mecox

Piers, can you show a pic of the other side of menuki. thanks.

Interesting pistol holster for man on right (piece of string)...I guess for the photo. I dont know guns...is that an early Mauser?

Chris, I'm still confused with the two mekugi in the tsuka. Do they both correspond to holes in the nakago? And the question is whether the upper hole (above the mei) is from an earlier (civilian?). By the way, how long is the nakago.

The holes are a bit strange. Maybe @Bruce Pennington is right that it could be the earlier Shigemitsu? I just noticed the tsuka has 2 mekugi. Cant tell from angled pic but possibly a short nakago so put a second hole when remounted as gunto.

Chris, It is most likely WW2 Shigemitsu. Here are some other examples from page 45 (I note I have a few typos in here). Your sword has a slightly different cut of Shigemitsu (繁) but appears to be the same. Yours also has kiri (horizontal) yasurime filing, as opposed to oblique.

As Thomas noted, mei is Noshu Ju Nakajima Kunishige Saku. Blade has Sho stamp so probably 1942 or earlier. His real name was Nakajima Hiroshi and was born Meiji 33 (1900) Nov 23 in Gifu. He died in 1944 Oct 27 age 44. He registered early as a swordsmith in Seki on Showa 14 (1939) Oct 25. When he registered his address was Kajita village in Kamo district (to the east of Seki). In 1954 Kajita merged with Tomida and became Tomika. In the war there appear to be a group of smiths working together in Kajita. The fittings on your sword look to be a post-war composition, maybe for iaido?

Some examples of Tenshozan tanrenjo from page 82:

Its not correct to say Kojima Katsumasa "only made machined blades". He was a student of Watanabe Kanenaga in the traditional swordsmith tanren he established in Seki. All indications are that Katsumasa produced traditionally made blades in the late 1930's and changed to "Showato" production during the war. But these blades were still handmade, even if western-type steel, oil tempered and mechanical hammer. This blade is 1943, and was apparently made for (or at?) the Nagoya Arsenal (see the stamped assembly number 1025, and near the mekugi ana is a "NA" stamp). The blade looks well made and well mounted, plus hamon does not look oil temper in these pics?

Hizen Masatsugu shingunto has now been sold. Thank you.

As per Ray is Kanekado. Have a look for Kanekado in here (#10), some of his info a bit confusing:

Have a look in here for Nobumitsu #32:

Folks, I am keen to sell this complete RJT sword by Hizen Masatsugu, so reduced to US$1850. Thanks.

As noted above, YOSHISHIGE, real name Komiyama Ryozo (uncommon kanji for "yoshi" 良 which can be read as "yoshi" and "ryo"), born Meiji 35 (1902) January 19. He registered as a Seki swordsmith Showa 17 (1942) November 1 (at age 40) and then was living in Seki, Tokiwa-cho.

Well the style / design doesnt look at all like the various pics of shakujo. If it is that type of item, perhaps it could be for training as a weapon.... blunt end, lots of noise, dish as offensive protection, and could be used in the hand or with a shaft. Or maybe by the mobile tofu-man (tofu-uri) with his cart to attract customers!

Well maybe not a Buddhist item. I thought of the yamabushi, mostly 2 coils with 3 rings each (=6). and there are other ones for deeper reflection with 4 coils of 3 rings (=12). But no dish. Yours looks very rural and blacksmith made. I thought of a sort of rattle, like a cow bell. but still no idea.

Difference to shakujo looks to be yours has 3 coils (joined at top?) each with 4 rings (total 12) and a "dish" which appears to be loose. Wooden handle fixed by a mekugi? To make noise for a reason? Would not work for counting?? I have no idea.

Shingunto signed Hizen no Kuni Masatsugu 肥前國正次 with Rikugun Jumei Tosho star stamp plus “ko” and “ho” stamps on nakago mune. Traditionally made water quenched, nagasa 64.2 cm, hamon is suguha based ko-midare with nie deki, boshi is jizo shape with kaen (flames); appears to be muji hada. Blades is dated at June 1943: Koki ni sen roku hiaku san nen roku gatsu kichi jitsu 皇紀二千六百三年六月吉日 “lucky day 6th month 2603 years Japanese Empire” (June 1943). Nakago is ubu with kiri yasurime. Blade in very good condition, in original polish, no bends or rust, but some fine stratches. There is one small fukure blister (1 mm) on edge of hamon. Shingunto koshirae is all original and good condition (one minor dent on saya). Tsuka is all original, ito binding very good, quality same rayskin with large nodules. Brass gunto tsuba with 3 pairs of seppa (no stamped numbers). Locking clip complete and working; brass sarute has sakura pattern. Copper habaki with silver wash. Masatsugu originally from Saga, Hizen, trained in Tokyo at Denshu Jo at Akasaka. He received high ranking at all wartime exhibitions, and returned to Saga around 1942. He was appointed Rikugun Jumei Tosho. Post-war he continued to make swords from 1958 receiving numerous awards. See Article in NMB Downloads for details of Masatsugu and examples. Described in Slough as "medium to high grade gendaito" pages 106-107. Price US$2000 (plus shipping & Ppal).. Blade is in Australia. https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/files/file/51-taguchi-kiichi-masatsugu-hakuryushi-tadataka/

Well this initial challenging post by Piers has caused me substantial loss of sleep, so I had to look further into this tsuba and its design, then could not stop.

Bloody hell....well looks like 櫂Kai is the correct term for the tsuba design. And the other term is the origin of the old Japanese song "ro, ro, ro your boat gently down the stream...." . I'm getting ready for that glass!

Wow, your concept is very deep, if not oblique..... its morning here, so my view tended not to be enhanced with the benefit of a few reds!

Interpreting these tsuba gets a bit philosophical...and you need to ask the maker. But for this one I would go with umbrella (kasa) which is a common design item with rain drops (kasa ni ame); and an oar or paddle (kai). So with an umbrella in a paddled boat, suggests a passenger, so maybe theme is "water taxi" , boatman and passenger in the rain. Re the tsuba, rather small (7.3 cm) suggests small katana (or wakizashi), plus the tsuba looks rather crude and thick, so more like "Tosho" as opposed to "Ko-tosho". The latter are earlier and Muromachi, even Kamakura, and are larger often 8.0-8.5 cm, basic but well made and designs neatly cut, and well forged iron. So themes can be rather open.

Piers, maybe Tosho, long sukashi definitely an oar, the other likely an umbrella, but could be old Japanese straw hat. A fisherman? Can you paddle a boat and hold an umbrella?

Jarett, Hattori Masahiro here page 30:

Kanemune was adopted son of Ichimonji Minamoto Amahide, Seki, see - Member Articles, background and examples.

Apologies Ron, should have linked it