Fat Crip

Clive Sinclaire reports the following which he claims to have got direct from Amada Akitsugu: "Akitsugu's father, Amada Sadayoshi, also made two blades for Japan's most respected admiral, Yamamoto Isoroku (1884-1943), the brilliant strategist and architect of the Pearl Harbour raid. The two swords were a Kaga-uichi and one with a Suguha Hamon. The Kaga-uichi's whereabouts is known but the whereabouts of the Suguha blade, which was made at exactly the same time and has the same inscription as that on the other one ECHIGO (NO) KUNI AMADA SADAYOSHI and dated SHOWA JUNEN SAN GATSU - March 1935) is unknown. This Chu-suguha sword was eventually returned to the Yamamoto family after the Admiral's death in 1943, when he was ambushed and his plane shot down over the Solomon Islands by American P-38 Lightning fighter planes. It is reported that when his body was recovered, the Admiral had died with this sword in his hands. The family reports that there were two bullet marks in the Saya and one in the Tsuka. During the occupation of Japan, the authorities confiscated the sword and we believe that later it was taken to the US, where it remains to this day. The present generation, Amada Akitsugu, together with a museum in his own prefecture, would dearly like to bring these two swords made by his father, together, if only on a temporary basis. They also plan a special exhibition, a kind of "welcome home" party if this can possibly be accomplished. I would emphasise that these swords do not necessarily need to be returned to Japan on any kind of permanent basis, but it is very important to know that they are being well cared for and appreciated, wherever they may be. However, as they are of historic importance and by a talented local smith, such an exhibition would be a great event." Article: Gifts, Presentations and special swords http://www.to-ken.com). As regards age, I was trying to point out than when the original sword or swords was/were presented to Yamamoto (around 1935) Agitugu was still a young boy. This may explain the discrepancy and purported mystery surrounding the shadow sword, which Clive reports as still missing above. As regards reliability of reports surrounding the shooting down of an admiral at the hight of a war, I would believe nothing but the first hand account of a trusted source. I say this because one of the most critical weapons in war is propaganda. To lose a top admiral hurts in the propaganda war, but to know that he was holding his sword and that three of the enemy's bullets bounced of it's edge is as good as to say he went down fighting off the enemy's planes like a samurai with his sword. What better spin could you put on such a loss? We do know that the sword wasn't permanently returned to his family, nor was it on his coffin. Whether it was destroyed or sent to the US we may never know, but I would treat any story that came from the military of either side with much skepticism. As an aside, but to illustrate my point, I researched my other grandfather's death on the night of 16th December 1943 in a downed Lancaster bomber. It is well documented in several books, most of which follow a similar, though flawed, tale. However my grandmother's version varies in some key details, and the documentary evidence (medical report, a letter from a survivor of the crash, the telegram etc.) tells another story. Each telling tries to fit a different narrative. One shows he died quickly and painlessly, without regaining consciousness, another that he was thinking of his crew to the last. One tells of the horror of having to tell his new bride, just recently married, who was waiting in a local inn - ignoring that she actually received the news by telegram, was 200 miles away, married for well over a year and they had a son. etc., etc. Any story, particularly of high profile warriors will always be embellished, and short of seeing both swords, we'll probably never know the truth. Even how I came by my Sadayoshi is, I'm told by Greg Irvine "very unlikely", though I have checked with the original source and he is adamant he got it how I describe it and in the condition it now sits (i.e. in a shirasaya, but with a tsuba fitted). His memoirs recount some descriptions of the Japanese occupation of Singapore which are at variance to the mainstream too. Was Ford right when he said "All history in bunk"? (mind you that's not what he actually said either ... but that's another story)

I dont think there's much, if any confusion here, certainly regarding the suguha blade. Every account has Yamamoto holding it when he was shot down. There does however seem to be no certainty about where it ended up. It may have been destroyed, or it may have gone to the US. However, had it gone to the US, you might have thought that it'd have turned up at some point. So, sadly, destruction seems the most likely. The midare blade, on the other had has two stories. Clive's redition has it going to Yamamoto and then disapearing. Watanabe's story, says that he retained it, and still had it in '85. Watanabe was a high profile chap, so, for anyone fluent in Japanese checking out his story should be very straightforward. Though he is, quite likely, no longer with us, he must have family or should be traceable through his newspaper. Though, unless he was a wild fantacist, his story seems broadly plausible. The sad part of Watanabe's story is that it suggests that the early part of his career was spent making gimei, which I'd prefer to hope was exagerated at least. Finaly, Akitsugu was, according to Leon & Hiroko Kapp and Yoshindo Yoshindo's Modern Japanese Swords and Swordsmiths, born in 1927, making him, at most 10, when his father died and 8 or 9 when the Yamamoto sword was presented. It is this date that I was refering to above, as this is where the controversy, if there is any lies. Any story, related by any party at the time of Yamamoto's death would have to be treated with suspicion as, where it not to have been enhanced by a bit of propoganda, would be beyond belief.

Hi folks, My name is Eric and I live near Edinburgh in Scotland. I have a small collection of swords of various types from 19th century British Naval and military to a modern, hand forged blade made in Skye, to my commission, in 2005. However my most prized blade is a gendaito by Amada Sadayoshi, forged in November 1936, just months before his very early death at the age of just 36. I first held the sword in 1976, when I was just 9 years old, in my Grandfather's loft. I was able to examin it for just a few moments, but it made a lasting impression on me, such that when, 33 years later, I was having a conversation with my Grandfather (he's still going strong) I was able to recal it in great detail. So much so, that, on my next visit, he gave it to me. So, for a third time it has become a family treasure.

Yes, I think you're right! Odd, because, with the limited samples I have to go on, I was certain ... just goes to show! Like I say, I'm here to learn. Mind you, I had started with the premiss that the second picture was the omote, and, therefore a date. It only dawned on me a few minutes ago that, if that were the case, then the script was in the wrong place! I'll have to say, in my defence that it is quarter to four in the morning!

OK, I could be wrong, but, firstly the over all shape, particularly the nakago is more Sadayoshi, than Sadaroku. Secondly, the carving of kuni is different between the two, and this is more Sadayoshi. The filing is more typical of Sadayoshi. And, finally the position of the mei, below the 'point' of the diagonal filing, is more Sadayoshi. Oh, and I forgot the date, if I have it right (and it's really not clear), is early for Sadaroku. Of course, if we could see the whole of the mei, I could be talking rot. As I'm pretty new to this game, I may be talking rot anyway, however, I will not be offended if either of you want to put me right, after all I'm here to learn. Eric Holford

The only bit that's clear to me is Echigo kuni ju. The next character looks like the first part of Amada, but isn't clear, and then it's cut off. However, the style of the carving is absolutely Sadayoshi. See the examples below. The second is mine.

Thanks for showing that Peter. Yes that's clearly Sadayoshi's mei. As for the date, that's more difficult, but comparing it with the pictures of two others, then my guess would be January '35. You have to assume that it starts with the two caricatures of Showa, as it can really be nothing else, then the first character visible is juu then presumably ni, then definitely ichi and presumably it ends gatsu hi. So Showa 10, 1st month, a day (in). If someone has better eye-sight, or if you have any clearer pics, then I may be wrong, but I've based that by looking at the spacing as much as the carving. It's certainly the poorest preserved Sadayoshi nakago I've seen yet! It's very similar to mine, except mine has a midare hamon. It's also the first time I've ever seen one mounted, which is nice too. So now we need a real expert ... i it a ¥50 or ¥100 blade? In some ways it matters not as the Prime Minister's prize was won with a ¥50 blade! Eric Holford

Oh, something else. Of course Agitsugu was only a small boy when his father died, and he can't have been more than 6 or 7 when the Yamamoto thing happened, so whatever story he has was most likely given to him rather than first hand. Both stories say that Yamamoto was holding the sword when shot down. Eric Holford

A news paper man called Watanabe effectively claims to have made Sadayoshi's name and in 1985 claimed to still have the midare (sp?) sword. To cut a long story short, through Watanabe, Yamamoto's elder brother ordered a sword for his wee bro. Sadayoshi made two for him to chose from, a midare and a suguha. Big bro chose the suguha hamon as he thought the 'gentle wave' was more appropriate for a sailor. Watanabe claimed still to have the rejected sword at the time of writing in Showa 60. The full article is here: http://www.nihontocraft.com/Yamamoto_NBTHK.html It tells us that before March 33 Sadayoshi was engaged in making gimei for a few unscrupulous sword dealers, though he does suggest that he was being exploited at a time when swordsmiths were finding it hard to get work. Watanabe and a few other local Niigata dignitaries set about promoting Sadayoshi, even entering a sword for him in the first Tokyo sword exhibition in 34. When he won the Prime Minister's award, his career took off, possibly peaking with the Yamamoto Isoroku commission in March 35. The only swords I've seen by him were a suguha hamon with full bo-hi on both sides dated February 36, my midare (without a bo-hi) from Nov '36 and one other I saw on rice cracker.com a ear or so ago. he died in April 37, so his career was really only a little over two and a half years. I'm always interested to see examples of his work. Mine could do with a good polish, but it's still a very splendid thing! I'm sure Watanabe, or his decedents anyway, would be easy enough to trace for a Japanese surfer, unfortunately my Japanese is somewhere between rubbish and non-existent! If anyone takes it on I'd love to know the outcome. I'd also like to know how Sadayoshi died and how many swords he made. It can't have been many. If current rules applied, it would probably be less than 60, and I suspect from everything I've read, that it may be even less than that. Eric Holford

Sorry, my name is Eric too. Eric Holford. I'll post a few pics. Eric

I realise I'm a Jonny come lately here, but I only saw this site and thread yesterday. I have a particular interest in amada sadayoshi as I have a beautiful example of his work made just a few months before his death in april 1937 aged only 36. My grandfather AVM Ted Hawkins was c/o of a Short Sterling sea plane squadron at Seletar in August 1945. He had in his charge a number of Japanese POWs under the command of a rear admiral who spoke good English. This was very early after the end of hostilities and before most of Japan's atrocities against British POWs had come to light and the surrender of swords of late August early September had begun. Grandpa asked the Admiral for a couple of swords and a day or two later he turned up with two; a tanto which Grandpa described as 'a hari-khari knife that had obviously seen some use as it was caked in blood', and a Katana, very much in '34 pattern, but with a lot of tori-sori. It came in a fine shirasaya with ivory mounts around the mekugi ana, but, and I've never seen this elsewhere, with a Tsuba in the shape of a gibbon with a single seppa on the habbaki side. The blade is, as I say, elegant, with a lovely taper to the kissaki. Unusualy for Sadayoshi it has a midare hammon (rather like the famous 'missing' Yammamoto blade). It bares Sadayoshi's mei on the omote and is dated November '36 on the ura. Interestingly it came with a tablet attached. This gave the name of the original owner, that he lived in Moat Street in Niigata and that the sword had seen service in China, possibly Nangking, in 1937, before being returned to Japan as 'a familly treasure', before heading back off to War in Malaya, finally ending up in Singapore. It seems that my grandfather 'tested' the blade with a little hedge trimming, but then coated it in grease, put it back in it's shirasaya and stored it in his loft. I found it there when I was 9 years old in July 1976 and had a few moments to examine it before it was put back by my grandmother! I asked grandpa about it and he confidently told me it was just a 'munitions quality blade', but even as a nine year old I knew better and always hoped that I would see it again one day. Two years ago, as he was about to go in to a home (he's 92) he gave it to me along with two British infantry swords that I'd also seen in 76. I cleaned off the grease and had the tablet translated by Dr Rosina Buckland at The National Museum of Scotland in Edingurgh. She refered me on to Greg Irvine at the V&A and I started to find out about Sadayoshi. I emailed Clive Sinclaire at the Token Society who had met Amada Agitsugu (Sadayoshi's son and National Living Treasure). The story of the missing sword kept coming up, and for a while I held out the hope that mine might just be it, but, as the tsuka was siezed I couldn't check the date. I eventualy managed to remove the tsuka at the expense of a very bruised wrist. Then I discovered that mine was later. I read Watanabe's story and it answers a lot about Sadayoshi. For example, why there are no swords before 1933 bearing his mei and what happened to the 'missing' sword. Incidentaly, Sinclaire believes that Yamamoto's sword ended up in the hands of an American collector. If anyone is still awake after reading the above, I'd be happy to post a few pics if anyone's interested.