Togi-mei. Kanji in the nagashi

[Scogg]

I was visiting with a friend and fellow collector this weekend, and while discussing one of my swords we discovered very subtle kanji amongst the nagashi. An exciting revelation! 
 

I then contacted @Ray Singer who helped me identify it as a togi-mei. He then helped me translate both sides. It was exceptionally hard to photograph, so kudos to Ray for not only his ability, but his patience with my many photo attempts.

One column:

君山研廣 = Kimiyama Kenhiro

Two columns:
越後住 = Echigo ju = made in Echigo province

昭和三十一年 = Showa 31 = 1956
 

Link with old similar discussion and with other examples:

https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/9744-polishers-marks/

 

I thought this was something worth sharing, and to me, is a really interesting window into this swords more recent past.  
 

Thanks for looking,

-Sam

 

 

 

[Sebuh]

Woah this is cool! first 'Ive ever seen of this

[John C]

Sam:

Is this an older blade with a 1956 polish or a gendai blade?

 

John C.

[Scogg]

11 minutes ago, John C said:

Sam:

Is this an older blade with a 1956 polish or a gendai blade?

 

John C.

Hi John,

 

On an old blade in shirasaya. Suriage and mumei

[Scogg]

Had a photo session this morning and was able to get some better photos

[Nobody]

君山研磨 – Kimiyama kenma (“Kimiyama polished” or “Kimiyama polishing shop”)

 

昭和五十一年 – Showa 51^st year (1976)

越後住 – Living in Echigo

(Vertical lines of characters are not well taken in your photos on this side.)

[Scogg]

Thank you so much Moriyama-san! Very much appreciated for the updated translation. Very interesting. 
 

When Ray helped me earlier with translation, he was working with much worse photos (my fault). 
 

Very cool for me to have a date on the polish. 1976 makes sense to me considering the state of Nihonto in Japan, as I understand it, in the 1950s versus the 1970s 

 

Sincerely,

-Sam