Nobody

Hi, The red lacquer mei seem to read as follows; 一五四 (ichi go shi = 1 5 4) I do not understand the meaning of these numbers. 談山神社 x x (Tanzan Jinja x x = Tanzan shrine +something) The first kanji looks a little strange, but it seems to be a variation of 談. FYI: http://www.tanzan.or.jp/ENG.htm IMHO, the red lacquer mei was added later as a notation, when an owner had the sword purified at the shrine.

additional info. http://www.h4.dion.ne.jp/~t-ohmura/gunto_022.htm

Hi, IMHO, the space for the nakago seems to have become narrower because of the tension of ito which are newly wrapped. I heard that the space in a tsuka is made rather loose to take the tension of ito into account.

Yes, that may be something about H2O. I think I idenfity at least 水 (water), 川 (river), and 船 (ship or boat).

Eekanji (英漢字) by Kunishige Tomomi (國重友美) http://mainichi-podcasting.cocolog-nift ... _2d12.html some works: http://www.horipro.co.jp/talent/SC080/works/

Hi, The calligraphy is far beyond me.

Hi ナイジェル, It may be only a typo, but 於 (oite) means "at". BTW, the written kanji for Naoshige are 直茂.

I identify the kanji as follows; 豊佐 作 However, I have no information of the smith and I do not know its correct reading. The kanji can reads in too many ways (maybe more than 50 ways) as one's name.

Yes. One of old versions of 斉 is 齊.

There are some explanations about Seiryuken Eiju on the following web pages. They are written in Japanese, but I think that you have a personal translater. http://nihontou.jp/choice03/tousougu/tu ... 72/172.htm http://auction.jp.msn.com/item/78020096

lower photo: 常陸國住 - Hitachi (no) kuni ju (儒格金安乃図 :?: : totally unsure and might be wrong) 美濃守壽命之作 - Mino (no) kami Jumyo no saku 寛文年間二百八十余年前 - Kanbun nenkan ni-hyaku hachi-ju yo nen mae = Kanbu era, more than 280 years before

upper photo: 東京都渋谷区幡ヶ谷本町一丁目十番地 - Tokyo-to, Shibuya-ku, Hatagaya, Honcho 1-10 加藤誠平 方 - Kato Masahira kata - c/o Kato Masahira 兏井 久 (unsure about the 1st kanji ) - Nagai Hisashi 所有 - shoyu - possession

The mei looks "Horai (豊来)" to me, though I am unsure.

I think that it is Daki-myoga and Karigane. From a collection of Rich T. http://www.nihontokanjipages.com/person ... asaka.html

Hi sencho san, distribution of each power http://www2.harimaya.com/sengoku/bk_map ... ap_nn.html http://www2.harimaya.com/sengoku/bk_map ... ap_nm.html http://www2.harimaya.com/sengoku/bk_map ... ap_ns.html

Hi Mark, I think that the motif is Susuki (薄: Japanese pampas grass) and Hotal (蛍: firefly).

Hi, I do not agree with "sada". As you can see, the nakago was reshaped and mune side was slightely lost with some parts of the kanji.

and put the stress on the second syllable "sa".

I am unsure about the date. But I still think that it is Enbun (延文) at present. Maybe Enbun go nen ni gatsu hi (延文五年二月日 = the 2nd month in 1360). Attached image shows how I see En (延) on the nakago. BTW, Enbun belonged to Hokucho (北朝).

The characters are easily identified, because the mei on the tsuba is exactly written on the paper on the right. However, the mei is rather strange to me and I know little about tsuba. So, I am unsure if it is a reasonable mei or not. And I might be totally wrong about the translation of the mei. motif: 幔幕松図 = picture of curtain and pine tree 鉄地金赤銅象嵌 = iron ground, inlay with gold and shakudo mei: 日本第一家正阿弥元祖 = originator of Shoami which is the No. 1 family in Japan 宗圓的傳孫三和軒我独 = Sanwaken Gadoku (三和軒我独) who is thought to be a descendant of Soen (宗圓) period: 江戸後期 = late Edo

My oshigata cannot be searched by nengo. So, it is hard to find Genkyu even if there is the data. And moreover, Genkyu era started in 1204 and ended at the 4th month in its 3rd year. If you read "the 5th year" on the nakago, Genkyu cannot be the answer.

With only a wild guess. So, please do not ask me the grounds for that. :? 延文 (Enbun: 1356-1361) Attached examples are Yoshimitsu and Kanemitsu in Enbun era.

Hi Ronin 47, Are you sure that the inscription is a date? It is on the omote side of the katana. BTW, what is the mei on the other side of the nakago?

I also cannot see characters. We need more sharp photos with better contrast.

I sent a pm.