Sayagaki

[Northwind]

I would appreciate any input into language and/or translation. I was told by a friend that this is actually in Chinese.

 

If so, is there any reason why this would be the case on a Nihonto shirasaya (NBTHK papers)?

 

Thanks in advance for any help.

[Ray Singer]

Not Chinese. 

 

Bitchu no kuni junin Aoe Naotsugu 

[Bugyotsuji]

Just to address your original query, this is Japanese, but in classical Chinese style, i.e. Kanji characters alone, with no kana (hiragana or katakana) script in between. In this sense, yes, it does look like Chinese at a glance.

[sabiji]

4 hours ago, Northwind said:

I was told by a friend that this is actually in Chinese.

 

Maybe the second and third kanji (Chu, Kuni) misled your friend into thinking that it had something to do with China...

[Northwind]

18 hours ago, Ray Singer said:

Not Chinese. 

 

Bitchu no kuni junin Aoe Naotsugu 

Thanks Ray, bugyotsuji, and sabiji. I appreciate all the above info.

 

Its very generous of you guys to take the time to apply your skills/knowledge here.