PNSSHOGUN

Wakase fittings are one of the makers that introduced the solid Tsuba early on, there have been a few Koshirae over the years from Wakase that have two original hangers. Certainly an exception, not a rule.

Is the leather cover cut for the second hanger?

Keep in mind that Kanemichi had many students and it wouldn't be unusual for these to be made in a shop setting with multiple smiths making swords under the Kanemichi name.

The gold trim on the separate Tsuba is an unusual touch, one imagines this may be an example of a 'good' Bone (or ivory) sword.

You don't often see Type 3 with Mon, this was an exception:

Looks like Sunagashi https://markussesko.com/2015/05/29/kantei-3-hamon-boshi-1/

Typical Type 98 with non-traditional Showa-to by one of the well regarded Gendai Tosho of the period, nothing really exciting apart from the condition.

Pure Camelia oil is readily available on ebay. The spray bottle will last for years.

Daimyo owned items would likely exhibit a primary family Mon, along with their specific branch Mon. I would place zero trust in anything AI comes out with regarding such matters.

Hi Steve, nice looking sword with early mounts. The Mon on the Menuki are always a nice touch. Would be happy to own this.

Once again in your debt, Moriyama Sama. It seems Mr Nakanishi was from Okayama and graduated from the Tokyo School of Arts in 1935, and continued as an artist after the war. What role he played during the war remains to be discovered, but the Australian War Memorial has record of this artist painting a number of portraits of Australian soldiers at Makassar. I'm hesitant to post the portrait as it doesn't belong to me, however the son of the subject will be most appreciative. Below is a very similar portrait of another Australian officer. "Among the Japanese prisoners was Tokyo artist J. Nakanishi. He was appointed to the Japanese liaison office that was established as an intermediary between the headquarters of the 2/14th Battalion and the 2nd Japanese Army. Little is known about the artistic career of Nakanishi; however, during his time in captivity he created at least 80 painted portraits of Australian soldiers. The Australian War Memorial holds two in its collection." https://www.awm.gov.au/wartime/83/article-five https://townweb.e-okayamacity.jp/nakai/onko/nakanishi_jirou.html "J. Nakanishi, Major Gerald O'Day"

These Kanji are from a portrait of an Australian officer drawn by a Japanese POW on Makassar. Would some kind soul please help me make sense of it?

One imagines this to be a post war alteration given the existing hole for a retention strap.

Memos from MAKFORCE in November 1945 on allocation and ballot of swords to officers and men, along with numbers of swords in Celebes Island. Note mention of "good swords", and that the Commanding Officers of Infantry battalions receive a sword. 6 November 20 November

Good early Zohei-To, don't often see them with Mon.

Appears to be a Shin Shinto blade, hard to say much more from the photos. Mounts are decent quality, examples without release buttons or openings for a retention strap aren't very common.

Now $100usd

The Mei is rather crude and awkward, and would be suspicious no matter the smith presented.

A minor point, just because a sword has an old blade doesn't necessarily mean it's a "family blade". Otherwise that is a solid example of a Cavalry Kyu Gunto, shame about the scratches towards the Kissaki.

Hi Kevin, can you please show the rest of the blade and mounts? The quality of Emura blades can vary quite a bit.

Hasebe Kunishige, one of the Masamune Juttetsu.

Adding a gold membership to download multiple issues quickly, and support the forum, is a small price to pay.

Hi Steve, was the above information from ChatGPT? It could be applied to about twenty thousand other smiths

The ink stamp can be related to the Tsukamaki (hilt binding), would need closer photos to make out anything.

Nothing wrong with it at all if it's for your own satisfaction, or replacing a missing one confirmed through provenance. It only becomes an issue if you're selling it and claim the tassel is original to the sword.