ROKUJURO

When I was in Japan recently (1977), I got a nice calligraphy from my KYUDO SENSEI as a farewell present. The KANJI MA ( 眞 ) is accompanied by the name (KAWASHIMA KIYOSHI, on the left) and a vertical column which I cannot read. Maybe it is fron the SEI FU KAN DÔJÔ or from HEKI RYU INSAI HA? Could I please ask for translation help for this?

Josh, to help you with the identification of your sword, your photos should be: - well focused, not foggy or blurry - made with a dark, non reflective background for good contrast - made with light from the side (may not apply for HAMON photos) - made from directly above (not at an angle) - made with correct orientation (vertically tip-upwards, especially NAKAGO photos) - without HABAKI but showing the MACHI and NAKAGO JIRI - made in high resolution to see details - showing details of the blade (magnification) like BOSHI, HAMACHI, HAMON, HADA, NAKAGO JIRI etc. - presented as cut-outs so very little background is shown If you cannot supply good photos (..."these photos are all I have from the dealer...."/..."I do not have a good camera but only an old mobile phone...." ), DO NOT POST THEM. They will not be helpful.

No, it's lying on the side, but has to be read vertically.

To add to Markus' text: There is also a very coarse NANAKO type called ARA NANAKO. If it is well made, it looks spectacular.

Gerry, there might be a reason that this blade has no papers.... It is much easier to fake a MEI than a sword! (It is KOTETSU, not "Kotesus"!)

Possibly HIROKAZU.

Genivaldo, to help you with the identification of your sword, your photos should be: - well focused, not foggy or blurry - made with a dark, non reflective background for good contrast - made with light from the side (may not apply for HAMON photos) - made from directly above (not at an angle) - made with correct orientation (verically tip-upwards, especially NAKAGO photos) - without HABAKI but showing the MACHI and NAKAGO JIRI - made in high resolution to see details - showing details of the sword like BOSHI, HAMACHI, HAMON, HADA, NAKAGO JIRI etc. - presented as cut-outs so very little background is shown If you cannot supply good photos (these photos are all I have from the dealer..../ I do not have a good camera but only an old mobile phone.... ), DO NOT POST THEM. They will not be helpful.

Dale, I took Piers' post as word play - in this context, 'funny' was transformed to 'fanny'.

Hi Egon, the blade is signed SADAHIRO. If I understand correctly, you are a swordsmith restorer, or a swordsmith and restorer? I hope you are careful with Japanese blades and don't touch them!

Jacques, correct, but that is not where beginners start!

Jacques, I respect Zenon's opinion, but why did you not follow his advice? You are not really helpful when you put up the yardstick in unreachable height! Of course you are correct that looking at and handling good blades is the real thing, but what novice can start at this level? And to get a bit more personal: You have a very high level of competence, but how was your own start into this field? Maybe you inherited a collection or had a friendly mentor to guide you? Looking at myself, I did not have opportunities to see or learn from good blades when I started almost 50 years ago. There were just a few books in English available, and they were expensive (and not all were good as I know today). Looking at high-end blades was impossible, and still today, many wealthy collectors keep their treasures well protected and away from curious newbies. Today, I could join the local NBTHK assembly or the only sword-club available but I would have to drive quite far for it - once or twice a year! I think it is not so easy for beginners, and we should encourage them, hoping they will be patient enough for a long learning journey.

KYO SHOAMI TSUBA with bamboo and sparrow:

Looks like a serious museum piece, of no interest to us "normal" collectors.

Jay, the earliest KO-TOSHO TSUBA were produced from as early as KAMAKURA period or even at the end of HEIAN period. Early enough? Ornate soft metal TACHI TSUBA from that era might be quite rare.

AKAO TSUBA with TSURU (cranes)

Well, there are pre-EDO TSUBA like KO-TOSHO or KO-KACHUSHI on the market if they were acceptable.

Wild geese (or are they swans?) are well known motifs on TSUBA:

Ford does not have a WIKIPEDIA page, but in my opinion he should now get one. Is there perhaps someone closer to him who could contact Isabella and/or gather some biographical and other data?

Ed, good photos are necessary for a helpful response. Ideally, they should be - well focused, not blurry or foggy - made with a dark, non-reflective background for good contrast - made with light from the side (may not apply for HAMON photos) - made from directly above (not at an angle) - made with correct orientation (tip-upwards; this is most important when reading of a MEI is requested) - without HABAKI but showing the MACHI and NAKAGO JIRI - made with high resolution to see details - showing details of the sword like BOSHI, HAMACHI, HAMON, HADA, NAKAGO JIRI etc. - presented as cut-outs so very little background is seen

Matt, if you look at the tails of the depicted rodents, it is clear that these are rats.

So it is just a stout TANTO blade, but an interesting one.

Jeff, in case the KASANE (thickness) near the MUNE MACHI was more than 9 mm, I think this might indeed be a YOROI-DOSHI. What is the NAGASA (length from tip to MUNE MACHI)?

William, for the next presentation of sword photos, here are some recommendations: To be helpful for a comment, photos of swords and especially NAKAGO should be - well focused, not blurry or foggy - made with a dark, non reflective background for good contrast - made with light from the side (may not apply for HAMON photos) - made from directly above (not at an angle) - made with correct orientation (tip-upwards) - without HABAKI but showing the MACHI and NAKAGO JIRI - made with high resolution to see details - showing details of the sword like BOSHI, HAMACHI, HAMON, HADA, NAKAGO JIRI etc. - presented as cut-outs so very little background is seen. We do not need to see your bed.

To me it looks like quadruple MATSUKAWA BISHI with 2 KARIGANE. Not unusual.

Jack, please post photos here on the forum. To be usable, they should be: - well focused and not blurry - made with a dark, non reflective background for good contrast - made with light from the side (may not apply for HAMON photos) - made from directly above (not at an angle) - made with correct orientation (tip-upwards, especially NAKAGO photos) - without HABAKI but showing the MACHI and NAKAGO JIRI - made in high resolution to see details - showing details of the sword like BOSHI, HAMACHI, HAMON, HADA, NAKAGO JIRI etc. - presented as cut-outs so very little background is shown