mecox

Tamba no Kami Yoshimichi, there were 4 or 5 of the line in mid-late 1600's. Ray could be correct re gimei. Blade pic looks rather new. However, good quality early war mounts for officer, not NCO and look original. Mal

@nihon Jedediah, thanks for post on shinsa of your Sanekage, interesting. In support of Kashu Sanekage quite a bit in NMB Downlaods:

Jacob, for background and comparison there is something on our own NMB Downloads:

Rob, thanks for comments. I use Microsoft Publisher so can cut and past pics and text (e.g. from NBM) then edit and format. The text takes most time and need to find the info, then check and cross-check Japanese and kanji (this is a challenge but my wife is very helpful, and patient!). Also a lot of confirmation is needed. But also lots of help and input e.g. @Kiipu , @Bruce Pennington and others. When you go for the hols, be sure to take Parts 1 and 2. I hope these papers will be a useful start for future studies. Mal

Two really good videos reflecting a dedicated sword artisan now 83 (and supportive wife). As some background here is his 2004 book, signed and stamped (in red) with a positive saying. Not sure how to read it but looks to be "Zengo" words for such as tea ceremony or flower arrangement, with a welcome invitation to participate.

Bruce and Chris, its an interesting example package of a post-war souvenir, showing the mixed koshirae parts. The kodogu all look to be gilted shingunto, and the habaki silver coated (but poorly made). I would think all that work is post-war refit/upgrade. But as you note unusual for a souvenir Hiratoshi. Looking at the blade I would think it is a wartime work. In the update of Naval Swords Part 2 we looked at Tenshozan closely and have 7 Hisatoshi.

Noshu ju Kanenobu Koki ni sen roku hiaku nen ki nen 　濃州住兼延　　　　　　　　皇紀二千六百年　紀念 2600 th year of empire (1940) "memorable year" or "commemorate" less common to see that examples in Slough p. 54 & 55

I have to mention that I got to Part 3 of the Batto-Jutsu in America and in a list of publications found my own book from back in 1997: Iwata Norikazu’s Kiso Iai Kosa was translated in 1995 by Colin Hyakutake Watkin; and in 1997 Malcolm E. Cox’s Iaido: A Handbook; Dr. Friday’s Legacies of the Sword: The Kashima-Shinryu and Samurai Martial Culture, and Nagayama Kohai’s The Connoisseur's Book of Japanese Swords all came out. Stephen Turnbull’s The Samurai Sourcebook and G. Cameron Hurst’s Armed Martial Arts of Japan: Swordsmanship and Archery, both came out in 1998. The decade closed with David Millar’s Samurai Warriors, Scott Shaw’s Samurai Zen, Kenshi Nabeshima’s The Needle and The Sword: Health Strategies of a Samurai Acupuncturist, and Clive Sinclaire’s Samurai: The Weapons and Spirit of the Japanese Warrior on the art and armor of feudal Japan.

Very interesting read and detailed coverage of development, history and people. I lived through a lot of this in Australia at the end of the 1980's and through the 1990's. A worthwhile post Peter. Mal

The 2024 UPDATE of Part 2 is now uploaded.

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?