Help with Sayagaki

[rebcannonshooter]

Good Morning all, This is a sword I've had for a while. I struggled for quite some time trying to translate it, it doesn't seem to follow a normal pattern for other sayagaki I've seen. It almost seems as if its a name and address or something like that. Would appreciate any help you guys can give.

Thanks in advance, Tom M.

[Lareon]

1743 Namamugi chō, Tsurumi Ward, Yokohama City?

terashima denai ? 

Name and address

[rebcannonshooter]

Thanks Tony,

When I was working on it, it appeared to be an address in Yokohama, but I just couldn't figure it out. What is "terashima denai"?

Thanks again, Tom M.

[rebcannonshooter]

Tony, 

I'm guessing that "Terashima or Terajima" is a family name, and that "Denai" is the given name of the owner? Is that right?

Thanks again, Tom

[Nobody]

寺島博愛 – Terashima Hakuai

The 3^rd kanji is not 傳 (den), but 博 (haku).

 

I guess that he might be this Terashima Hakuai.

Taisho 13^th year, Joined Nippon Yusen.

Showa 18^th year, Captain

Showa 20^th year, Manager of Marine Department

Showa 23^rd year, Chief Manager of Marine Department

Showa 27^th year, Associate Director

Showa 29^th year, Counselor

 

He is the author of 海難の処置と処理 (Measures and management of marine accidents) published in 1960.

 

[rebcannonshooter]

Thank you MORIYAMA San, 

The sword is beautiful and light, dated 1856, and made by "Morita Yoshiharu" of Hoki Provence. The nakago has extensive inscriptions and indicates that it was named "Cloud Dragon" and was dedicated to a Kasuga Temple (I have no idea which one). I always assumed that the sword came to the U.S. at the end of WW2 and was taken from a shrine by a GI. I've cared for it for about 40yrs and never imagined that it could have belonged to somebody famous, and that possibly he was forced to turn it in at the end of the war. If only these swords could talk, what a story they would tell! 

Thankyou again for your help, Tom M.

[Bugyotsuji]

https://www.kasugataisha.or.jp/en/about_en/

 

Tom, does the inscription on the nakago actually specify Kasuga Taisha?

[rebcannonshooter]

Hi Piers, The inscription only says "Kasuga Sha", and since the swordsmith lived in Hoki I assumed it was a local temple, but have no evidence either way.

 

[Bugyotsuji]

Thanks Tom. I ran a search on 'Kasuga Sha' and 'Hoki', and the following came up. Note that 'Sha' may just be a simplified form of 'Taisha'. They all seem to link back to Kasuga Taisha.

https://www.bing.com/search?pglt=297&q=伯耆春日社&cvid=05a5e38fecc840088ea873209c3df477&gs_lcrp=EgRlZGdlKgYIABBFGDkyBggAEEUYOdIBCTE3NDAwajBqMagCALACAA&FORM=ANNTA1&PC=TBTS

[rebcannonshooter]

Thanks Piers,

The swordsmith was from Yonago, and from what I could find there's no current shrine there. Possibly there was one in the 1850's?? The closest shrine to Yonago seems to be in Tottori. But maybe being in Japan you have better ability to discover a former shrine located in Yonago. 

Thanks again for the help, Tom

[Bugyotsuji]

Unless I am mistaken any local Kasuga shrines were simply extended branches of the main Kasuga Taisha in Nara.

[Nobody]

I found an inquiry about a sword documented 11 years ago on the internet.

I guess that the sword is yours and the questioner is your Japanese friend.

Ref. 鳥取県米子市周辺で郷土の歴史に詳しい方、お願いします。海外の友人から... - Yahoo!知恵袋

 

According to the inscription on the nakago, the dedicator is Mikawaya Jinkichi (三河屋甚吉). And he also ordered the sword. Then I think that we do not have to stick to Yonago.

 

Anyway, this map shows Kasuga shrines around Tottori prefecture.

春日神社 鳥取県 - Bing 地図

 

 

[rebcannonshooter]

Thanks Moriyama san,

 Yes, that's my sword, a friend of mine years ago sent photos to an acquaintance of his in Japan to help solve the mystery. We believed that the dedication on the nakago was made by the same hand as the swordsmith's signature (not a later addition). And, that since it was "dedicated to the Kasuga temple by Mikawaya Jinkichi" my assumption has always been that it was GIVEN to the temple to reside there.  Your post about the sword's possible owner has caused me to re-evaluate my thinking about its history. What is your opinion about it being given to the temple vs. just prayed over at the shrine?

Additionally, maybe you or other members could comment on how common it was to put a name and address on a shirasaya? I'm beginning to wonder if Mr. Terashima put his name on the shirasaya (like Japanese officers did on their military swords) in false assumption/ hope? that the sword would be returned to him. 

Thanks again for all your help, Tom

[Lareon]

20 hours ago, Nobody said:

寺島博愛 – Terashima Hakuai

The 3^rd kanji is not 傳 (den), but 博 (haku).

 
Thank you, yes my mistake