Mei and Surrender Tag Translation Assistance

[Conway S]

Greetings, 

 

This evening, I had the opportunity to examine a sword that belongs to my neighbor. His father brought it back from WW2.The blade is in rough shape. It’s suriage with bohi. I took careful measurements and will post additional photos in the Nihonto section. Any help with the mei and surrender tag would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

 

 

 

 

[John C]

Conway:

Was there anything above the first character? I've seen that kanji paired with field rank.

 

John C.

[Nobody]

於駒橋元近作之 – At Komahashi, Motochika made this.

 

佐世保市浪瀬免三一番地代五班本郷盛馬 – Sasebo-shi Namise-men 31, the 5^th group Hongo Morima

[Conway S]

@Nobody Thank you very much Moriyama san. I appreciate your help. 
 

 

[Conway S]

@John C Thanks for the tip on the field grade ranks. That was the start of the writing on the tag.
 

I found that Sasebo is a city in Nagasaki Prefecture. Nagasaki is where my neighbor’s father acquired the sword. 

[John C]

1 hour ago, Conway S said:

Sasebo

There is a large US naval base there. Perhaps the father was in the Navy.

 

John C.

[Conway S]

8 hours ago, John C said:

There is a large US naval base there. Perhaps the father was in the Navy.

 

John C.

 

USMC and was in Nagasaki in 1945. 

 

Here’s a picture of the blade. It has a 67.3cm nagasa. 

 

 

[PNSSHOGUN]

Are the mounts Navy, Army, or traditional? 

[Conway S]

The mounts are late-war/civilian. I did not capture a clear photo of the tsuba, but it is a non-military tsuba of lower quality.