Ray Singer

Hi everyone, I now have a full release of the mobile app version of my kanji flashcards. As mentioned in my previous post, I have started with a version for Android and will be moving forward with an iOS version for iPhones and other Apple devices next. This app includes the original three sets of flashcards for mei, nengo (time periods) and kuni (provinces) and includes quite a bit more content as well. Please see below for a link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.swordsofjapan.flashcards Best regards, Ray

This is a swordsmith who worked around Kanbun period (1661). He claimed to be a 5th generation descendant in the lineage of Mino Kanemoto. 兼元五代目兼直作 - Kanemoto godai-me Kanenao saku

In the same way that you would not give someone a paragraph to read by providing separate images showing one letter at a time, it is much better for individuals trying to provide you with a translation to see the entire and full inscription clearly. From what I can see this may be: - Kanemoto godai (fifth generation Kanemoto) - Kanenao saku However I would much prefer to see the entire inscription of these two swords, with clear vertical images of the entire mei for each.

Here are other references for Myochin Munekatsu. https://www.nihontocraft.com/Myochin_Munekatsu_Tsuba.htm

That is my impression, yes (gimei).

Kanenori November, 1943.

The mei is Bizen (no) kuni Kiyonori. This mei indicates a smith of the Bizen Yoshii school, however the mei unfortunately does not have an authentic appearance. Regardless, the sword itself is an authentic, antique Japanese katana in shingunto army koshirae mounting for WWII.

Please see below for Sako Nobumitsu. https://www.google.com/search?q="sako+nobumitsu"+site%3Awww.militaria.co.za%2Fnmb&sca_esv=1e191da9c85b6632&rlz=1C1ONGR_enUS1136US1136&biw=1536&bih=791&sxsrf=ANbL-n48yk3ZyVgr6TN-KJ4PTXgjzmm0Eg%3A1780519250520&ei=UpEgaqO5H-zUp84PxpPUuQ4&ved=0ahUKEwijqsWL9-uUAxVs6skDHcYJNecQ4dUDCBA&uact=5&oq="sako+nobumitsu"+site%3Awww.militaria.co.za%2Fnmb&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiLSJzYWtvIG5vYnVtaXRzdSIgc2l0ZTp3d3cubWlsaXRhcmlhLmNvLnphL25tYkj3XlAAWIRdcAB4AJABAJgBmAGgAewOqgEEMy4xM7gBA8gBAPgBAfgBApgCDKACiAzCAgYQABgHGB7CAggQABgHGB4YCsICBRAAGIAEwgIHEAAYgAQYDcICBxAuGIAEGA3CAggQABgIGAcYHsICBhAAGB4YDcICBRAAGO8FwgIIEAAYgAQYogTCAgUQIRigAcICBRAhGKsCmAMAkgcEMS4xMaAHjC6yBwQxLjExuAeIDMIHBTAuNi42yAcmgAgB&sclient=gws-wiz-serp

Hi everyone, I am in the process of launching a mobile app version of my kanji flashcards. The digital app includes expanded content. In additional to being digital versions of my existing flashcards with names, places and time periods, the mobile app also includes flashcard sets for terminology, schools and examples of famous swordsmith mei. Please see below for a link to the Android version of the app. For those who are on iPhones and need an iOS version, that is still in development and a link will be shared here in the future. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.swordsofjapan.flashcards If anyone needs assistance with access to the Android link, please let me know. As I am in the process of transitioning from the test to production release, it may be necessary to add your Gmail address to my access list. Please email me at raymondsinger@gmail.com with any questions. Best regards, Ray

The mei is not in good enough condition here that I can give you a specific generation, however it is likely a legitimate example from one of the generations of Yoshimichi from the Mishina school. In spite of the nakago being in somewhat rough condition , with less definition than we would like to see in the mei, please be sure not to do anything at all to remove rust or clean the nakago (tang). Leave the condition of that part of your sword as it is. Best regards, Ray

Still Seki stamp, no change to earlier feedback.

Seki stamp (sideways). This indicates it is a WWII showato arsenal blade (not fully traditionally made).

Please show the entire nakago including the presence of any small arsenal stamps above the mei (inscription).

This is the Showa era smith Kunihiro. Please see below.

The inscription is kikumon Tanba (no) kami Yoshimichi. There were several generations in this lineage, it may help if you could provide a clear vertical image of the inscription to evaluate further. Best regards, Ray

Unfortunately Bruce this appears to be a fake. Not Japanese.

I am sorry for the bad news, but this is not authentic nor Japanese. https://www.jssus.org/nkp/fake_japanese_swords.html

Inoue Shinkai. Dated Enpo roku nen ni hatsu hi. (井上真改 / 延宝六年二月日 - A day in the second month of the 6th year of Enpō, 1678) Echigo no kami Kanesada, made with nanbantetsu. Sagami no kuni Tsunahiro, dated Bunka go nen hachi gatsu hi (相模国綱廣 / 文化五年八月日 - a day in the eighth month of the 5th year of the Bunka era, 1808)

By Yokoyama Fujiwara Sukenaga, 59th generation descendant of Tomonari, living in Osafune Village, Bizen province (Biyo Osafune)

I think Masatsune is a possibility for your sword.

Your sword is a suriage (shortened) Edo period katana. It is signed 美濃守藤原___ (Mino no kami Fujiwara ___). The swordsmith name was cut off when the sword was shortened. Here are some possibilities.

Mark, the sword has a mei of Kenryushi Sadaharu. You can see the entry below from Markus Sesko: SADAHARU (貞晴), Keiō (慶応, 1865-1868), Settsu – “Naniwa-jū Mizuguchi Kenryūshi Sadaharu saku” (浪華住 水口剣龍子貞晴作), “Settsu Ikutama ni oite Kenryūshi Sadaharu kore o tsukuru” (於摂津生玉剣龍子 貞晴造之), “Naniwa-jū Kenryūshi Sadaharu saku” (浪花住剣龍子貞晴作), student of Gassan Sadayoshi (月山貞吉), his gō were Kenryūshi (剣龍子) and Kensaishi (剣斎子), we know blades from the Keiō to the Meiji era (明治, 1868-1912), mostly a magnificent sugata with a wide mihaba and an ō-kissaki, dense ko-itame or masame which tends to muji, suguha-hotsure, notare, gunome, he works in the style of his master Sadayoshi, he also added a koku´in seal in the form of the character “chū” (忠・忠) , chū-saku

長曽祢興里入道乕徹 - Nagasone Okisato Nyudō Kotetsu

Kojima Katsumasa. https://www.google.com/search?q="kojima+Katsumasa"+site%3Amilitaria.co.za%2Fnmb&sca_esv=591b4a927a35bf88&rlz=1C1ONGR_enUS1136US1136&biw=1536&bih=791&sxsrf=ANbL-n6Ejze1AZosn-RvdB9Fa5Sqm8r81Q%3A1778542963645&ei=c2kCaruAJ__gp84P2ar8oAM&ved=0ahUKEwj7hcPstLKUAxV_8MkDHVkVHzQQ4dUDCBE&uact=5&oq="kojima+Katsumasa"+site%3Amilitaria.co.za%2Fnmb&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiKyJrb2ppbWEgS2F0c3VtYXNhIiBzaXRlOm1pbGl0YXJpYS5jby56YS9ubWJIvghQZVjRBXABeACQAQCYAS2gAVmqAQEyuAEDyAEA-AEB-AECmAIAoAIAmAMAiAYBkgcAoAcYsgcAuAcAwgcAyAcAgAgB&sclient=gws-wiz-serp

Takada ju Yukihisa. Shinto Takada school.