Kiipu

14昭和19年（1944）関刃物工業組合に届出のあった刀工は233人、未登録を含めると265人。関鍛冶伝承館「企画展 近現代刀匠列伝 廃刀令以降の刀匠たち」パンフレット（2004）、岐阜県博物館『伝統と創造 岐阜県重要無形文化財のわざと美』図録（2016）を参照。 Footnote 14: In 1944, there were 233 swordsmiths registered with the Seki Cutlery Industry Association 関刃物工業組合, and 265 including unregistered ones. See the Seki Blacksmith Heritage Museum's "Special Exhibition: Modern and Contemporary Swordsmiths: Swordsmiths Since the Sword Ban" pamphlet (2004) and the Gifu Prefectural Museum's "Tradition and Creation: The Skill and Beauty of Gifu Prefecture's Important Intangible Cultural Properties" catalog (2016). https://www.gifu-kenpaku.jp/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/岐阜県博物館_調査研究報告_第40号（2019・2020）_南本有紀_青木啓将著『現代日本刀の生成』書評に代えて.pdf

Not sure if it still exists but other associations mention it. Attached is page 1 from the 2013 annual report put out by the Gifu Prefectural Industrial Technology Research Institute 岐阜県工業技術研究所. 2013-岐阜県工業技術研究所年報-pp01.pdf

The source of the Shō 昭 stamp identification is via Ohmura as already stated. Bruce asked me some years back to reread the text and that is when I spotted the reference below. 関の軍用日本刀 With the cooperation of Ido Seiji 井戸･誠嗣, chairman of the “Seki-Den Japanese Sword Forging Technique Preservation Society” 関伝日本刀鍛錬技術保存会, a description was found in Tōto Seki 刀都関, published by the Town of Seki in 1940, that said "the blade has passed the strict inspection of the Seki Cutlery Manufacturers’ Society 関刃物工業組合 and is stamped with “Ōka ni Shōji” 桜花に昭字, and has gained an unrivaled reputation as a practical sword." There is another book that I do not own yet and it is referenced below. The Seki Tanrensho book and others related infos

造兵廠 zōheishō How much should I spend?

Just goes to show that you learn something new every day.

The subject of traditionally made and guild stamps can get confusing at times. Sunagashi

I would make the "Downvote" available only to those with a Gold Membership. If you like the suggestion, "Like" it, if you dislike it, "Downvote" it.

Did find mention that one of the authors is a bit controversial. Yagyu shinkage-ryu swordmanship

Ran across the second book at a bookstore this month. Seemed interesting so I thought I would pass it along. I did a NMB search and did not find any mention of either book. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MSFQNCR?binding=hardcover&searchxofy=true&qid=1757980878&sr=8-3

That is coming from Bruce's Mantetsu study and does not apply to your sword.

Cross-Reference Collection of gendaito for sale

I went over to Japanese Sword Index (JSI) and that is a different Kiyokuni with different characters. The JSI Kiyokuni 清国 would probably be from Yamaguchi Prefecture and the blade is also "Star" stamped. 長州住清国 Chōshū-ju Kiyokuni. Kiyokuni Found a second one by same smith. Star stamped and dated March 1944. 長州住清国

Cross-Reference 長野縣　Nagano Prefecture ☆　神國　= Shinkoku [or Kiyokuni] 皇紀二千六百三年三月日　松１２ = A day in March 1943. See page 978 of e Swordsmiths of Japan by Markus Sesko. Advice for new collectors from an old dog

A GBF thread asking about current reproductions. Does anyone make firing/functional Tanegashima matchlock reproductions?

A sword/uniform shop logo that has been encountered before. Arsenal Stamps. Old versus New 神 = 神

Ted, glad to hear my post above was useful; alas, the list above was only focused on the army though. For a list of naval dictionaries, see my post over at TPF. Japanese Military Dictionaries For Japanese sword terms, see the NMB thread below. Japanese Sword Encyclopedias & Dictionaries

A peacetime specification versus wartime specification. Sharpening and dulling blades were taken for granted

Just in case some missed it, the scabbard has some writing on it in white paint. Tonkin･1945 Tonkin (French protectorate)

As an aside, I have been unable to find a blade made by Sakō Hideichi 酒向秀市 to compare to. Also, he does not show up in the 関鍛治刀匠名簿. And to add to the confusion, I think I found a third Kanezumi 兼住 from Gifu listed on page 220 of Slough's book. 鷲見兼住 Washimi Kanezumi.

Correct, there was a second one in Gifu Prefecture by the name of Kawasaki Sen´itsu 川崎専逸. Below are some examples of his mei. 濃州住川﨑長光作 Nōshū-jū Kawasaki Nagamitsu saku 関住川﨑長光作 Seki-jū Kawasaki Nagamitsu saku 長光 Nagamitsu

See response above. 皇紀二千六百年 = Imperial Era 2600 Year = 1940.

Is that picture coming from a book? I found a Kanesumi with similar fittings but the tang pictures are unreadable? It has the same white painted numbers as the one above. WWII Era Japanese Kanesumi Sword See Slough, page 66, and look at the profile of the bottom of the Kanesumi tang.

There seems to have been two swordsmiths that used the name of Kanesumi 兼住. Form Sesko's Gendaitō web page comes the following. Of these two, Satō is the most common. Kanesumi 兼住, Satō. Kanesumi 兼住, Sakō. Below are some examples of Kanesumi 兼住 mei that may be of possible interest. 1. Almost there... Note top right corner. 2. New Pick Up Note the partial loop. 3. kane......something Note the partial loop.

I have been discussing this with Akira over at WRF and Edokko over at GBF. Akira mentioned this mei came up for discussion over at WAF and the owner stated it was from Kanesumi 兼住. Edokko found an example of a sōshotai 草書体 of 住 that is similar that I will attach below. The jury is still out though as the stylized character has elements of several others. Hopefully down the road another blade will surface to assist in identification.

Fujita Masao 藤田昌雄. Mōhitotsu no rikugun heiki shi: Shirarezaru rokaku heiki to dōmeigun no jittai もう一つの陸軍兵器史〜知られざる鹵獲兵器と同盟軍の実態 [One More History of Army Ordnance: The Role of Captured Weapons and the Condition of Japan's Coalition Forces]. Tōkyō, JP: Kōjin-sha, 2004. Page 239. 2004-fujita-もう一つの陸軍兵器史-pp239.pdf