Name Translation Revision.

[okissaki]

Hello all.

 

New arrival on this board which was found through recommendation from the Gentleman's Military interest Club.

 

I was looking for sites that do translations of Sword inscriptions as I have one sword with script in the stylised form which I guess is a date but is beyond my capacity to decipher.  

I translated the name some 20 years ago but I am having trouble remembering how to do it now.  I know that sounds silly but now when I try to do it it takes hours to get nowhere.

I have included the name reading and would be happy if anyone can tell me if my translation is correct.

 

I remember it was a tricky one to decipher with the province being the main difficulty.   I found the solution in my copy of Shinto Bengi Oshigata.

If I am correct this Smith resided in Sendai in Rokuoku province.

 

It is a Wakisashi blade that I picked up, bare apart from the Hibaki and a bit of string through the peg hole.  I had it cleaned up and a Sirasaya made for it and it is a lovely sword but I would love to find out what the other text reads.

 

I seem to have lost some of my other translations to, which is rather annoying, so I might need some assistance with a couple of others unless I can re-tune the brain to decipher the kanji.

Thanks in anticipation.

 

 

[Bazza]

This is absolutely fascinating as I have a Sendai Nagashige katana dated 1862 and named to a patron.  My sword is also in a "sort of" mix of kaishou that I can read and another sort of script I cannot - the latter also gave Japanese people a lot of trouble.  Andrew Ickeringill polished this katana and it can be seen here with his translation:

https://touken-togishi.com/hyakuryushi-nagashige/

I had this sword for 40 years waiting for it to be polished by a top togishi.  It was rusted but savable and Andrew did a fantastic job of restoring it to its full glory.  I hope people will refresh their appreciation of Andrew's skill by exploring his website:

https://touken-togishi.com/

and also visit his Facebookpage:

http://www.facebook.com/toukentogishi

 

Best regards,

BaZZa

aka Barry Thomas

(Melbourne, Australia)

[k morita]

Hi,

Shin-to blade made by Nagashige living in Sen-fu(Sendai). (Your Japanese translation is right.)

 

The inscription on other side says "於武州長井庄作之",Made in Nagai-no-sho,Bushu province(now day,Kumagaya city,Saitama prefecture).

He made a business trip from Sendai, and made this sword in Bushu.

[okissaki]

Hi,

Shin-to blade made by Nagashige living in Sen-fu(Sendai). (Your Japanese translation is right.)

 

The inscription on other side says "於武州長井庄作之",Made in Nagai-no-sho,Bushu province(now day,Kumagaya city,Saitama prefecture).

He made a business trip from Sendai, and made this sword in Bushu.

 

Thank you so much., what an interesting inscription.; and thank you for confirming my translation of the name; , reassuring.  

Does anyone know much about this Smith?

[Prewar70]

Bazza, is it just me or is the hada in your sword very Hizen like?

[okissaki]

This is absolutely fascinating as I have a Sendai Nagashige katana dated 1862 and named to a patron.  My sword is also in a "sort of" mix of kaishou that I can read and another sort of script I cannot - the latter also gave Japanese people a lot of trouble.  Andrew Ickeringill polished this katana and it can be seen here with his translation:

https://touken-togishi.com/hyakuryushi-nagashige/

I had this sword for 40 years waiting for it to be polished by a top togishi.  It was rusted but savable and Andrew did a fantastic job of restoring it to its full glory.  I hope people will refresh their appreciation of Andrew's skill by exploring his website:

https://touken-togishi.com/

and also visit his Facebookpage:

http://www.facebook.com/toukentogishi

 

Best regards,

BaZZa

aka Barry Thomas

(Melbourne, Australia)

What a lovely Sword Bazza and what a super job your polisher made of it!  I'm pleased to find another blade by the Nagashige sendai Smiths; I think mine is one of the Shinto smiths.  I'll have to re-check my Hawley and do some more homework on this group.  

How useful to have a date and a name of the person for whom it was commissioned.  Have you done any homework on him?  It was an interesting period to have a sword like that made given the political movements at the time.  I wonder if there is a connection with rebellion just a few years later.

a beautiful sword to own.

Regards,

Gerald.

[Peter Bleed]

Thanks for this interesting discussion. I have seen a sword by Nagashige but know nothing about it. This was a treat.

Peter

[Bazza]

Bazza, is it just me or is the hada in your sword very Hizen like?

Hello James,

 

Well, I find myself between a rock and a hard place and feeling like a moth that has been pinned to a specimen board!!  Here's hoping I don't make a goose of myself - please tell if it is so...

 

Ko-itame hada with ji-nie does seem a good descriptor of Hizen hada, yet Hizen hada is so-called because it is - well - Hizen hada.  The difference is subtle.  I have a 2nd gen. Hizen katana as well as the Nagashige, but find myself lost to find the right words to describe the difference in hada.  Maybe I'm just tired today, or thinking too much about dinner and the red wine I'm going to have with it.  Anyone else care to have a bash???  Ray, Paul, anyone...

 

BaZZa

(feeling a cold wind blowing)