Any help translating Id, prefecture,Age

[TheGalos]

Recently acquired this Nihonto from a neighbor who had owned it for 20 years and had put it away.

It's about time it gets the attention it deserves!

[Mark S.]

Mei reads:

Bishū Fukuyama-jū Kuniyoshi saku

備州福山住国吉作

 

Bishū 備州 consists of three provinces: 

Bizen 備前 (east)

Bitchū 備中 (central)

Bingo 備後 (west)

[TheGalos]

Thank you very much.

Its a real beauty I think i stumbled onto something special definitely WW2 military issue but shortend tang and additional hole plus the mere quality of the blade has me thinking Family Nihonto turned military.

 

[Mark S.]

One reference from Sesko’s A-Z of Japanese Swordsmiths: 
 

KUNIYOSHI (国吉), Keian (慶安, 1648-1652), Bingo - “Bingo Fukuyama-jū Kuniyoshi saku” (備後福山住国吉作), real name Kodama Tōshirō (児玉藤四郎)

[TheGalos]

Im sorry but what does it mean by real name?(Is that the family name?)

[ROKUJURO]

Yes,

the smith name is an art name, often given by the master to his apprentice.