Yari Mei Translation Help

[hddennis]

Just purchased a yari online and wonder if I could get a translation of the signature sent to me by the seller?

 

Thanks,

Howard Dennis

[Ray Singer]

Oshu Aizu ju Shimosaka 

[Ray Singer]

https://nihontoclub.com/view/smiths/meisearch?type=All&mei_op=contains&mei=奥州会津住下坂

[hddennis]

Ray, thanks so much for your rapid response. Is this signature just stating the forge location and school? If yes, any idea why the name of the smith would be absent?

[Bugyotsuji]

The Shimosaka were a famous line of yari smiths. They moved down to the north of Kyūshū to take large orders when Hideyoshi was gathering his troops there for the Korean invasions, it is said.

[Ray Singer]

Many Shimosaka blades only state location and school. Or title and school, including Higo Daijo Shimosaka. Some of these are attributed to shodai Yasutsugu like this suriage juyo example.

 

https://sword-auction.com/en/product/11612/as22095-刀：肥後大掾藤原下坂初代　康継（第33回重要/ 

[hddennis]

Bugyotsuji and Ray Singer thank you both for taking the time to help me to better  understand my latest purchase. The seller also sent me pictures of the Japanese registration papers. Do these usually include when the weapon was made?

 

Howard Dennis

[Bugyotsuji]

24 minutes ago, hddennis said:

The seller also sent me pictures of the Japanese registration papers. Do these usually include when the weapon was made?

 

No, Howard they don’t.