george trotter

Sorry Bruce, I haven't got/seen any Kanagawa RJT blades. Geo.

Hi Nazar, I happened to be reading this post when you added your question....the answer is no, I think all the enquiries I/we did on this question was covered by the discussion at that time. I have not wondered about 'handedness' of hilts since that time. Regards, George.

As I understand it... For a thousand years the Japanese swordsmith has been making weapons for use on the battlefield. This purpose continued right up to 15th August 1945 when the Emperor surrendered Japan. In 1953/54, the making of swords re-commenced, but they are officially classified as art, not weapons...so, officially, from 1953/54 Japanese swords are classified as ART, and so the people who make them must be classified as artists. Just my 10 cents worth... Regards...

Hi John, Sorry, I never got any feedback on that... Regards George.

Not sure if this helps, but my uncle was in the Australian Army Engineers during the occupation of Japan 1946-1949. He was based in a place called Hiro which was not far from Kure. I always thought he worked at Kure but lived at near-by Hiro. Looks like Hiro might have been the place where his unit was stationed and also where they worked at the former Japanese Army (oops, meant to say Navy) arms production facility mentioned in babgbangsan's link.

Dated to Taisho period, 5th year?, 2nd month? so it might be (can't be sure of my reading) 1916, May 2nd. The rest is even harder to read, sorry. George.

Thanks for your help Mal, I have got all that information on the name possibly being Nobushiro or Shinshiro...I myself leant towards Shinshiro until this latest query by me brought the majority of responses for it being Nobushiro. The "clincher" was that I also found a Japanese sword site that recently sold a sword by Masakazu (NBTHK papered) and gave tang pics showing the date 11/17 and his mei including the personal name which they definitely translated as being NOBUSHIRO. I thought that if a professional Tokyo sword shop like Ginza Seiyudo translates his name as Nobushiro then it is correc, considering that they must have sources for personal smith information that are better than most collectors. At the moment I am leaning towards Nobushige, but I will change if some good evidence 'correcting' this comes along. Regards, George.

Thanks Hector (and wife) and members...I have done some more thinking and have decided that the name NOBUSHIRO is the most likely. After all the feedback from you all and some more studying by me I am sure this must be correct....so, NOBUSHIRO it is. Please make a comment if any of you find some written facts in the future...all the best, and thanks! Happy new year to all, George.

Thank you all for your very reasoned answers...I think I will mark this on my notes as "SHINSHIRO (or NUBUSHIRO)" until perhaps one day I find a direct reference to Masakazu's personal name reading in a book. Regards, George (PS to members...feel free to keep trying to work it out (Morita san?)

Thanks guys...trouble is, I have a Japanese name book that gives only one version and that is Shinshiro and so my problem arises as there are two of his swords translated on online sword selling sites in Japan who both give it as Nobushiro (not in my book)...so lets hope an expert native Japanese speaker can also post his version...I would really like to be SURE. I appreciate your responses but lets hope others respond also... Regards, George.

Not sure if I have asked this question before, but can I ask the correct pronunciation of this Tsukamoto Masasakazu personal name. Here is an oshigata of his from 1941 in which he includes his personal name. Can someone tell me whether it is pronounced SHINSHIRO or NOBUSHIRO? I ask as I have seen it quoted both ways in different Japanese sources and as a result am unable to be definite about his name. Regards, George.

Well done indeed Brian. I think the sword angels like you. Merry Christmas, George.

Thanks guys. Glad it is of interest. About buying 'replica' bags Bruno, I don't recall ever seeing any WWII type replicas for sale. In my case, I purchased the usual sword bags found in TOKEN shops whenever I visited Japan (I think most of mine came from TOKEN SHIBATA in Ginza), these are all the usual silk/embroidered bags and are good quality, but they are the 'usual' type. Only this one made of flags is the original WWII period survivor that was (thankfully) kept with this sword. Regards, George.

Thanks for the feedback guys. This is the only sword I have ever obtained that still had its WWII era swordbag...so it is interesting. Of course I would never separate it from its sword - I was just interested in what people thought of WWII era swordbags and their worth/historic value...etc. Very interesting. Geo.

Thanks guys...that plain WWII bag above is the type we most commonly see...that is why I was impressed with this 'flag bag' and decided to ask members here what they have seen, know about, or have bought or sold. Geo.