Signature Translation Assistance Please (Toshimichi)?

[Tenshi]

Signature Translation Assistance Please.

 

My closest translation is    ( Toshimichi ),  Who I found was possibly the civilian name for Kajiyama Toshimichi later Yasutoshi who worked at Yasukuni.

If this is so?? my question is, is it the same person? and would Toshimichi sign Toshimichi or only Kajiyama Yasutoshi??

Or is my translation wrong....

 

Info on Toshimichi if it is the same???

Kotani Kenzo (Yasunori) from Hiroshima prefecture was born on 7 January 1909. He was taught by his uncle Kajiyama Taketoku (Yasutoku) and along with his cousin Kajiyama Toshimichi (later Yasutoshi) became his uncle's sakite on July 1933 at the Yasukuni Shrine. On 1 July 1935, Kotani Kenzo was granted the swordsmith mei YASUNORI by Army Minister Hayashi Senjuro. His swords were highly regarded while working at the Shrine and for two years in 1936 and 1937 he won most of the prizes. Considering that sitting on the panel of judges at the annual bimonthly shinsa was one Kozu Haku sensei, a widely respected authority from the cultural ministry, this was no mean feat and speaks well for Yasunori's ability. He was commissioned to make swords for Higashi no Miya and Field Marshall Terauchi's gunto. He continued working at the Shrine until 1945 when he moved to Kagawa prefecture to continue production. This was short lived as Japan surrendered on 15 August 1945. After the war (1945) he moved to Shikoku and made swords under the name of Takenori. In 1971 Yasunori started to compete at the NBTHK sponsored contests. In five years, 1970, 71, 72, 73, 74 he won the Nyusen Sho or Winner's Award. He died on March 1, 2003 at age 94.

[Tenshi]

Greetings, I see lots of views, does anyone have information that may be of assistance?

Thank you.

[John A Stuart]

Yes Toshimichi  壽道 John

[Ray Singer]

I do not know who this smith is but this does not give the impression of a Yasutoshi. Especially, note the takanoha yasurimei which would be atypical. I do not know if Yasutoshi used the mei Toshimichi on any of his earlier swords but have never seen an example.

[Tenshi]

Yes Toshimichi  壽道 John

 

Thanks John, I noticed a couple variations to the name Toshi and was not such of an exact translation

[Tenshi]

I do not know who this smith is but this does not give the impression of a Yasutoshi. Especially, note the takanoha yasurimei which would be atypical. I do not know if Yasutoshi used the mei Toshimichi on any of his earlier swords but have never seen an example.

Thanks Roy, Yes I see this, I have found Toshimichi listed in a few research projects as working at Yasukuni as assistant to the sword smith then getting promoted to sword smith himself, asking the same question is this the same person and did he sign Toshimichi on his swords at any point. The sword appears to be a very nice sword. 

[Ray Singer]

According to Markus Sesko's book, Toshimichi was only Yasutoshi's civilian name. He died young after producing only 350 sword. I suspect that he only signed Yasutoshi.

[Tenshi]

According to Markus Sesko's book, Toshimichi was only Yasutoshi's civilian name. He died young after producing only 350 sword. I suspect that he only signed Yasutoshi.

 

Thank you Ray, yes I have read that, in my limited research I have found one Toshimichi who was smithing swords, my curiosity is how to find more information and or if there is another Toshimichi, I feel I have come to a dead end with the data I have found online.

[Tenshi]

It appears that Toshimichi was working as a Sakite since 1933 then promoted and given the name Kajiyama Yashutoshi in 1939 Then left Yasukuni in 1941, In 6 years of smithing he may have signed Toshimichi, possibly. 

 

The sword is most definitely up to the standards of a good smith.