k morita

Hi all. Isobe Masahiro (1st gen.)----"Isobe" is family name, "Masahiro" is a smith-name. His real 1st name is "Shozaburo",he was born in 1898. Attached photo is a tang Oshigata of exhibited sword to the new sword exhibition in around 1938. This mei is "Hitachi Shishido ju Isobe Shozaburo Minamoto (no) Masahiro". Thanks

Hi John, Yes, GyoRui(é­šé¡ž) means fish family or fishes. So, the meaning of this paper is: "Asai Ryoun is an expert who carves fishes. (He was )a pupil of Ryokan, lived in Yotsuya, Edo. (He worked)Kyowa period in Edo era." Hi, PR4964 Thank you for your Great close up photos!!!

Nice star stamped tang. The Mei is "Hitachi Shishido ju Isobe Masahiro saku" .

Hi, Oh no!!! The Kanji is NOT "sakana-bori" (魚彫). Correct reading is "GyoRui" (魚類).

Hi, nickn, I belive ,Your the sword is Shinshinto. Date is Manen(man-e-n) kanoto-saru year (1860). Sworsmith is Moritsugu in Edo.

Hi, The inlay looks MasaIe, to me.

Moriyama san :D 正真 長貳尺å‚寸分åŠæœ‰ä¹‹ç„¡éŠ˜ä¹Ÿ ( Shoshin, Nagasa: 2-shaku 3-zun bu han(0.5 bu) kore ari , mumei nari )

Hi For the reference, i'm owning an original Oshigata of his another sword . This sword was made in 1870(Meiji 3rd year), file work is Kiri as well. Koyama Munetsugu was 68 years old at that year(1870).

Hi, I saw this Mei for the first time. Meybe this Mei is "Tani (family name) SeiShin"谷　正心 . But i do not know the relation between Tani Isshin(谷　一心) and this smith Tani Seishin(谷　正心).

Hi, Maybe "Takeda OtoTsugu"武田　音次, around WWII era smith.

Hi Peter, The mei is not "TsuguYuki". Right reading is "MuneYuki"　統行,in Bungo Takada.

Hi micko, I agree with Mr. Ford. I'm owning original Oshigata of Koyama Munetsugu sword. Please see file work of the tang and Nakago-jiri.

Bugyotsuji san, The 1st kanji is kane-hen no Yari 　鎗　. The 2nd kanji is kura/zo 蔵 . Maybe 1st name Yarizo (?).

Hi John, Sorry, i was on a biz trip, reply was delayed. I changed the interpretation and the translation of the poem a little, so please use this translation of a poem on this posting and a upprer attached photo. Meaning is: "Flying Mr.Sparrow(bird),I don't know where your home(nest), chiyo chiyo, come here as a drinking partner". (雀ã¨ã®ãŠå®¿ã¯ã¨ã“ã‹ã—らã­ã¨ã‚‚ã¡ã‚ˆã¡ã‚ˆã“ã•ã‚Œ(御座れ)ã•ã•ã®ç›¸æ‰‹ã«). Nampo implies 3 meanings to "chiyo". 1. Calling. 2. Sound of sparrow twitters. People in Edo era pronounced the twitter of sparrows as "chiyo" (chirp chirp in English). Modern Japanese people pronounce not chiyo-chiyo but chun-chun. 3. Another meaning in "chiyo"(åƒä»£) means 1000 years or eternal peace. The same pronunciation "chiyo" is also used in the national anthem of modern Japan. Best kiyoshi Morita

Hi Johon,

Hi John This is very nice Kozuka and Kyoka-poem. Meaning is "Flying Mr.Sparrow(bird),I don't know where your home(nest),Come here and let's drink Sake together." (雀ã©ã®(殿)ãŠå®¿ã¯ã©ã“ã‹çŸ¥ã‚‰ã­ã©ã‚‚ãƒãƒ¨ãƒ„ãƒãƒ¨ã¨ã“ã•ã‚Œ(御座れ)ã•ã‚ã®ç›¸æ‰‹ã«). Morita

Hi, When I translate sword Mei, should I write "genuine" or "not"　about Mei? But i'm not a pro. Should I add below "proviso" one by one? I belive-----, ----to me, It looks---, If----, May be----,. :D

Hi, The Mei is "Awataguchi Ohmi (no) kami TADATSUNA ".

I E-mailed to Mr.Mike Yamasaki and the Tang photo was sent from him. Thank you very much Mike. This blade is really nice koa Isshin Tach blade made by S.M.R. And rare Tachi-mei. The Mei(signature) of the Tang is: Haki omote: " Koa Isshin Mantetsu kore o tsukuru". Haki ura: "Showa Kanoe-Tatsu Aki" that means made in Autumn, 1940.

Hi :D The mei is MasaToshi (正利作之)

Mukade-Giri-Maru

I believe that this sword looks like Murata-to that copies a famous old sword"Mukade-giri-maru". But "Hi" oh this sword is Koshi-hi. "Hi" of Mukade-giri-maru is Naginata-hi. See below link " Mukade-giri-maru" http://www.h4.dion.ne.jp/~t-ohmura/gunto_112.htm Thanks

Hi :D According to [Nihon-to-Meikan] and [Toko-Taikan], Echizen Shimosaka Sadashige lives Ohmi and Aizu late in his life. So , Echizen Shimosaka Sadashige is same smith Shinosaka Sadasshige in Ohmi. It is necessary to polish the spear partially. sorry poor my English

Nice Yari!! Shimosaka Sadashige. (下å‚　貞é‡) Ohmi(近江), Kanbun era.

Hi Carlo PM sent . And What is "Tsubame Project" ?