more help

[44gpw]

Would somebody translate this for me. Thanks, David C

[george trotter]

Hi David...

it's much more fun, and a learning thing, if you try to do it yourself.

Here's a clue...it's WWII period and the initials of his name are N-- S---

Want to have a shot at it?

Regards,

George.

[outlier48]

Hi David - I've reposted the pics - might be easier to read. George is correct - it's fun to try and to learn. Two character mei is smith's name. 7 character is the date.

 

BTW - any pictures of the blade (hamon, kissaki, etc)?

 

Regards,

 

Charlie Brashear

[Justin Grant]

Without giving it away, I have the date, but it does not fit, so I am going on the assumption that I have the start date off. If someone can PM me or post the starting date, I can add the rest and continue my studies! I love this section, it really helps my learning of Japanese!

[John A Stuart]

昭和十九年十月 Showa Juku Nen Jugatsu 1944 October. John

[Justin Grant]

So Showa starts in 25? I took 26 as the starting year and added 19. So, that is why the date did not look right to me.

[george trotter]

Ha...you've discovered the curse of the nengo!

No, Showa starts in 1926...BUT...the start year is 1, not 0 as in western calendar. eg, last year of Taisho is Tai 15 (1926) and start year of next reign is Showa 1 (1926)..Showa 2 is 1927...so Showa 19 is 1944. Last year of Showa is Sho 64 (1989)...first year of Heisei is Hei 1 (1989)...so this 2010 year is Hei 22. I suppose this "doubling" of end/start year probably accounts for a century or so of "extra years' if you add up all the nengos from the beginning. this has always been a problem for westerners until you learn to "dump" the "0".

Regards,

George.

[John A Stuart]

Hi Justin, Showa starts in 1926 and year 1 is that year, so the 19th year is actually 18 years later. This convention is used in all dating of Japanese swords. The Nengo plus the numerals minus one for the first year. John

Ah, George has said it all while I was writing.

[Justin Grant]

Thanks guys. Memorizing Kanji is one thing, reading and applying is another!

[outlier48]

David - Have you checked your PM or email? Some hints there to help you with the mei.

 

Regards,

 

Charlie Brashear

[44gpw]

With a lot of help and clues and outright givemes, here it goes.... Showa=1926 Ju=10 Ku=9 Nen= Year Ju=10 Gatsu=Month 1926 + 19=1945 -1= 1944, Tenth month= October. Smith= Naosuke Thanks for all the help, David

[Stephen]

1926 + 19=1945 -1= 1944

 

i always start with 1925 saves on the math

 

good work on the mei

[Bruno]

Do you have other pics of the bladen mounts etc...that you can show us?

 

Naosuke is one of the Seki Kaji Tosho, right? Any infos about him anf his work?