WulinRuilong

100% gimei. This signature is imitating Awataguchi Yoshimitsu. But the skill is too low to be true.

It depends on situation. In sengoku period many swordsmiths made up their own courtesy titles(For example, Osafune Sukesada school). But this was rare in the Edo period.

This is what I mean. Different title + Same name =Different Smith, not gimei.

As I said, Osafune Kiyomitsu（長船清光），Kashuu Kiyomitsu（加州清光）and Harimadaijou Fujiwara Kiyomitsu（播磨大掾藤原清光）， they have the same name Kiyomitsu , but they are not gimei. Since this smith, Mino no Kami Kanesada(美濃守兼定), has a different title with anyone in the famous Kanesada family line, the most likely explanation is that he is another person not related to this family. If he didn't claim he is one of the famous Kanesada, you can't call it gimei. Also, Mino (美濃) , Nōshū (濃州) or Noshu-ju(美濃住) means xxx of Mino/Noshu, and Noshu seki-ju(濃州関住)means xxxof seki, Noshu, these words are not title! But Mino no Kami(美濃守) is totally different, it means the Governor of Mino, which is an honorary title granted by Daimyo, Shogun or Imperial court. As Piers said, these honorary titles already lost their meaning.

If you carefully researched these titles, you would find that most titles have nothing to do with the smith's life experience. Even if you can find a connection in some people, it's just a coincidence.

No, this is just an honorary title so the name itself has no real meaning. For example, Syume no Kami Ippei Yasuyo（主馬首一平安代）, his title Syume no Kami(主馬首)is a position which is responsible for raising horses. Ippei Yasuyo was granted this title doesn't mean he raised horses for the imperial court.

Also I need to point out that it is normal for completely unrelated smiths to use the same name by coincidence. I can give many examples：Osafune Kiyomitsu（長船清光），Kashuu Kiyomitsu（加州清光）and Harimadaijou Fujiwara Kiyomitsu（播磨大掾藤原清光）， they have the same name Kiyomitsu but are smiths from different schools.

In Japan, this is a common sense that an imperial court's title is unrelated to people's place of residence unless he is a Daimyo（For example, Izumi no kami kanesada cannot be associated with the place Izumi, and Tango no Kami Kanemichi also cannot be associated with the place Tango）. So, a title "Mino no kami" cannot be related to any Mino swordsmith, and it is impossible to add any value. In my view, the only reasonable explanation is that there was indeed a smith with this name Mino no Kami Kanesada(美濃守兼定) in history, but he is not related to the famous Kanesada of Mino, just use the same name by coincidence.

Hi Shugyosha, I see no reason to assume the title or signature is false. Title is granted by Daimyo, Shogun or Imperial court, it's unlikely the smith makes up a title himself. Also, there's no reason for someone making a gimei to make up a title that doesn't belong to the smith.

In my view this is an Early Edo period wakizashi(Shinto) made by Mino no Kami Kanesada(美濃守兼定) I think this smith, Mino no Kami Kanesada(美濃守兼定), is just a random smith who use same name with famous Kanesada by coincidence, because no one in the famous Kanesada family has the title Mino no Kami(美濃守). So it cannot be a gimei.

How could you know this is a Sengoku period blade? It looks like an Early Edo period blade for me.

It is so strange......

Today I see an ebay seller 1333maxine is selling cheap nihonto, but the pictures are similar with katana-boutique...... Anyone know this seller?