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Something Seems Wrong...


CurtisR

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Hello All,

I was sent this photo of nakago - the owner put talcum on it to bring it out, so that explains the powder. Anyway, I've tried to translate the mei, which I KNOW is a date, but it isn't making sense to me. I asked a friends wife - who is Japanese - and she gets roughly the same thing:

 

"2000, six hundred and 2" in year "Kigen" (of the Christian calendar)

 

Also, the kanji for kigen seems poorly done.

 

 

Am I reading this wrong, or are my suspicions of gimei probably correct?

 

Thanks!

 

Curtis R.

post-1674-0-91338500-1435249512_thumb.jpg

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I believe this is dated from the foundation of the empire: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Foundation_Day and http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/kanji/zodiac.htm

So the blade should be 1942.

 

Edit: I should've elaborated... your sword would loosely translates to the 2602 anniversary of the empire, less 660 (the empire was founded/the first emperor in 660 BCE by Jimmu) to get to the modern calendar and boom: 1942. I am sure someone will chime in if I am wrong.  Can we see the other side of the nakago?  The takanoha yasurime indicate seki, but we'd have to see the other side (or at least the blade) to be sure.

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Thanks Joe - it now makes sense that it'd be 1942, and at least I had the numbers correct :glee:. I believe you nailed it as being seki (see the other side attached here). It's on a very pretty Naval Gunto that I am pretty sure will be offered up next week. Interestingly, and perhaps others can comment on the extent of my next statement, but I learned that many FEMALES are not taught to read kanji, as it is a "male" form of writing...I was a bit shocked by this, but it seems to be although I know there are probably many ladies out there who can read kanji still. Just a tidbit I hadn't heard before. AND I don't mean to sound as though I know this as fact - was just told by a friend, and confirmed by a second who live in Japan.

 

Anyway, thank you and now I have a "starting point" for any I run across in the future. Just when I think I'm learning...well, I'll keep trying :beer: :beer: .

 

Cheers!

 

Curtis R.

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Thank you Joe! I was doing the translation in pieces but it's fun to go "backward" and look them up so I can recognize (as with dates!). Kanji are elusive critters :glee: .

OH - and for Stephen C, sorry if I made you relapse LOL...it's talcum powder though, so.........

 

Curtis R.

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