Translation Assistance please

[robinalexander]

This is a little tricky.....

 

[Bugyotsuji]

... to get the old neck around to see it

[uwe]

Piers…😅

I turned my ipad (😉) and got “加藤?一”, with a fair chance of “祐” for the third. But I’m not sure and couldn’t find a reference piece in a rush. 

[robinalexander]

Sorry guys...I should know better 

And apologies for indistinct pic...I didnt take that one.

 

 

[Bugyotsuji]

Ah! 

 

加藤祐一 perhaps! 

[robinalexander]

Thanks Piers and Uwe, 

 

Always appreciate your responses. I will have to take your answers (Japanese figures) to Markus' kanji compendium though in order to arrive at a name in english.

 

On that point, I often see your responses to translation requests are still in kanji and I wonder why that is....rather than just saying, or better still, adding a name like Nagamitsu?

 

I dont wish to appear ungrateful as I am not 😊 ...just a question.

Tks again 

Rob

 

 

[Brian]

Because fishing rather than fish

[robinalexander]

Well I do like a mystery 

 

Got first character Ka

 

The next must be at least 18 strokes!!

 

Workin on it 

[robinalexander]

2nd character Fuji or To or Do or Mura

 

Therefore Kafuji Kato, Kado or maybe Kamura ??

 

Ill look at the third, it may provide a clue to the second.

[robinalexander]

Suke

[Bugyotsuji]

Apoligies, Rob. Actually, we have a better chance of finding the smith in Japanese if we have the characters alone. How to read them 'correctly' is more problematical, and often (usually) out of politeness you'd have to ask the individual or the family to be sure. Many English sources will rely on one possible reading, even if that is not necessarily correct.

 

The Mei above is Kato 加藤, and the second part part 祐一 (assuming it is correct) can be read Sukekazu... for example. To track down other readings would take some time, and then you will have to cross-check what you have found against published materials. Often you can work backwards from a list to discover how the smith liked their name to be read. (Or how the smith has come to be called in the West)

[robinalexander]

Ahhhhh Piers thankyou.  That answers so many questions that I have had for sometime (re Translation thread).

 

Hope you keep up the good work (and Uwe 😊) 

 

Rob

[uwe]

Sorry for not mentioning the name in romaji, Rob. 
It was due to the fact that I was in doubt of “祐” (suke) and couldn’t find a smith named Sukekazu who fits the timespan…

[robinalexander]

No problem Uwe, both you and Piers @Bugyotsujiwere very helpful in deciphering the mei which enabled me to get closer and that really helps a lot. 

 

I now understand your well meaning caution where 'less obvious' mei is concerned. 

 

I'm getting the feeling that both of you may have/had legal backgrounds or a fair degree of exposure to same 

 

Thanks again.

 

Rob