The last dated sword of Kenzo Kotani in the Second World War.

[Nightwish]

8 hours ago, Rawa said:

@夜愿你多久前买的？跟你的比起来，价格简直疯了。130万买秋秀简直疯了。就算有德丰

This sword was not made by 靖徳 but by his nephew. It was a sword bestowed by Emperor Showa upon outstanding graduates of the Japanese Army University. From 1933 until the end of the war in 1945, there were only about 80 swords in total

[Rawa]

Yes and If you looked on post above your answer you would know that I distinguish both. I need to watch "lost in translation"  oh and yeah he is mention as yasutoku at http://www.jp-sword.com/files/yasukuni/yasukunito.html

[Rawa]

Posting entire page. Maybe mistake in book?

[japanesewarriors]

Hello all,

I was wondering if I could have your opinions on this blade as kind off relevant here, with the YASAKUNI knowledge you have.

Believe YASNORI 1938/39 December, with papers. Sorry picture not better but in a rush.

Thanks for any help and opinions.

[japanesewarriors]

some more images

[Karu]

Showa 13, 12th month. december 1938

It looks very good to me. Maybe you can share better photos of the blade ? 

[saemonjonosuke]

Thanks. Looks like a 'typical' Yasunori. Nice.

New or later polish.

 

[saemonjonosuke]

Here is another copy signed Takenori, dated January 1945. The old (war) polishing is still visible on the papers. Sold at Aoi Art.

[japanesewarriors]

Thanks for your confirmation and date

 

[Volker62]

let us remember Kenzo Kotani "Yasunori" san  fondly, he was a nice person

 

and left us collector's  historic high quality Japanese swords 

[tom]

If you look for a good sword from Kotani Yasunori, here is one from showa 19 ( 1944 ) with Tokubetsu Hozon and a Nagasa of  71,7 cm.

 

Here the Link.

 

https://ginza.choshuya.co.jp/sale/gj/r7/007/12_yasunori.php

 

 

Tom

[Volker62]

here is one of the original written letters by Kenzo Kotani san 

 

Yasunori from my modest collection

[saemonjonosuke]

4 hours ago, tom said:

If you look for a good sword from Kotani Yasunori, here is one from showa 19 ( 1944 ) with Tokubetsu Hozon and a Nagasa of  71,7 cm.

 

Here the Link.

 

https://ginza.choshuya.co.jp/sale/gj/r7/007/12_yasunori.php

 

 

Tom

Thank you!

[saemonjonosuke]

38 minutes ago, Volker62 said:

here is one of the original written letters by Kenzo Kotani san 

 

Yasunori from my modest collection

Nice, thank you for showing.

 

[Karu]

On 1/10/2024 at 11:09 PM, Karu said:

So... Anyone has early dated Yasunori signed blades ? not takenori please. Looking to study

Found only 2 dated 1936 one is mine and other is from Sanmei https://www.sanmei.c...92337_S8875_PUP.html 

I think I found what I was looking for. 

This katana by Kotani Yasunori, in October 1935 is recorded as his third blade he made at the Yasukuni Shrine— according Kotani's daughter the first went to the Shōwa Emperor, the second to the Imperial Household. It was owned by Kudo Haruto, chairman of the Yasuki Steel Company and one of the founders of the Nihontō Tanren Kai. In the 1990s, it was polished by Okisato Fujishiro, and Yasunori himself added a saya-gaki to the blade. It was later exhibited at the 60th anniversary Yasukuni exhibition and comes with extensive documentation and a 1997 NTHK paper. 

The seller has all the papers including all exchanged letters from Kotani San and the togishi. 

Nice story! 

Link : https://www.nihontocraft.com/Kotani_Yasunori_Tachi.html?

 

[Volker62]

to complete 

[Nicholas]

Another interesting sword at the Nihontocraft website.

 

Kotani Takenori (Yasunori)
Yasukuni Shrine Tosho

Special Order at the request of Vice Admiral Jinichi Kusaka, Commander of the 11th Air Fleet and Commander of the Southeast Area Fleet. October, 1942

 

https://nihontocraft.com/Takenori_Yasunori_Tachi.html

[saemonjonosuke]

Thanks! yes very interesting. 

[Karu]

Thank you for contributing ! 

Awesome flawless blade. Interesting !

[BANGBANGSAN]

On 9/13/2023 at 10:07 PM, Bruce Pennington said:

I was short of time when I posted that.  Here's the link to @markc's post: Gunto Mei Help Please.  It's an iteresting blade - star-stamped, and the mei is "Kasuga Workshop, made by Yasunori.  I only have 2 star-stamped blades with a shop name as part of the mei, this one and a "Fumitada", and both are May 1945.  Neither smith is listed on the RJT list.  Not too surprising, as the list was from 1943.  These two smiths could have been certified after that year.

 

 

 

Bruce

I found that this gunto was made in the final month of the war 昭和弐拾年八月 (August 1945). The swordsmith was 長弘 Nagamitsu,  野呂山麓住 Noro-san roku jū（ resident of the foothills of Mount Noro）.It has convas cover.