Sekiya Toshiko's family sword

[KennethWard]

Hello,

 

It has been a few years since I lasted posted here (Hello Darcy!). I was hoping someone could help me find some information on a famous Japanese singer by the name of Sekiya Toshiko. I am in contact with a WW2 veteran who has a sword which apparently belonged to her family.

 

The sword is unusual in that it is complete with a Tachi stand that is rather ornate with mother of pearl inlays. The sword needs to be polished. I'll post some pictures soon for everyone to enjoy.

 

kcw

Kenneth Ward

Denver, Colorado

user742@aol.com

[Nobody]

Hi Kenneth,

 

Regarding Sekiya Toshiko, I found an article in Japanese. But I will not translate the whole texts as they are too much.

http://www.city.nihonmatsu.lg.jp/histor ... hito5.html

 

If she is this Sekiya Toshiko (関屋æ•å­), she was a prima donna who was born in 1904 and killed herself in 1941. One of her grandfathers was Charles William Le Gendre who was a French-born American general and diplomat.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_William_LeGendre

[KennethWard]

Any information of how she killed herself? Also did she live in the Bizen Province?

 

kc

[Nobody]

Loosely;

In late autumn of 1941, she had been devoted to composition and spent hard days and nights. At the midnight of Nov. 23rd, she left her last short poem on the back cover of music before she overdosed herself with sleeping medicine.

 

She was born and grew up in Tokyo. She went to Italy to study music in 1927 before she became active in the world.