First Sayagaki

[klee]

Hello

 

I have just been informed by Komaki san from Samurai Nippon that a sword I had requested for a sayagaki came back from Tanobe sensei.

 

I was not expecting such a massive wall of caligraphy honestly. And would love to see what the exact translation says.

 

A quick question I had for anyone familiar with Tanobe sensei:

 

I thought sayagaki will have a kao/signature at the end and I dont think I see one here. Is this normal or is a kao not always present ? 

 

Thank you kindly as always 

 

[Tsuku]

I do not think I have ever seen a Tanobe-sensei sayagaki without a kao. I suspect it is on the other side.

[eternal_newbie]

6 hours ago, Tsuku said:

I suspect it is on the other side.

 

Yes, when he likes a sword enough to write a wall of text he usually writes the commentary on one side and the sword's details (dimensions, distinguishing features, workmanship) on the other, along with his kao. Exceptions include cases where the saya already has writing on one side from another appraiser (typically Kunzan, Kanzan or one of the Hon'nami).

[klee]

Thank you @Tsuku, @eternal_newbie

 

You were right . It is on the back

 

 

[klee]

And Who and what would be the best way to have it formally translated ? 

 

 

[Takezo]

Very nice, looks like he liked it and had quite a bit to say 😎👍

 

I usually get the dealer to send me the exact Japanese characters as written on the saya for my records. This helps as translations can vary slightly depending on the translator (you can send the exact characters around to whoever you want). I have been testing Claude and ChatGPT and they are pretty well versed in translating sayagaki and will even take into account specific context surrounding Tanobe’s style of writing and give you a thorough explanation of the nuances of certain phrases. I have put them beside human translations and they are highly accurate. 

[Tsuku]

1 hour ago, klee said:

And Who and what would be the best way to have it formally translated ? 

The gold standard for translations is Markus Sesko.

[YourBabyBjornBorg]

Why do I have to found this right before my party and away from Chengdu……
 

If I am not hungover too much tomorrow morning, I can help with this!

 

Also I can't get Grammarly to work on my iPhone so I guess it's finally time for people to find out my illiteracy……

 

Wait, the drive to party is way longer then I imagined, so here is the Japanese text, might have some minor errors, working on the translation!

 

備前国住長舩清光作

 

Bizen no Kuni Jyu Osafune Kiyomitsu Saku

 

九字銘有之而製作年紀ガ消サレ二月日ノヲ(edited: ノミ)残存ス

 

a nine Kanji signature with its date erased (or faded?), (edited: only) “a day in February” remaining

 

俗名無キト雖モ孫右衞門尉ニ紛レハ無ク

 

Although not signed in Zokumei, no doubt a work made by Magoemon no Jou

 

蓋シ年號永禄ナラン

 

the date should be Eiroku (1558-1570)

 

Ok I think I have reached the appropriate amount of time looking at my phone at a party so……

 

edited: Phew! A full bottle of white wine and some Baijiu, nothing this Baby Joe chouldn‘t handle. Anyway……

 

頑健ナル先反ノ造込而板目ニ地沸ヲ敷キ
 

Robust and a Tsukurikomi with Sakisori, (Kitae-wise mainly) Itame and with Jinie,

 

肌目ノ立ツ鍛ヘニ得意ノ廣直刃ヲ焼キ足・葉入リ沸ツキ

 

Hada Tachi, made in his signature wide Suguha (Hiro Suguha) with (many) Ashi and Ha and (Ha) Nie

 

横手下ニハ彼ノ個性ナル縦長ノ葉ガ見ラレ

vertically long Ha can be seen under the Yokote as maker’s personal trait
 

其持味ヲ明示スル優品也

 

showing the smith’s charming characteristics, truly a great sword

 

("優品/Yuhin", as in Yuhindo’s Yuhin, literally “a superior work”, a very positive and rare comment by Tanzan Sensei, and long live Mr. Brockbank, a great person I never had the honor of meeting in person but from whom I learned so much, not just Kantei Kanshou but also how to act when faced with ignorance or greed.

 

Very rough translation, more detailed information like “what’s Ashi, Ha or Hada Tachi” might be added in the morning when recovering from hungover orz

 

↑……Ok perhaps just googling them will do it orz

[klee]

@YourBabyBjornBorg

 

Oh my godness thank you so much for this !! 

[Nobody]

11 hours ago, YourBabyBjornBorg said:

.........................................

 

九字銘有之而製作年紀ガ消サレ二月日ノヲ残存ス

 

a nine Kanji signature with its date erased (or faded?), “a day in February” remaining

 

.........................................................................

 

Allow me to correct only one character.

 

九字銘有之而製作年紀ガ消サレ二月日ノミ残存ス

 

a nine Kanji signature with its date erased (or faded?), only “a day in February” remaining

[klee]

And is the opposite side just date and kao ? 

[YourBabyBjornBorg]

Wait, this is weird, I thought I added the translation for the opposite side already……
 

刃長弐尺三寸四分半有之

 

Hachou (blade length) 2 Shaku 3 Sun 4 Fun and a half

 

Something 丙午林鐘探山識（花押）

 

something June 2026 identified by Tanzan (Kao)

 

 

[Nobody]

50 minutes ago, YourBabyBjornBorg said:

.................................................................

 

Something 丙午林鐘探山識（花押）

 

something June 2026 identified by Tanzan (Kao)

 

 

 

The first part of the date desicription is 旹秊.

 

旹秊 (Jinen) – the year

旹 and 秊 are variations of 時 and 年 respectively.

[MassiveMoonHeh]

I love this community! Just one Sayagaki and we have people from the USA, Australia, China, Japan & a nod to Canada all working together in a common cause to translate it! Let this never change!

[PNSSHOGUN]

Look forward to pictures of the sword, sounds like an excellent example. 

[ROKUJURO]

22 hours ago, YourBabyBjornBorg said:

.....and long live Mr. Brockbank......

Yes, we all wished that.....

[klee]

Thank you everyone for the help and esp @YourBabyBjornBorg for the help with the characters 🙏🙏🙏🙏

 

After adding everything up this is what I have so far if the translation is correct

 

 

"Bizen Koku Ju Osafune Kiyomitsu Saku"

 

The tang bears a nine-character signature. The portion containing the date of manufacture has been erased, leaving only "2nd month, day" (二月日).

 

Although no personal name is recorded, there is no doubt that this is the work of Magoemon-no-jō Kiyomitsu (孫右衛門尉清光).

 

The era is most likely Eiroku (1558–1570).

 

It is a robust work with a pronounced saki-zori. The steel shows a well-forged itame-hada with abundant ji-nie, and the grain stands out clearly.

 

The blade displays Kiyomitsu's characteristic wide suguha, containing numerous ashi and yō activities. The temper is rich in nie, and just below the yokote appears his distinctive vertically elongated yō, a hallmark feature that clearly demonstrates his characteristic workmanship.

 

This is an excellent example of his work.

 

Blade length: 2 shaku, 3 sun, and 4 bu 5 rin.

 

Written by Tanzan in the month of Rinchū (6th lunar month), in the year of Hinoe-Uma (Fire Horse).

 

 

[YourBabyBjornBorg]

On 6/27/2026 at 8:11 PM, ROKUJURO said:

Yes, we all wished that.....

 

Oh no......I thought long live meant the same as rest in peace orz 

[eternal_newbie]

1 hour ago, YourBabyBjornBorg said:

Oh no......I thought long live meant the same as rest in peace orz

 

Perhaps you got confused by the saying "the king is dead, long live the king" (which actually means "the old king is dead, long live the new king")?

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_king_is_dead,_long_live_the_king!

[YourBabyBjornBorg]

Just now, eternal_newbie said:

 

Perhaps you got confused by the saying "the king is dead, long live the king" (which actually means "the old king is dead, long live the new king")?

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_king_is_dead,_long_live_the_king!

 

Yes, exactly! Usually when I'm iffy about an expression, I would search for its use cases first, but I chugged down quite some wine just before that, so...... orz