Help requested on Type 98 Shin-Gunto Mei

[tbonesullivan]

Been trying to figure this one out for a week or so on and off. The nengo was no problem but the mei is giving me fits. Some of the characters are easy and some I can't figure out. I looked at all the Kanji for provinces, but did not see a match. YOSHU maybe? Any help on this would be greatly appreciated. I've tried drawing them here but keep coming up blank: https://kanji.sljfaq.org/

 

MEI: ? 州 北 条 ? ? 正 作 

 

NENGO: 昭 和 十 九 年 十 月 日 - Showa 19 (1944) 10th month (October)
 

[Ray Singer]

This is the WWII era swordsmith Torio Hiromasa (鳥生博正). This example is dated October, 1944.

https://www.google.com/search?q=torio+hiromasa+site%3Awww.militaria.co.za&rlz=1C1ONGR_enUS1136US1136&oq=torio+hiromasa+site%3Awww.militaria.co.za&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOdIBCDI3MzNqMGo3qAIAsAIA&sourceid=chrome&source=chrome.ob&ie=UTF-8

[YourBabyBjornBorg]

Mei reads 豫州北条住博正作, so yes, this is Yoshu (豫州 or sometimes 予州)! Short(?) for Iyo no Kuni, nowadays Ehime Province.

[tbonesullivan]

On 7/28/2026 at 8:25 PM, YourBabyBjornBorg said:

Mei reads 豫州北条住博正作, so yes, this is Yoshu (豫州 or sometimes 予州)! Short(?) for Iyo no Kuni, nowadays Ehime Province.

 

Is 北条 -  HŌJŌ a location that used to be there? I can see that there was one founded in 1958, but can't find much earlier.

[Shugyosha]

Hi David,

I think Hojo is a family name - it goes back to one of the great feudal clans. 

 

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

[Nobody]

The following part from 北条市-Wikipedia is translated by AI.

 

Meiji Period

1.   With the enforcement of the municipal system, it became Hojo Village.

The districts of Hojo, Tsuji, Dotenai, and Yasujima merged.

2.   April 1897 (Meiji 30) - Kazahaya District was incorporated into Onsen District along with Wake and Kume Districts, becoming Hojo Village in Onsen District.

3.   November 1898 (Meiji 31) - Hojo Village was elevated to town status and became Hojo Town.

 

Ref. 北条市 - Wikipedia