mecox

Thats a good lead re Yasuki steel. This toshi is Shinoda Hiroshi Ujifusa. In 1942 list he is Chu saku.

Neil, looks to be Mino Ujifusa Aki ni go probably Hawley UJI 25 not sure what the "Aki ni go" is at the moment Mal

Maybe something to do with etiquette and indoor formal wear for the wakizashi. Mal In fact the koshirae is for formal wear with black shaudo tsuba/fuchi and kozuka, and black polished horn kashira. Menuki is a circle 2 bar mon, one user as Ashikaga daimyo.

A difficult mei. The best we could do was late Mino (Sue-Seki) Kanetsuna in Fujishiro (1991) Nihon Koto Jiten page 85 with trans by HA watson . And also that strange mysterious book Mino-to (1993) by Malcolm Cox page 213 end of Koto.

Thanks all for the positive comments. We both believe NMB is an ideal forum to distribute such background info and that the Downloads file is becoming a valuable "library". I wish such material was available in the 1970's-80's and I salute Richard Fuller and Ron Gregory for their early compilations in English (their first book was November, 1978). At that time virtually any sword with a stamp was rejected in Japan.......in hindsight, based on this I let some beauties slip away!

First impression was a flying insect, but not a dragonfly (tombo)

Glad to hear its helping your stamp survey. There were quite a lot with stamps and dates. Mal

Bryce yes thanks, not many pics available. I think as much of his work was earlier plus he did not appear to produce swords for sale or military Mal

Very brave of Ray and diplomatic. The mei is interesting. There is an example of this mei https://www.fujibi.or.jp/our-collection/profile-of-works.html?work_id=731 in Tokyo Fuji Art Museum "Heki Tsushima Nyudo Chikyu Tsunemitsu" Heki (or could be read Hyoki) Tsushima is in Hokkaido. "Nyudo" could be "entering/living in" but here there seems to be a context of entering Buddhism, and the tosho Tsunemitsu making this in 1698 in Hokkaido at age 73. (my wife read into this for me). However, I would agree with Ray, but to me your sword looks like a very poor copy, almost by someone who doesnt speak the language? Of course thats only a comment on the nakago. Mal further reading...mei has nothing to do with Hokkaido, its about Kyushu. Heki is in Kagoshima and Hyoki, Tsushima is part of Nagasaki. Tsunemistu was born in Shiga pref and went to Edo .

Folks, for those interested in wartime Seki swordsmiths we have done a compilation on the Kojima family (Kanemichi, Kanetoki, Kanenori, Katsumasa). This puts them in the pre-war, wartime and post-war setting of Seki. Answered a lot of questions for us. Article is in Downloads. Mal & Neil

From what I heard it was overall less confusing and simpler.

Chris, they both look like reproductions to hang in the bar. The excessive wild hada is one sign, but also they usually have cheaper tsuka ito of a different weave, plus the binding crossover is usually all one way, and not alternate overlap. Mal

Michael, I had a closer look, please check if this may be cast.....hit with a steel object...does it "ring" or "clunk"?

Michael, yes this is Echizen Kinai very late design, but the mei looks a little "clunky" (quickly cut). On website Nihonto-no-Bi is a comprehensive summary of Kinai group for comparison http://www.users.on.net/~coxm/?page=TsubaIII Mal

I wonder if it suggests a tsuka remount, as often the lower hole looks newer, as in post-filing? Mal

Hi George thanks glad it was helpful, but I cant match the curatorial precision you have used in the report of your treasures! Thats a nice report. Mal

This is a nice topic and they are most enjoyable items shown. Lots of character. I will throw in a modern "mekugi pocker" made by Kimura Kanemitsu of Akamatsu Taro Tanrenjo in Kumamoto. With handmade bag. The saying "ichi go ichi e" means something like "always treat someone you meet as though its the first time, as it may be the last". Mal

Yes its in NMB Downsloads https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/files/ Dave dwmc...thanks for the pics, I will store, and hopefully later do a "supplement". Looks a very nice blade with some good activity. I am intrigued that a number of these blades have 2 holes. Be great if you can do the other one also. cheers Mal

Hi Dave, thanks for comments. That looks a very nice example. Any chance you could post some pics (e.g. oshigata, hamon, kisskai) and I can file for an update. Of both?? Mal

John, thanks and glad to hear that, which is what it is for. Mal

If you are interested in WW2 Fukumoto Amahide, his Seki workshop and support tosho, I have done a compilation and Brian has posted on Downloads. Hope it will be of use. Mal

Agreed, December 1945 is somewhat unlikely.

Yes Steve and Uwe thats about it. 乙酉年十二月初冬日 kinoto tori nen ju ni gatsu shoto hi kinoto (2/10 stems) tori (rooster sign 10/12) nen (year) ju ni (12) gatsu (month) hatsu fuyo (pronounced shoto: early winter) hi (a day) which is December 1945 Mal

Adam, nice blade, and I would think John J's comments are pretty much on line. Certainly Mino-den nakago. There were quite a few tosho signing Kanemoto, here's some examples for comparison: http://www.users.on.net/~coxm/?page=late_mino Mal

very interesting and one letter over another thats inverted mal