Tanto Inscription. Please help

[Itomagoi]

https://japaneseswordindex.com/tsuba.htm

 

I can recommend this site to you.

[Samurai]

1 minute ago, Itomagoi said:

Hmmm. It's not easy to explain briefly. The quality of the craftsmanship is very poor. Even the signature is round and not angular / sharp, meaning it was not signed with a chisel. Look online for fake tsuba, you will found examples like yours. 

That's why these were so cheap! That explains alot. I'm glad I didn't pay alot!

[Samurai]

@Ray Singer Do you really think it's Yoshimitsu? Because the Mitsu part looks different on mine, as far as what's left

[Ray Singer]

No, I don't think it is Yoshimitsu. As mentioned above, it appears to read Yoshihisa. I was only sharing the Yoshimitsu mei for the variations on the kanji for Yoshi. 

[Samurai]

11 minutes ago, Ray Singer said:

No, I don't think it is Yoshimitsu. As mentioned above, it appears to read Yoshihisa. I was only sharing the Yoshimitsu mei for the variations on the kanji for Yoshi. 

I think the writing 久 Is off because the line (-) is not connecting the way it should as you can see..

[Ray Singer]

Maik, what I have been trying to express to you is that the same kanji appear differently based on the hand of the artist. You should not expect a mechanically rigid execution of a mei that matches stroke-for-stroke the way you see the kanji in print. That simply is not how swordsmith's mei look in the real world. This is one Yoshihisa below. There were several craftsman with the art name of Yoshihisa, and I am not saying this is the same person who signed your sword. Nor that it should match exactly. A variation.

 

[Samurai]

10 minutes ago, Ray Singer said:

Maik, what I have been trying to express to you is that the same kanji appear differently based on the hand of the artist. You should not expect a mechanically rigid execution of a mei that matches stroke-for-stroke the way you see the kanji in print. That simply is not how swordsmith's mei look in the real world. This is one Yoshihisa below. There were several craftsman with the art name of Yoshihisa, and I am not saying this is the same person who signed your sword. Nor that it should match exactly. A variation.

 

Yeah, I'll think I'll stick to this one then I guess. Thanks alot for helping me!

I have some more you could maybe help me with. Would you be interested to do so?

[Samurai]

@Ray Singer It looks like something with Masa. But maybe you can figure out what it says, like you did with the others.

[Ray Singer]

Shoami. 

[Samurai]

8 minutes ago, Ray Singer said:

Shoami. 

Oh so it's a school? Then there's no smith linked to it?

[Bugyotsuji]

Correct

[Samurai]

Can someone tell me more about the Shoami?

[eternal_newbie]

51 minutes ago, Maik said:

Can someone tell me more about the Shoami?

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoami

https://jameelcentre.ashmolean.org/collection/7/10237/10350

[Bugyotsuji]

“Who were the Shōami tsuba makers in Japan?“

I just fed that into ChatGPT.

[Lewis B]

I have a fuchi signed Shoami Masanori (founder of the Kyoto Shoami school), although its apparently difficult to distinguish between shodai and nidai work as they both signed 'Shoami Masanori' and produced similar quality pieces. 

[Samurai]

2 hours ago, Lewis B said:

I have a fuchi signed Shoami Masanori (founder of the Kyoto Shoami school), although its apparently difficult to distinguish between shodai and nidai work as they both signed 'Shoami Masanori' and produced similar quality pieces. 

I'd like to see that if that is a possibility  

 

[Lewis B]

Just now, Maik said:

I'd like to see that if that is a possibility  

 

No worries. Hopefully Chris doesn't mind me posting his FS listing. I bought it here...

 

Since you're in the Netherlands I would seriously recommend you attend at least one day of the Japan Art Fair in Utrecht in mid June. Its a unique opportunity for Nihonto, Tosogu and Katchu collectors in Europe. 

 

 

[Samurai]

Just now, Lewis B said:

No worries. Hopefully Chris doesn't mind me posting his FS listing. I bought it here...

 

Since you're in the Netherlands I would seriously recommend you attend at least one day of the Japan Art Fair in Utrecht in mid June. Its a unique opportunity for Nihonto, Tosogu and Katchu collectors in Europe. 

 

 

Tell me more about the Japan Art Fair! When etc.

[Lewis B]

1 minute ago, Maik said:

Tell me more about the Japan Art Fair! When etc.

https://www.japanartfair.com/

[Samurai]

@Lewis B Thanks!

[Lexvdjagt]

 

4 minutes ago, Maik said:

Tell me more about the Japan Art Fair! When etc.

Hello Maik,
 

This link will give you all necessary information about the Japan Art Fair: 

https://www.japanartfair.com

 

I can absolutely recommend you attending, it’s a wonderful opportunity to view some high-end blades in a very nice setting.

 

While you are at it you can also consider joining the Dutch Token Society, we come together 4 times per year to discuss and appreciate Japanese Swords and fittings.

http://www.to-ken.nl
 

Groetjes,

Lex

[Samurai]

2 minutes ago, Lexvdjagt said:

 

Hello Maik,
 

This link will give you all necessary information about the Japan Art Fair: 

https://www.japanartfair.com

 

I can absolutely recommend you attending, it’s a wonderful opportunity to view some high-end blades in a very nice setting.

 

While you are at it you can also consider joining the Dutch Token Society, we come together 4 times per year to discuss and appreciate Japanese Swords and fittings.

http://www.to-ken.nl
 

Groetjes,

Lex

I'm not about joining a Society. I'm sorry..

[Samurai]

Who can possibly help me translate these 2 names?

They're on a WWII Battle flag that was being mounted onto a rifle at the time..

[SteveM]

Very poorly written names, and looks like it was probably written by a westerner. 

 

Left side (white stripe) says 長谷川駅？　Hasegawa Station (not sure about Station)

Right side (red stripe) says (probably) 西川清　Nishigawa Kiyoshi

[John C]

10 hours ago, Samurai said:

They're on a WWII Battle flag that was being mounted onto a rifle at the time..

Just a general note about these. They were so popular with G.I.s during the war that they were being faked and sold during the war. It got so bad that Stars and Stripes had a cartoon about the practice. 

 

John C.