Looking for any infos about WW2 smith Tanabe Kuniyioshi

[Bruno]

Hello,

 

I am looking for any infos (oshigata, photos of blades, nakago, backgroung...) about this smith.

 

There is already an old post here from 2013 mentioning him.

 

He was ranked chujo saku in the Tosho Banzuke, 1942.

 

I am trying to find out if he and the WW2 smith Sanemichi were the same person.

 

Infos about him seem quite scarce so I looking for help here.

 

Thanks in advance

[Bruno]

Just a few photos of the Sanemichi.

[IJASWORDS]

I am confused, why is there a Koa Isshin in the photos, and no question about it? 

[IJASWORDS]

Is it Kuniyoshi or as your heading Kuniyioshi? 

[Bruce Pennington]

More importantly - do I have the pictures of the date, mei, and serial number of your Mantetsu!?!?!?

[Bruno]

OK, so the second sword is well a Mantetstu-to that I pictured with the Sanemichi, just to compare.

 

Yes Bruce, you have already the date, mei and serial number of this Mantetsu-to.

 

The star stamped sword is signed Sanemichi but I suspect he is in fact Tanabe Kuniyoshi using a different name.

[Bruce Pennington]

Thanks Bruno!

 

I've seen a couple of guys that I've believed to be the same guy as well. Hope someone can nail that down for you.

 

I suspect the nihonto guys have more people who follow the smiths than you'll find in the Military section. Have you considered posting your quesion on the Nihonto forum?

http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/forum/3-nihonto/

[Bruno]

Hi Bruce,

 

OK I will re-post on the Nihonto forum soon.

 

Regards

[george trotter]

Hi Bruno san,

Umm...bit confusing.

You want to know more about Tanabe Kuniyoshi as shown in the WWII swordsmith ranking list on Jinsoo Kim site (under Chujo Saku classification).,,,I looked through my WWII period books and early post-war books and there is no mention of WWII period smith named Tanabe....maybe tell us what you already know? pic?

You want to know more about your RJT swordbmith Sanemichi (if he is the same man?)...again, I don't know anything and can't even find him on the existing RJT lists...I can tell you that the kanji SANE can also be read MASA, but that is about all. Sorry,

[Bruno]

Hi George sama!

 

Long time no talk you and me! 

 

Here is attached a pic of the ranking of Tanabe Kuniyoshi. You can find it on Rich Stein's great website.

 

It has been said that Tanabe Kuniyoshi could have signed some of his late and/or military swords by using the name Sanemichi.

 

Tanabe Kuniyoshi was a student of the Kato smiths (please see attached oshigata) and the SANE of Sanemichi looks the same than the one on Sane/Masakuni, so it is thought Sanemichi and Kuniyoshi were maybe be the same person. 

 

Sanemichi cannot be found among the RJT list as he probably entered the program in 1944 so too late to be recorded. Just a guess.

 

I bought the star stamped Sanemichi because it was a steal and also because I thought (without being sure) that he was connected in some sort to the Kato clan, and I am a fan of the Kato work.

 

Regards

Oshigata of a gassaku sword made by Kato Masakuni and his student, Tanabe Kuniyoshi-converti-converti.pdf

[george trotter]

All I can find is this chart on the Kato smiths, including Tanabe Kuniyoshi. it is from the "Short History of Modern Sword of Japan" by Tanashi UCHIYAMA in Token Bijutsu Journal March 1969 #145 Chapter 2 pp.4 and 5.

Regards,

 

OOPS attachment on next post

[george trotter]

 

[george trotter]

All I can find is this chart on the Kato smiths, including Tanabe Kuniyoshi. it is from the "Short History of Modern Sword of Japan" by Tanashi UCHIYAMA in Token Bijutsu Journal March 1969 #145 Chapter 2 pp.4 and 5.

Regards,

 

 

[Bruno]

Thanks a lot George! My Japanese skills are still too low to read it but I will forward it to a guy that can do it.

[David Flynn]

I believe Chris Bowen, has either written a book, or an article on the Kato smiths of Tokyo.http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/24183-gendaito-reference-fs-kato-smiths-of-meguro-tokyo/

[Bruno]

I believe Chris Bowen, has either written a book, or an article on the Kato smiths of Tokyo.http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/24183-gendaito-reference-fs-kato-smiths-of-meguro-tokyo/

 

 Hi David,

 

Thanks for the reply. Recently Chris sent me a file version of his book. He did not add Sanemichi in it as he is still not 100% sure he was connected to the Kato clan, or if he was Tanabe Kuniyoshi.