Iijima Masayuki biographical and company information.

[Ketoujin]

Hi All,

 

I am interested if anyone can tell me more about the life and background of smith Iijima Masayuki or about his Iijima Token Seisakusho, specifically how many staff it employed, what kind of machinery it operated - especially in regard to production of Type 95 Non-commissioned Officer Swords - and approximate dates of operation. I have seen some blades of his online but I'd be interested to know more about his stylistic background as a smith, when he started his career, etc.

 

Thanks,

 

Best,

 

Gunnar

[k morita]

Hi,

There is very little information about Iijima Masayuki or his Iijima Token Seisakusho.

Do you have a book[Dai nihon token shoko meikan]?

Please see on page 80-81.

[Ketoujin]

K Morita,

 

Thank you for your reply. No, unfortunately I do not own the title you reference although from reviews I've read of it it sounds like a great resource on Showa-era kaji.

 

From my internet searches I gather not much is known about Iijima Token Seisakusho. There is the notation on Mr. Ohmura's site and a brief mention in Jim Dawson's new book on gunto but little else.

 

I have searched the Japanese archives - what is on-line anyway - at the JACAR site but though there are a couple documents which relate to the Suya Shoten K.K. company from 1936 and 1938 there is nothing on Iijima Masayuki's firm.

 

Is there any indication in the book you mention when the company was set up? I can read some Japanese so if you, or anyone else, wouldn't mind posting or PMing me with a scan of the relevant two pages I'd be most grateful.

 

Thank you for your suggestion at any rate.

 

Best,

 

Gunnar

[k morita]

Here is the pages(80-81) of the book ,PDF file.

Iijima.pdf

[Ketoujin]

K Morita,

 

Thank you very much! The information you provide is a god-send. I am presently writing an article on Type 95 NCO swords for a militaria magazine and I was looking for info on some of the producers of certain components for these swords - of which Iijima Token Seisakusho was one. I will happily include the info you have provided and acknowledge you by name with other contributors at the end of the article if you would give me your permission to do so.

 

I've only just downloaded the attachment so it should make interesting reading later.

 

Thanks very much again.

 

Best,

 

Gunnar