george trotter

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.

Marcin, Yes the bag is genuine and is well made...it has some wear on the inside where the hilt ends, obviously from the rubbing it received when folded over the hilt end and tied up, so I do think it has 'always' been with this sword. The sword came from a returned soldiers widow who only knew that he acquired it in the Pacific but knew no more of her husband's / the sword's history. Personally, I always thought it was made by the Japanese officer's wife and was made of national flags to reflect the officer's patriotism. To me, this sword bag 'displays' the WWII patriotism of the Japanese officer who owned this sword and the patriotism and affection the officer's wife (who I presume made it) had for him and their country - I certainly do not think anyone would have criticised the officer or his wife for making a 'patriotic' bag out of small Japanese flags as this bag is not the type of item anyone would carry around on public display in the streets. . Considering all this, I wondered if members had any interest/regard for the history/value of these original WWII bags. I'd be interested in what members think of these matters. Regards, George.

Just thought I'd ask about the value of original WWII sword bags, I know most are plain or made of lovely embroidered silk (like most sword bags), but what about this one? It is made of three small hi-no-maru sunball flags and two rising sun flags. Inside is lined with plain material and it is still on a WWII good quality bring back sword. Any ideas of historic worth or monetary value? It's not a subject I've ever thought about before but a collector friend saw it recently and said "wow - that is sooo cool!"....and I agree....so I thought I'd ask the board. Regards, George.

Hi Hector, I look forward to your new book coming on line. As for my 1989 book...yes, many of the swords are in need of attention...probably much worse now after 35 more years. Regards, George.

Nice find Hector, How many pages? Is it something you could reproduce on NMB for us gendaito fans to access in total? Regards...

Hi John C..Just thought you and Bruce might be interested in a little more marking detail on that RJT 5/1944 Kanehide I posted mei pics of just above. Here is a pic of its habaki...stamped '52 and also '1 with kanji' (Seki? not sure). The '52' matches with the blue paint marking on the tang which says 'Ku 52'. When he made this sword he was working at the "Seki Kabushiki Kaisha' which he joined on Sho 16 year 2 mo 2 day so these marks must be related to their production system markings (Dai Nihon Token Shoko Meikan Mar 1942) (from Hist. of Nakata Kanehide, Swordsmith' from sanmei.com). Not sure if this is of interest bur it does show the tang and fittings are numbered together. Regards...

Hi John, Here are the mei and date of my Kanehide. Also, here down below is the original pic from 2012 - I show you as some of the blue paint marking on mei side is now not easily visible. Regards...

Yes, I have three Type 98 mounted gendaito with mon. All have 8 seppa, one has a cut through guards, two have aluminium saya. One mon is picked off before surrender. One mon is cut off before surrender (silver mon 'stub' is still in hole). One still has its mon. So, in my case, 2 out of 3 mon were removed.

I had a look through the books on this and while I found the smith as signed on the tang there is no new info or any mention of him being RJT. Gendai Toko Kinko Shokukata Soran by Ono 1977 p.70. He was born Yamagata, Sakata, Meiji 38, studied under 1st Gen. Fujita Akiyoshi. He started in swords 1n 1942 and restarted in swords in 1955

For decades I have Interpreted the gendai era as follows... Gendaito 1876-1945 - traditionally made as weapons. Shinsakuto 1953-present - traditionally made as ART.

Hi Mal, I agree.

Yes Bruce, be interesting to know the answer...

I'm no expert on the cut-off date of the Type 94 (if there is one - maybe both types were produced in conjunction?), so I ask...as well as the details of the catch button location and the tsuba thickness etc, wouldn't the date on the tang, if dated after the introduction of the Type 98 in 1938, also be an indicator that the sword was a Type 94 or Type 98? Just wondering...

I'm 77 next month, and started collecting in 1973. I stopped in 1981 and sold my collection as I had joined the West Australian Museum and did not feel I should collect. I started collecting again in 2008 when I left the museum - but this time only gendaito 1876 - 1945. I first became interested in Japan / Japanese swords as one uncle had spent 4 years 1945-1949 in the Occupation of Japan (in Hiroshima) and another uncle had brought back a sword from a surrender his Australian Army unit took in New Guinea (it is a gendaito of good quality but mumei - Type 98 mounts).. i was therefore always interested in Japan and studied Japanese history and language at Uni...and here I am, on a Japan oriented site - love it.

Wow...what interesting discussions...so glad we have NMB to express them on. All the best to all. Regards...

Rick, what Baby Joe forgot to add to his translation is what it actually says in English... It means...'In the province of Bizen, in the village of Osafune, (the swordsmith) Sukesada made (this)'. Hope this helps...

Don't forget the RJT and private-made gendaito of the Showa era 1926-1945. These are the last in the 1000 year history of traditionally made nihonto to be made specifically for use on the battlefield. That's why I collect them...they are the most relevant to my parents generation and to my own. Regards...