Ray Singer

Bishu ju Masayasu saku, dated 1942. https://www.google.com/search?q=mano+masayasu+site%3Amilitaria.co.za&rlz=1C1YTUH_enUS1164US1164&oq=mano+masayasu+site%3Amilitaria.co.za&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRiPAjIHCAIQIRiPAjIHCAMQIRiPAtIBCDYwNDVqMGo3qAIAsAIA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

I looked on a different screen, and it does look like 兼常 (Kanetsune). 武州神田住藤原兼常 (Bushū Kanda ju Kanetsune)

The nakago itself is slightly suriage (the end has been reduced) however the mei is fully present. There appear to be two kanji after 'ju'. The first is definitely 'Kane'. The last kanji is unclear as it is been washed out with the light. I would suggest trying different lighting conditions so that the glare is not so intense in that area.

The kanji with three horizontal strokes is ju (住), which wouid typically be followed by the swordsmith artname, clan + artname, etc. The name itself is not shown here, but unless it is an unlisted smith this is likely Bushu Kanenaga or Bushu Kanetsune (one of two generations). Even if the inscription is corroded , it is still worthwhile to try and show us a photo of the entire inscription top to bottom in one vertical image. Sometimes just a couple of strokes can distinguish between one or another possible craftsmen (in this case, determining if it may be Kanenaga or Kanetsune). Not making any guarantees, but as you are asking for assistance with a translation it is helpful for us to try and evaluate everything. And one additional note, please don't do anything on your own to try to make the inscription more readable (no chalk or cleaning). This may seem obvious and I am sorry to mention it, however I've seen a number of cases where new collectors have tried some amount of cleaning to improve readability on an inscription that was already readable, removing the natural patina and destroying the originality of the mei in the process.

Please show the entire mei in one vertical image (not closeup photos of individual sections). Perhaps: 武州神田住__ Bushū Kanda ju ___ (remainder cut off, or not shown). https://nihontoclub.com/view/smiths/meisearch?type=All&mei_op=starts&mei=武州神田住

Please see below. This is the same Tenpo 8 date as on your sword. https://iidakoendo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/naotaneall.jpg Best regards, Ray

As mentioned above, this is an extremely famous swordsmith. If you search online you will find a great deal of information. Search 'Taikei Naotane' and go from there.

Musashi Daijo Shitahara Yasushige Bushu Shitahara school. Shinto.

The blade is proposing to be by Chikuzen Daijo Taikei Naotane and dated Tenpo 8. This is a very famous late Edo period swordsmith and there are many gimei (fake inscriptions) purporting to be his work. Compare with authenticated examples.

Appears to read: Munechika. Best regards Ray

By Kanemune, dated August 1944.

The mei is 義重 not 嘉重. AI search is not a good tool for researching Japanese swordsmiths. These tools will hallucinate and give you the information that they think you want (correct or not). I would recommend Markus Sesko's swordsmith compendium for researching swordsmith bios. https://www.lulu.com/shop/markus-sesko/e-swordsmiths-of-Japan/ebook/product-1zk9mrzq.html?page=1&pageSize=4

I am seeing exactly the opposite. One side appears to be ichimai-boshi. If you have access to a better primer like the Connoisseur's Book of Japanese Swords, you will see an example of this.

Hizen (no) kuni Tadayoshi.

Yoshishige.

@wakiboy

This is a rokkasen kogatana. Please see below. https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/21264-inherited-kozuka/

A friend posted in the WTB section, but hoping to give his search a bit more visibility here. If anyone happens to have an extra assortment of kai-gunto fittings, John is looking for a corresponding seppa. He can also be reached at https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/profile/6262-jrbjag/ https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/54269-locating-spare-koshirae-pieces-seppa/

Perhaps the individual handling osuriage was considering more of an ubu, Kaga-style of nakago-jiri at one point?

John is a friend and I have a few photos of his sword in hand. It is a kai-gunto (I am mentioning this, as there are shin-gunto parts shown in the Ohmura diagram above). John is looking for a matching seppa for the other side (between tsuba and tsuka). I'm attaching photos here to show what John has and what he is missing. Appreciate if anyone can assist. Best regards, Ray

I believe this can be read Gotō Shunjō. 後藤春乗 https://www.seiyudo.com/tu-030423.htm

Taira Nagayuki

In some cases, swordsmiths changed their mei over time (using one artname and then transitioning to one or more others during their careers). In this case, a smith may be primarily known by one name but actually used others as well. For example, the gendai smith Yoshihara Kuniie was well known under that name but he also signed Akihiro and Nobutake early on his his career. Also, many smiths were simply undocumented. Especially in Seki, it was an active site of arsenal production and I have seen other cases where a Seki-made showato was by a smith who simply does not appear to be listed.

Definitely 則次 (Noritsugu), as we discussed previously. Best regards, Ray

For anyone who was considering the Nihonto kanji flashcards, I just received another shipment from print. Please see below for a link to purchase and information on the cards. https://swordsofjapan.com/product/nihonto-knowledge-cards/ - Mei (names) - the more commonly seen kanji used in swordsmith's mei, including examples of mei containing that the featured kanji - 152 cards - $25 + shipping - Kuni (provinces) - the reading of the Japanese province names, with information about the provinces and some reference information on related schools and representative smiths - 90 cards - $25 + shipping - Nengo (time periods) - the kanji for time periods from the late Heian period to the present, with reference information on each time period - 144 cards - $25 + shipping Anyone interested or if you have any questions, please reach out by email at theswordsofjapan@gmail.com or message me here.