mecox

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.

Perry there are 4 Kanetoshi from Seki, and 2 have this "toshi" kanji. I think yours is Murayama (are usually signed with "Noshu") 兼俊 Kanetoshi (村山 喜之一 Murayama Yoshinoichi) Born: Meiji 38 (1905) Aug 3; Reg. Showa 14 (1939) Oct 8. Deshi in 1937: 1. 1937:Kamo-gun, Tomita-mura, Hanyu. 1939: same address. History: trained under father Murayama Kaneyuki (#30). Died February 23, 1978. Independent from Showa 9 (1934) with tanrenjo at Kamo-gun, Kamono-mura. Your Mei so you can read In this NMB Download is more info and shows other Kanetoshi

Martin, you should find a lot of the info you want (as well as sent to you) on the following paper in NMB Downloads

Bruce and Steve, looks to me that the same under the kabuto-gane is different, and added later. Also the kabuto-gane is put on back-to-front.

Tsuba design:

Steve, this is YOSHIMICHI 吉道: real name Kojima Yukiyoshi (小島幸吉). Born Meiji 27 (1894) April 22. Registered as Seki smith in Showa 16 (1941) May 16 (age 47).

OK Bryce I was not sure, but looked at sori, so said "maybe"

Steve, looks to be 兼高 Kanetaka (松田 高市 Matsuda Takaichi) Born: Meiji 44 (1911) Sept 16; Reg: Showa 14 (1939) Oct 26. 1937: Bugi-gun, Seki-machi, Aza naka-machi. 1939: Seki-machi, Naka-machi. Deshi in 1937: 1. History: trained from Taisho 13 (1924) under Kojima Kanetoki (Kanemichi). Independent Showa 5 (1930) May. Example mei: Kanetaka 兼高 Noshu Seki ju Matsuda Kanetaka saku 濃州関住松田兼高作 maybe with type 94 shinto gunto mounts, yes very long kissaki and strong sori. I think these mounts finished in 1938, so may be just pre-war.

Michael, late war Naval kaigunto stainless steel. Takeyasu saku 武泰作. The tsuka is poorly rebound. See info about these swords on this NMB Download file. Your sword in on p. 123.

@JoeR1986 to help with your questions: this is a stainless steel blade mounted in Naval kaigunto koshirae. The mei looks to be "Taketaka saku" 武孝作 and it has an anchor in circle stamp. This would be made in the Tenshozan Tanrenjo a private factory that produced swords for the Navy. There were various mei used there , but there were other "Take" smiths": Takeyoshi, Takeyasu and Takeyuki. I had not seen a Taketaka before. The blade is a production line product although neat finish. These mei look to appear through the war, but not large numbers. There were more of a similar form with mei of Hiratoshi saku. Bit hard to tell about mounts from pics but unusual to have only one suspension ring and menuki and seppa look a bit odd, so not sure if late war or a post-war souvenir item. The paint figures on the nakago are 　伊　二四四　("e" ?) 2 4 4. These look repeated on mouth of saya (not sure of first one). These are assembly numbers to match the various parts. For lots for info on WW2 Naval swords and smiths, and Tenshozan go the NMB Downloads:

Mike, looks like “Izumi no Kami Kaneshige” (和泉守兼重) so would be in 1640's. He was in "Musashi" which was Edo now Tokyo. Izumi no Kami is a title. What is the length of blade (cutting edge)? Be good to see pics

Joe, sword is a Naval kaigunto with stainless steel blade made at Tenshozan Tanrenjo. It has the stamp of anchor in circle and reads "Taketaka saku" (made by Taketaka). These were made on production line. Of interest this name is not common...there are a series of others: Takeyoshi, Takeyuki and Takeyasu. On NMB Downloads lots of info on these swords:

Steve, as noted by Conway and Bruce your sword is 肥前國住保廣作 "Hizen Kuni ju Yasuhiro saku" and dated Showa 17 (1942) January. Family name is Motomura but there is some confusion with sword names. Their context as WW2 swordsmiths is shown in a paper in NMB Downloads “Showa Period Swordsmiths of Fukuoka Prefecture Kyushu and the Kokura Arsenal”. YASUHIRO (保廣). Listed as from Fukumura, Nakagawa in Saga prefecture (old Hizen) with a post-war address: Saga-ken, Saga-gun, Kawafuku-cho, Oaza. Real name is Motomura Tamotsu (元村 保) (single “yasu” 保 can be read as “Tamotsu”). Born in Meiji 43 (1910) he produced through the war and also post-war. His blades have “Yasuhiro” as 保廣 but some references use simple form of 保広. In the 1937 national survey he is listed to have 2 deshi, capital 1000 Yen, and production of 3 blades per month. Before sword-making, he became a deshi making agricultural tools. Later trained under 3rd gen. Muto Hisahiro (武藤 久広) in southern Fukuoka. He submitted to exhibitions before and during the war: Showa 11 (1936): second Nippon-to Tenrankai exhibition sponsored by Ministry of Culture he received Ginpai (silver medal). Showa 13 (1938): third Tenrankai, received Kinpai (gold medal). [no exhibition in 1937]. In 4th, 5th, 6th Tenrankai (1939-1941): received “Suisen” (Recommendation Award). (6th Shinsakuto Exhibition in 1941: also listed as Dai Ni Seki “second seat”). Showa 17 (1942): received "Sori Daijin Sho” (Prime Ministers Award). In Showa 18 (1943) and Showa 19 (1944) the exhibitions were then run by the military as Rikugun Gunto Tenrankai. In 1943 and 1944: received Kaicho Sho (Chairmans Award). He became Rikugun Jumei Tōshō (maybe 1943), and in national 1942 Banzuke was ranked as Jōkō no Retsu (5/7). Post-war registered in Showa 29 (1954) November 1 (age 44). In Shinsaku Meito-ten Showa 42-45 (1967-1970) received Nyusen. Some references use simple "Hiro" 広　but his mei uses 廣 kanji. In 1941 exhibition and 1942 Banzuke listed as 元村 保廣 (Motomura Yasuhiro). Yasuhiro looks to have two sons working post-war and at same address. YASUHIDE (保秀) Post-war address: Saga-ken, Saga-gun, Kawafuku-cho, Oaza. Real name: Motomura Yasuhide. Post-war registraion: Showa 44 (1969) April 19. YUJI (勇次)　 Post-war address: Saga-ken, Saga-gun, Kawafuku-cho, Oaza. Real name: Motomura Yuji Post-war registration: Showa 44 (1969) December 12. Yasuhiro had an older brother who was very active in the war and a key smith in the Kokura Arsenal in northern Fukuoka. KANEMOTO (兼元) Address: Saga-ken, Saga-shi. Nagase-cho, 115. Real name Motomura Kensaku (元村兼作), born Meiji 40 (1907), he studied from 1924 under the 3rd gen. Mutō Hisahiro (武藤久広). He became Rikugun Jumei Tōshō, listed in 1942 Banzuke as late entry equal Jōkō no Retsu (5/7), in the1941 Shinsaku Nihontō Denrankai as 5th seat. Post-war he was registered in Showa 29 (1954) August 28 (age 47). “Hizen no Kuni Nagase-jū Kanemoto saku” (肥前国長瀬住兼元作). “Higo no Kuni Kanemoto” (肥前国兼元). Kanemoto had a son who was an active smith post-war and at same address. YASUNORI (保則) Address: Saga-ken, Saga-shi. Nagase-cho, 115 (later as Kawasuge-cho, Saga-shi). Real name Motomura Yasuhiro (元村 保広), born Showa 24 (1949). He studied under his father Motomura Kanemoto (元村 兼元). He registered in Showa 44 (1969) December 12 (age 20). Sensei of older Motomura. HISAHIRO 久広 3rd gen. Mutō Kizaburō 武藤 喜三郎 Lived in souhern Fukuoka. Real name Mutō Kizaburō, and third son of the 1st gen. Hisahiro; considered to have succeeded as 3rd gen. after his older brother (the 2nd gen.) had died young. He had at least one son, Muto Takekazu Hideyoshi Hisahiro (born 1891). He trained the wartime Motomura smiths.

Well its means one of us is wrong. It is tachi-mei, but from pics doesnt look shinshinto to me. As best I found his real name is Ishii Sanhachi and he was born Meiji 38 (1905) February. That would give ample time to have made a sword before the war, and for remounting as gunto. The lower hole looks a bit rough and newer? Is this the hole used on your sword? Sesko has another Tadaaki.....but not Hizen and different "aki": TADAAKI (忠明), Keiō (慶応, 1865-1868), Inaba – “Yamamoto Tadaaki” (山本忠明). I no longer have Hizen ref books.

Burt, mei is "Hizen (no) Kuni Tadaaki saku" and looks to be “Tadaaki” (忠昭), family name Ishii (石井). In 1942 Banzuke was ranked as Jōko no Jōi (4/7), and in 1941 Exhibition is Fourth Seat. Quite a good smith from Hizen with typical suguha hamon and in quality shingunto mounts. Not dated but looks early war.

Steve, looks a nice package. The smith is “Kaneuji” (兼氏), real name Yoshida Reiichi (吉田 鈴市), born Taisho 14 (1925) January 13 and registered as a Seki smith Showa 13 (1938) September 9 (which is very early and possibly as a deshi? His father was as swordsmith). He is also listed in 1940 as a member of Seki Token Kaji Association (at age 15). In 1942 Banzuke of around 400 smiths he is listed as Ryoko no Retsu (7/7) but would only be age 17. The mei with the date is a bit confusing, it could be read as "Ishii Iemori-to" ("sword of Ishii Iemori") that is the individual, or could be read "Ishii Ke Mamori-to" ("protection sword for the Ishii Family"). Possibly is the latter.