Sayagaki Help please

[wakiboy]

I know it’s a bit early but nethertheless Merry Christmas everyone 🎅🎁🍺….

Now down to business..

 I’m struggling with a Sayagaki inscription, I’ve got most of it but I’m stuck on two sections, I’ve got the Hacho as 2 Shaku 3 Sun 4 Bu. (27.54”) but I can’t get the last two characters… also the 3 characters which appear above the Hacho, any help appreciated.

many thanks 

Ian

 

 

[Shugyosha]

Hi Ian,

From Jisho the on-line Japanese dictionary:

有 - possess, have, exist, happen, occur, approx

之 - of, this

 

 

[wakiboy]

Thanks John 

sorry to show my ignorance but I don’t understand what that means in this context 

🤔 Ian

[moriarty]

Greetings Ian, 

 

I believe you've done a great job translating the first picture yourself “This (piece) is approximately 2 Shaku 3 Sun and 4 Bu”

 

As for the last three characters, I'm currently reading them 武藤住 (Mutō Sumi?). Could be the examiner's or Smith name, hope this helps!

 

 

[Shugyosha]

Hi Ian,

Sorry it's hard to give a rendering for the two kanji alone but for the whole thing I think, either "this [blade] has a length of 2 shaku etc" or "this [blade] is approximately 2 shaku etc in length". I tend towards the first one but one of the better linguists may correct me.

 

Hi Maurice,

I'm struggling to see through the light flash on the second kanji but perhaps 武蔵住 "Musashi Ju" - resident of Musashi province. Not sure if this relates to the smith or the caligrapher though.

 

[moriarty]

2 minutes ago, Shugyosha said:

Hi Ian,

Sorry it's hard to give a rendering for the two kanji alone but for the whole thing I think, either "this [blade] has a length of 2 shaku etc" or "this [blade] is approximately 2 shaku etc in length". I tend towards the first one but one of the better linguists may correct me.

 

Hi Maurice,

I'm struggling to see through the light flash on the second kanji but perhaps 武蔵住 "Musashi Ju" - resident of Musashi province. Not sure if this relates to the smith or the caligrapher though.

 

Good eye John! 

 

Maybe I was thinking of another piece while deciphering the second kanji. Still, it's a pretty poor description for a smith, perhaps the calligrapher is more appropriate? 

 

                                   Kind Regards. 

[Shugyosha]

I suspect you're correct but sometimes a blade will have the smith's signature in terms of name and title on one side and then "resident of..." on the other and I wasn't sure if it was the case with Ian's blade so I hedged my bets.

[wakiboy]

On 12/14/2024 at 8:21 PM, Shugyosha said:

Hi Ian,

Sorry it's hard to give a rendering for the two kanji alone but for the whole thing I think, either "this [blade] has a length of 2 shaku etc" or "this [blade] is approximately 2 shaku etc in length". I tend towards the first one but one of the better linguists may correct me.

 

Hi Maurice,

I'm struggling to see through the light flash on the second kanji but perhaps 武蔵住 "Musashi Ju" - resident of Musashi province. Not sure if this relates to the smith or the caligrapher though.

Hi John,

I think I will go with you on “Musashi Ju” as I’ve checked and the smith was working in Musashi. 
Thanks for your help.

Ian.
 

 

[wakiboy]

Thanks everyone for your input, it’s been most helpful.

Have a good Christmas.