Tsukagoe Tsugunobu Information Requested

[Steve K]

Hello,

Can anyone provide me with some basic biographical information regarding smith Tsukagoe Tsugunobu.  I believe he worked in Gunma Prefecture.  His work appears on page 179 of An Oshigata Book of Modern Japanese Swordsmiths 1868 – 1945 by Slough.  Tsukagoe Tsugunobu appears on a period list of members of the Rikugun Jumei Tosho and he won Fourth Seat under the name Tsukagoe Kaneharu in the Sixth Exhibition of Newly-Made Japanese Swords held in March 1941.

Any information regarding this smith will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you and best regards,

Steve K

[PNSSHOGUN]

Hello Steve, there is scant information on Tsugunobu available and you have most of it already. He originally signed Kaneharu and studied under Ryunsai Kanetomo, along with Tsugumasa and other Gunma province smiths. After that he became the 16th student of Kasama Ikkansai Shigetsugu and changed his Mei to Tsugunobu. He was ranked East Block Komusubi in the 1943 Gendai Tosho Banzuke list. His work (published online) isn't seen very often, if you have photos of a sword and Mei I would be interested to see them. 

 

The below is from Malcolm Cox:

Quote

TSUGUNOBU (継延), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Gunma – “Tsugunobu” (継延), real name Tsukakoshi Yonekichi (塚越米吉), born 1906, he studied under Kasama Shigetsugu (笠間繁継) and Kanetomo (兼友) and signed in early years with Kaneharu (兼春), he worked as rikugun-jumei-tōshō, as Kaneharu jōkō no retsu (Akihide), Fourth Seat at the 6th Shinsaku Nihontō Denrankai (新作日本刀展覧会, 1941).  

Using an old style "tsugu" and Showa 18 (1943) February (not 1936!)

 

The following article has a good deal of information, although the lineage incorrectly placed Tsugamasa under Kaneharu: 

 

https://www.nihontocraft.com/Kanetomo.html

 

George Trotter and Mal Cox provided the following entries from Japanese sources, included is a nice example in my collection that has a special order Mei:

 

 

 

 

[Steve K]

John,

Thank you very much for this information.  It is excellent and I appreciate your help.

My sword is the one with the Mei pictured in the book (according to the seller).  I will attach some photos of the Mei and blade.

The blade is housed in standard wartime T98 fittings and metal scabbard.  It has NTHK Kanteisho papers.

Thank you again and best regards,

Steve