Yoshimichi

Dear NMB Members: I would appreciate any help the members can give me in translating the maker's mei on this pair of daish fuchi, and any information you may have regarding this artist. The last two kanji appear to be Masayoshi, but I am not sure of the first two. The finish appears to be shakudo or shibuichi. I have the two tsuka that came with these fuchi, but the kashira is missing on both handles. II would be interested in knowing the likely school these came from. Regards, Bill E. Sheehan (Yoshimichi)

I thought it was a great show. Fred W did another stellar job, as usual. I heard some people with tables saying that they did not see a lot of public selling action, but I sold pretty much everything I brought to sell, so it was a great show for me. I picked up a Osaka line Yoshimichi wakizashi with koshirae at a really great price, and was very pleased with the purchase. I met and conversed with some regulars from the NMB who attended, and that was great fun. There was a noticeable absence of the Japanese dealers/buyers, like Ando. There appeared to be less filled tables this year than last year. Not sure why. There were some bargains to be had in the lower to middle price range, but you had to look for them. Most Arrowheads were going for $250-$450 on average, so I passed on those. A number of familiar faces were absent, but many were there as usual. I thought the public attendance was very low, and most of the sales/purchases seemed to be among the dealers. A few gems showed up. Also, Sunday afternoon a young couple came into the show with about 4 or 5 swords they wanted to sell that apparently belonged to a family member. They knew little about swords, but wanted to sell them to help purchase a house. Fred W sat them at a vacant table and made an announcement over the microphone to everyone that they were seated at one of the tables and that everyone should go over and see if they are interested in any of the swords. It looked like the old days when Walberg would open up his table and a swarm of people converged on his booth trying to buy things. It was great fun to watch. I miss those days. I believe all of the swords sold within a very short time. That was nice of Fred to help the young folks out, and great for the collector still in attendance on Sunday. It was great fun. Can't wait until next yer. Regards, Bill E. Sheehan (Yoshimichi)

Dear Daniel: My first impression is that the koshirae is a combination of parts and pieces from various swords. The fuchi, kashira, saya hanger, and the gunto koiguchi fitting around the throat of the wooden saya appear to be parts normally seen on a gunto showato mount with a metal saya. The wooden saya and leather saya cover appear as if they do not go with the gunto metal fittings. The seppa appear to be random parts. The blade appears to be a showato blade from the photos and poor state of the polish and inability to see any hada . Someone may have put it together, but if the purchase price was right, and if it turns out to actually have nie and to be a traditionally made blade, well maybe you did just fine. Regards, Bill E. Sheehan (Yoshimichi)

Dear Klaus: Thanks so much for the help on the translation. I was striking out in my attempts. I think I need to get the Markus book you referenced. What is the title? Regards, Bill E. Sheehan (Yoshimichi)

Dear NMB Members: I am trying to translate a mei on a showato sword owned by a friend, and I am having a difficult time with it. Can anyone translate this for me? I think I see maybe Tomo, Toshi, ko, saku. I appreciate the help. Regards, Bill E. Sheehan (Yoshimichi)

Dear Piers: Thanks for posting this information. Very interesting information about the surrendered swords. Do most prefectures have Police History journals or information from during the occupation that might discuss the local occupation activities? I have a "tanker/pilot" wakizashi surrendered and picked up by a G.I. in a village in the current location of Sakurai City during the war. A person from an interpreters group or club was able to confirm that the person who surrendered the sword during the war did live at the address listed on the surrender tag, and he found a phone number for that person on the internet. The person who surrendered the sword is/was named Soichiro Tanizoe. The interpreter individual called the telephone number listed on the internet for this person, but the phone is apparently no longer in service. He said he knows some people at the Sakurai City Hall, and he will see if anyone there might know of Soichiro Tanizoe. It looks like he has struck out on getting any additional information for now. Do local City Halls have information on current or former residents, or do you have any suggestions on which public organizations or entities might be good possible source for locating information or vital statistics on persons previously living in Nara, Sakurai City, like Mr. Soichiro Tanizoe or any surviving family members? Any recommendations is appreciated.I am trying to trace and construct the history of this surrendered sword. I have a WWII photo of the G.I. who brought is back, and his history and information. I would love to obtain similar information on or about Sichiro Tanizoe, the person who surrendered the sword in Japan. Thanks, Piers. Regards, Bill E. Sheehan (Yoshimichi)

Dear NMB members: I just listed an iron kozuka with kogatana on Ebay with dog and abalone motif. The menuki and tanto tsuba sold. This is the remaining item in the grouping.. The auction link is: https://www.ebay.com/itm/ANTIQUE-Japanese-IRON-DOG-KOZUKA-WITH-KOGATANA-BLADE/273076735509?hash=item3f94a44e15:g:ZfkAAOSw8W5ai1Zp Thanks for looking. Regards, Bill E. Sheehan (Yoshimichi)

Thanks for adding the proper link, Pete. Regards, Bill E. Sheehan (Yoshimichi)

Dear NMB members: I just listed a tanto tsuba with the puppy and abalone shell motif on Ebay. The listing number is: 273064537317. I listed the puppy and abalone shell menuki today as well. If someone has a tanto that needs some fittings, you may want to check it out. Regards, Bill E. Sheehan (Yoshimichi)

The kozuka and menuki are being listed for sale on Ebay. Thanks for looking and the comments. The Ebay auction number for the menuki is: 273064411668. Thanks. Regards, Bill E. Sheehan (Yoshimichi)

Dear NMB Members: The kogatana blade is on hold pending payment. The kozuka and menuki are still available, if interested. . Thanks. Regards, Bill E. Sheehan

Brian raises an rather interesting point. The hamon on this kogatana is not commonly encountered, and Yoshimichi kogatana are pretty desirable, This kogatana would look great in shirasaya, or in a better kozuka. I am not opposed to selling the kogatana blade separately from the kozuka, if that works better for a member. I am happy to keep the kozuka by itself, If a member wants just the kogatana. I will sell the kogatana alone to an NMB member for $300 net to me payable by Paypal ("friends or family"), plus the buyer pays shipping and insurance costs. If interested, let me know fairly quickly. Thanks again for looking. Regards, Bill E. Sheehan (Yoshimichi)

Dear Steven: Thanks for the heads up. Wow. Am I glad I listed them here first before loading them up on Ebay or some other site. I have an iron tanto size tsuba with a somewhat similar style motif that I also thought was a cat motif as well. I better look at that one closer, and with some better glasses. Thanks again for clarifying the motif, Steven. So much for the cat chasing a ball of yarn idea. Regards, Bill E Sheehan (Yoshimichi) .

By the way, the cookies are not for sale. Regards, Bill E. Sheehan (Yoshimichi)

O.K., here's a better photo of the mei (and a tin of Kirkland shortbread cookies).. I put some uchiko on the mei to try to bring out a little better. Regards, Bill E. Sheehan (Yoshimichi)

Dear NMB Members: Yoshimichi Collectors. I am going to be listing a signed Tamba no kami Yoshimichi kogatana with what looks like sudare-ba and kikusui floating on water hamon for sale on Ebay, but I want to give NMB members first shot before doing so. Most Yoshimichi blades we encounter seem to be wakizashis, so if you have one with koshirae and need a Yoshimichi kogatana to round it out, here you go. The mei is very light, but you can make out the kanji in the light. My pictures are pretty poor of the mei, but it is there. The kogatana is in decent polish with a floating kikusui in the hamon. It comes with an iron kozuka with some surface rust wirh a gold metal cat playing with maybe a yarn motif. It looks like part of the metal on the yarn ball is missing. I will throw in the kozuka box with the deal. PRICE: $425.00 net to me, payable by Paypal ("friends"), plus buyer pays shipping and insurance costs. I also have a set of cat menuki with a similar motif with a padded box. These are small and appear to be tanto size. They look like shibuichi and gold.They are in useable condition and would look nice on a tanto. PRICE: $175.00 net to me, payable by Paypal ("friends"), plus buyer pays shipping and insurance costs. If someone wants both items, the package price is $575 net to me, payable by Paypal ("friends"), plus buyer pays shipping and insurance costs. If you have any questions, send me an email at besheehan@aol.com or through NMB. Thanks for looking. Regards, Bill E. Sheehan (Yoshimichi)

Dear Steve and Malcolm: Thanks so much for all of the help trying to translate the message on this fan. My older Japanese friend had a similar sense about the reference being something about foreign barbarians and a patriotic or martial reference of some kind, but he too was unable to nail down much more. You did a great job of providing great leads for further study and appreciation of this piece. I will check out the Sonno Joi movement. Thanks again for everyone's help. Regards, Bill E.Sheehan (Yoshimichi)

Dear Malcolm and Piers: I found this interesting link discussing the Big Dipper worship and Myoken. Very interesting. Thanks for the leads. https://japanesemythology.wordpress.com/2013/01/22/big-dipper-cult-and-myoken-worship-in-Japan/ Regards, Bill E. Sheehan (Yoshimichi)

Dear Malcolm and Piers: Thanks for the information in the constellation on the reverse of the fan. I will look up the information on the groups you sited. Hopefully, if we can figure out the kanji, it will give some context to the constellation. Thanks again for both or your help. Regards, Bill E. Sheehan (Yoshimichi)

Hopefully, the close up photos will make it easier to decipher. Thanks again, Piers. Regards, Bill E. Sheehan (Yoshimichi)

Dear Piers: I have attached more close up photos of the fan kanji, shown reading from left to right, and the opposite side of the fan. I hope someone can decipher the story or message on the fan. Thanks again for any help with this translation. Regards, Bill E. Sheehan (Yoshimichi)

Dear NMB Members: I have an iron fan that has kanji on one side, and a constellation of stars pattern on the other side. I have owed it for quite some time, and I would love to know what the poem or kanji on the one side refers to or says. One of my friends (now deceased) was a pilot on the Japanese side in WWII. He looked at it, and he thought it referred to something about foreigners, but he was not real certain. Can anyone decipher what the kanji might refer to? Any help is sincerely appreciated. Regards, Bill E. Sheehan (Yoshimichi)

Thank you, gentlemen. I really appreciate it. It never ceases to amaze me at the breadth of knowledge of NMB members. Regards, Bill E. Sheehan (Yoshimichi)

Dear Piers and Steve: I received an email from a person I reached out to in Nara, and I think I may be getting somewhat closer to possibly tracking down the family that owned the sword. Below is the email I received. Regards, Bill E. Sheehan (Yoshimichi) Dear Mr.　Sheehan, Having received your inquiry on Mr. Soichiro Tanizoe, I checked the website, and found that Asakura Village is now in Sakurai city, Nara Prefecture. The Internet also gave me his phone number (!) at the same address, but sadly I heard a mechanical voice that the number is now out of service. Anyway, it looks like Tanizoe-san once surely lived there. Isn't it a great news ? Now, could you wait for some time. as coincidentally, I know some people who work for Sakurai City Hall. I will ask them what they can do for you. Best regards, Hisayo OHNISHI Nara SGG Club

Dear NMB Members: Does anyone know the story, fable or motif depicted on this tsuba. I just saw a Naminohira Yasukuni katana with the same horimono motif . The owner wants to know what the motif means. It shows one of the persons pointing at something. any ideas? Any help is appreciated. Regards, Bill E. Sheehan (Yoshimichi)