SteveM

There are some details about care/maintenance at the link below https://www.nihontomessageboard.com/faq.html Generally, you don't want to use any solvents or cleansers. I'd avoid steam, just because I'm not sure if it will have some kind of discoloration effect on the sword. I think most people would suggest just using alcohol to wipe it down and remove any cosmoline or other junk that might be on it. Then give it a super light coating of oil (lightweight machine oil - sewing machine, electric shaver, that kind of thing). This is to protect it from oxidization/rust. The collecting community isn't as twitchy about WW2 blades as they would be for an 800-year old samurai sword, but the underlying principle is the same - preservation above all. No abrasives, no solvents or cleansers*. *I think there are one or two specialty cleansers that people have mentioned as being OK to use on these kinds of swords, and you can probably find their names if you search this site enough. Maybe a member who knows will chime in. But really, just use alcohol for now, and see if you can't get any of the garbage-juice off.

関福田兼丈作　Seki Fukuda Kanetake-saku (Made by Fukuda Kanetake, of Seki city) Kanetake is the name of the smith. Fukuda is the family name.

Just a quick update; there will be no meeting for the Southern California Sword Club this month. Stay tuned for news regarding the December meeting.

Mei is 包矩 (Kanenori). Presumably Shōami Kanenori. Other examples https://www.touken-world.jp/search-sword-guard/art0002612/ https://www.yamasiroya.com/tsuba/post_21.html　　(same tsuba as above, I think) https://www.aoijapan.jp/鍔正阿弥　包矩/

Here's a snip from that site (Robert Benson's site, by the way). If I'm not mistaken, this information is a few years old, and this page was made when Woody was still working under Bob Benson's guidance. Woody since branched out on his own and was working in the Las Vegas area, but he's now back in Hawaii. I don't know the exact details, but I believe he is helping Bob out (now as a peer, instead of an apprentice, but "peer" may be a word that Woody might not agree with). Anyway, I do not know either men personally, so my info comes 2nd and 3rd hand. Woody is well-known in the States, so I'm slightly surprised Axel has never heard of him, but no doubt he will be seeing Woody's name pop up more often now.

Also see "Woodrow Hall". https://togishi.com/about-us.html

Gotō Kanehira 後藤包平

江戸神田住 伊藤甚右衛門政方 Edo Kanda-jū Itō Jin'emon Masakata edit: misspelled the given name.

辛業　→　卒業

I was thinking it was some kind of tool/device used in dyeing kimono fabrics. They used to wash kimono fabric in cold river waters to "set" the dye. But, it doesn't look like a drying table or dyeing table (like the one below), which is kind of close, but somehow not right. The one on the tsuba looks like some implement used to roll up fabric. Anyway, my guess is some device used in silk weaving or dyeing/washing. https://icac.or.jp/public/culture/tool/

Yes, I agree. Definitely getting better by the day. There are a few errors in the character recognition, but its surprisingly good, given the handwritten and slightly faded nature of the source. @Deez77 I wouldn't call that 草書体. Just typical handwriting. Translation at the link below. https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/53956-help-please-with-inscription-on-tsuba-box/?do=findComment&comment=565372

尚古堂花親 　　　→　　光親 Mitsuchika (art name of Shōkodō, other pronunciations possible, but I think that's the one) 内田家水図 →　　田家山水図　Rural/Pastoral mountain scene 金地錦紋色絵 　　→　　鍔　据紋色絵　　　suemon-iroe describes the metalworking technique of applying a decorative element made from an alloy or other precious metal into a space carved out for it into the base metal. I think the other line (Tatemaru-gata) was already given in the other thread. Edit: I'll put it here for completeness, and because there is an error in the other thread 竪丸型　赤銅地　鍔　Tsuba, oval-shaped, base-metal of shakudō (no kinzōgan).

大日本京都住 一光堂 宮部篤良 Dai Nippon Kyoto-jū Ikkōdō Miyabe Atsuyoshi

嘱託＝contract employee

Got it! I'll keep you posted. Steve

I think he's talking about this bit here, but I'm not sure if it is actually a "P Y", or if it is part of the design of the bamboo leaves on snow.

My guess: very late Edo. It's just hard to preserve lacquer for 100+ years unless its stored in pristine conditions, or if you can afford staff who can look after lacquered goods. The metal bits can survive for centuries, even without them being kept in a nice, stable environment, but lacquer is more difficult. I'm slightly suspicious of the blank tsuba. It has no signs of being modified to fit the sword tang, and and it strikes me as being a later addition.

Hello Chansen, It is difficult to draw conclusions about the owner of a sword by looking at the koshirae. The crest is used by many families (the site below lists no less than 10 families associated with crest, and it isn't an exhaustive list). The site also says the crest is known in several prefectures, but none of them are in Kyushu, where Bungo was located. https://irohakamon.com/kamon/kashiwa/marunichuukashiwa.html Another reason it is difficult to draw conclusions is because the parts on a koshirae are meant to be replaced as they are worn out, so its possible that some of the fittings on your koshirae have been replaced in the last 150 years or so by its various owners. Shopkeepers are also known to switch out the components, as some items are easier to sell individually. So a shop owner may break up the components of the koshirae and swap them out for other components. Sad, but true. Anyway, the family crest is nice to have on a saya. The habaki also looks like it was something of a "special order" habaki due to the patterning on it.

Other side says 安来鋼 Yasuki steel. See this one as well

Hi John, No dates yet. Typically we meet on the 2nd Friday of the month, but November and December are unusual since many people are away in Japan at the Dai Tōken Ichi, and because of the holidays. We were talking about meeting up for an end-of-year Christmas dinner sort of thing, but nothing concrete yet. Will drop you a line if we decide on anything. Steve

If we can get a photo of the other side of that registration certificate, it will show you what the authorities thought the signature is.

Nanka Tōken Kai meeting tomorrow (Friday) October 10th at the Japanese Cultural Institute in Gardena, from 7:00pm to 9:00pm. Club Sensei Mike Yamasaki will not be attending, so there will be no specific topics. Bring your swords by if you would like to share with the group. If you have any swords or related items with Japanese inscriptions that you would like read/deciphered, bring them by and I will be happy to take a look. Gardena Valley JCI, 1964 W. 162nd Street, Gardena, CA 90247 Steve

Looks right to me.

✕弥生　→　初夏

Aritsune 有恒 Another example below https://www.tsuruginoya.com/mn1_3/b00085.html