was used for a short time only 1938 to 1943 and on blades with "Tenshozan....." mei. So looks concurrent with other stamp for a while.

Murayama Kanetoshi, quite a good wartime smith. Pic from Slough book.

Adam, that is a very nice blade from a good smith. There is info on Torio Hiromasa in NMB Downloads: (1) Showa/Ehime and (2) Fukuoka/Kokura.

Adam, does your sword have any stamps on the nakago mune?

Alex, looks to me like Noshu ju Kanetoshi. But Seki is better. The mei is s bit rough. There are two of this name, but yours looks to be Kumazawa (top one). he more often signed " Kumazawa Kanetoshi". The other aspect of his work is the inverted "taka-no-ha" filing on the nakago. KANETOSHI (兼俊), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Gifu – “Kanetoshi” (兼俊), “Ikkōsai Kanetoshi” (粋光斎兼俊), real name Kumazawa Shun´ichi (熊沢俊一), born April 20th 1899, gō Ikkōsai (粋光斎), he worked as guntō smith. KANETOSHI (兼俊), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Gifu – “Kanetoshi” (兼俊), real name Murayama Kinokazu (村山喜之一), born August 3rd 1905, he worked as rikugun-jumei-tōshō and died February 23rd 1978, jōkō no retsu (Akihide), Second Seat at the 6th Shinsaku Nihontō Denrankai (新作日本刀展覧会, 1941)

John and Bruce, interesting blade and hamon. I wonder if this stamp could be related to the Minatogawa Jinja Forge in Kobe, although this is katana-mei. Example by Masanao in tachi-mei. But artistically stamp could be sunset over a mountain?? Also different number of petals/rays.

Duncan, Seki Goto Kanemitsu 関後藤兼光 he was a good smith, sho-sakura stamp is early war but looks a well made Showa-to blade. Some background and context in this paper:

Bruce, that Yoshishige 良重 looks pretty good. Sesko has this one: YOSHISHIGE (良重), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Gifu – “Yoshishige” (良重), real name Komiyama Ryōzō (小宮山良造). He was born Meiji 35 (1902) January 19. and registered as Seki tosho Showa 17 (1942) November 1, living at Seki-machi, Tokiwa-cho. There is detail in my Naval swords #2, pages 26-29. The date on this sword looks to be Showa 18 (1943). His blades are typically signed ni-ji katana-mei. Of note, he is a Seki smith but one of his swords (1943) in good kaigunto koshirae has seppa stamped with TEC and Toyokawa anchor-in-sakura. https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/files/file/63-Japanese-naval-swords-swordsmiths-workshops-part-2/?do=getNewComment

Adam, interesting blade. You got most of it: Mino Seki Fujiwara Kanetoki kitae kore Edited: see post by @PNSSHOGUN looks to be like "Tsukahara cut the horimono"). The format of the left column looks like Kin saku ("respectfully made") but not confirmed. Date: Showa ju nen san gatsu matsu jitsu (Showa 10 (1935) last day of March. . Also some examples in Slough p. 47. His history outlined in this paper:

listing in Sesko: HISATSUGU (久次), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Ehime – “Hisatsugu” (久次), family name Imai (今井), born 1892, rikugun-jumei-tōshō, he studied under Takahashi Yoshimune (高橋義宗), jōko no jōi (Akihide)

@Bruce Pennington he is IMAI HISATSUGU (今井 久次) Ehime. Example mei: “Hisatsugu” (久次). “Yoshu Seiunshi Hisatsugu saku” (豫洲青雲子久次作). Well covered in this "excellent" paper.............

Interesting sword. left column: Noshu Seki ju Asano Kanezane Nyudo saku kore. Rear date is 2600 years of Japanese Empire (1940 August). Of note the Sho-sakura stamp (sideways). Kanezane born 1910, died 1986 February 15. He was registered post-war in Sowa 47 (1972).

Maybe Thomas has a point.......artistic licence

@Bruce Pennington this website has translations and info "Medals of Asia" (I cant post the link) Actually this gets a bit confusing as Nick Komiya says it is read as "Yamayo". Naval parade saber.... (warrelics.eu)