Guntō Kumiai Shimatsu book

[Julien]

Hi everyone,

I found a supplier offering new official reprints of Guntō Kumiai Shimatsu, Vol. 5, swordsmiths commissioned by the Japanese Army.

Please note that the book is entirely in Japanese. I have already ordered a copy and will share photos once it arrives and I have had the chance to inspect it.

It seems to be a fairly scarce title, and I believe someone here may have been looking for it in the past.

If you are interested in a copy, feel free to send me a private message, I can place an order on your behalf and forward it to your location.

 

[Bruce Pennington]

Julien,

Thanks for the post.  Hope some of our Japanese readers can make use of it.

 

Have you been through it yet?  Is it just a massive list, like Sesko's sword smith list?  Does it discuss the Army's operation at all in the industry?  Does it tie smiths to forges, shops, or arsenals?

[Hector]

It's the last of a series of five books by the same author - the first four being primarily concerned with traditional blacksmithing of agricultural tools in Aizu province.

Below is the contents list of the Gunto book translated into English.

 

Best,

Hector

 

Edited Friday at 11:20 PM by Hector
Correction.

[Toryu2020]

Would love to see some of those poems...

[Bruce Pennington]

I really hope one of are fluent guys can get a copy and read it for insights, like that chapter on the Tokyo 1st Army Arsenal!

 

What year was this written Julien?

[Julien]

@Bruce Pennington The original edition is from 1994, written by Tsutsumi Akira. The chapter 3 and the poems were my main focus... Once I receive it, I will share some information. 

Regarding the other four books, they are the following : 
-The Bladesmiths of Aizu
-The Field Blacksmiths of Aizu 
-The Sawsmiths of Aizu : Modern Figures and Their Lineage
-The Sawsmiths of Aizu : The Circle of Nakaya Hoemon and Hozaemon
 

[Bruce Pennington]

7 hours ago, Julien said:

The original edition is from 1994,

Ah, Ok.  I was hoping it was put out nearer to the war years.  Seems unlikely to have more than we already know if it was written in '94.  I could be wrong, though.

[Julien]

@Bruce Pennington I was actually looking for one specific swordsmith, and was unable to find any information in English, and only a few in Japanese. All the informations were quoting this book ! But I will tell you more once I receive it. 

[BANGBANGSAN]

@Bruce Pennington

Author: Tsuzaki Akira 堤章 (birth name Endō Akira 遠藤章), third‑generation Kanemitsu(兼光）, was born in Shiokawa‑chō （塩川町） in 1924 (Taishō 13). He graduated from the Department of Applied Chemistry at the former Aizu Industrial High School in 1941 (Shōwa 16), then joined Hokkaidō Synthetic Oil Corporation and worked on synthetic‑fuel research. After WWII concluded, he was demobilized home from North China. He subsequently apprenticed under the first‑generation Kanemitsu to master traditional sword‑forging techniques.

In his later work Aizu no No‑Kaji (Rural Blacksmiths of Aizu) 会津の野鍛冶 , Tsuzaki Akira wrote about numerous smiths who supported their era by manufacturing agricultural tools.

hese are his five‑volume book series on Aizu smithcraft, the Aizu Kaji Sōsho (Aizu Blacksmith Series)会津鍛冶叢書。

 

[Bruce Pennington]

5 hours ago, BANGBANGSAN said:

Author: Tsuzaki Akira 堤章 (birth name Endō Akira 遠藤章), third‑generation Kanemitsu(兼光）, was born in Shiokawa‑chō （塩川町） in 1924 (Taishō 13). He graduated from the Department of Applied Chemistry at the former Aizu Industrial High School in 1941 (Shōwa 16), then joined Hokkaidō Synthetic Oil Corporation and worked on synthetic‑fuel research. After WWII concluded, he was demobilized home from North China. He subsequently apprenticed under the first‑generation Kanemitsu to master traditional sword‑forging techniques.

In his later work Aizu no No‑Kaji (Rural Blacksmiths of Aizu) 会津の野鍛冶 , Tsuzaki Akira wrote about numerous smiths who supported their era by manufacturing agricultural tools.

hese are his five‑volume book series on Aizu smithcraft, the Aizu Kaji Sōsho (Aizu Blacksmith Series)会津鍛冶叢書。

Well then, he might actually have some insight on the WWII swordmaking world and arsenals that we don't have in our modern reference material.

 

Looking forward to hearing more about this!

[BANGBANGSAN]

2 hours ago, Bruce Pennington said:

Well then, he might actually have some insight on the WWII swordmaking world and arsenals that we don't have in our modern reference material.

 

Looking forward to hearing more about this!

Bruce

The story of “The last Mantetsu sword“, which I referenced on page 11 of  Mantetsu‑sword thread, comes from page 109 &110 of this book 軍刀組合始末 Guntō Kumiai Shimatsu. It is an oral account given by younger son（Hachuhiko 八州彦） of Mantetsu sword smith Wakabayashi Shigetsugu 若林重次.Shigetsugu  重次 also use Shigefusa 重房 mei as an RJT smith.

 

 

Page 109

I well remember the day of Japan’s surrender, August 15, Shōwa 20. Within the Sendai 2nd Division, not a single military‑uniformed man could be seen around the elite Wakamatsu Regiment. Half a month later, in September, roughly one thousand American troops (New‑York‑based soldiers) occupied Wakamatsu. It is true that nearly all townsfolk hid their anxiety and lived in constant apprehension, uncertain what the future would bring. Around this time, my father went through considerable trouble to bring back military swords for which he had not yet received payment, as well as swords that were in transit. He hated to see the swords he had worked so hard to make confiscated by American GIs and turned into scrap iron. Whether he also thought they might someday become valuable, I cannot know, but there were at least seventy blades, even if one‑hundred is an exaggeration. American soldiers held an intense aversion to Japanese swords and launched the so‑called “sword‑hunt”; Japanese police assisted them, and every item bearing the name “sword” was subject to confiscation. Even period‑film chanbara sword‑fight movies were banned. Even wooden Byakko‑tō props were prohibited from manufacture and sale merely because they bore the word “sword”. After family discussion, we decided to bury those swords in the vacant lot behind our house.

We dug a deep pit, like a grave. We poured in large quantities of the dry lime (sohai) I mentioned earlier. Each sword was heavily coated in grease, wrapped individually, bundled roughly ten blades at a time with rough straw rope, lowered into the dry‑lime pit, and finally covered and compacted with soil.

 

Page 110

Many people claimed: “Even if you hide swords, American soldiers carry radio‑detector gear and will find them right away.” My father was apparently quite nervous at first. Still, he maintained an outward appearance of normalcy, earning a living making carpentry tools and mechanical plane blades. Several years passed in this manner.

Around Shōwa 25, after the peace treaty with the United States went into effect, a formal registration system for sword ownership was established. Under certain conditions, private possession of swords once again became legal. At that point we grew restless, wondering what state those buried swords might be in, and resolved to dig them up. We felt a mix of excitement, eager to uncover them, and worry that they would be heavily rusted. My father (Shigetsugu重次), my older brother (Morihiko守彦), and I took shovels and dug them out, covered head‑to‑toe in mud. Unfortunately, groundwater had seeped into the pit. Every single one of those seventy‑odd newly‑forged blades had corroded bright red, crumbling to pieces. Our hope that at least half might survive proved futile. I still vividly recall the shock of that day, when all our energy seemed to drain away from our bodies.

[Bruce Pennington]

I remember that story! Thanks for the reminder.

[BANGBANGSAN]

@Bruce Pennington

This table is the July 19, 1942 inspection report of unfinished blades sent to the Army.  Shigetsugu 重次 submitted 4 blades(#251-254) .#253&254 passed inspection, 251&252failed, The two blades that passed inspection would receive the star stamp.

Blades 255 onward were forged by Akimasa 昭正.

[Bruce Pennington]

7 hours ago, BANGBANGSAN said:

@Bruce Pennington

This table is the July 19, 1942 inspection report of unfinished blades sent to the Army.  Shigetsugu 重次 submitted 4 blades(#251-254) .#253&254 passed inspection, 251&252failed, The two blades that passed inspection would receive the star stamp.

Blades 255 onward were forged by Akimasa 昭正.

Do you think those are numbers stamped on the blades?  This fits exactly what I imagine was being done with these stamped numbers.

I don't have blades from either Shigetsugu or Akimasa in my files, yet.

 

[BANGBANGSAN]

38 minutes ago, Bruce Pennington said:

Do you think those are numbers stamped on the blades?  This fits exactly what I imagine was being done with these stamped numbers.

I don't have blades from either Shigetsugu or Akimasa in my files, yet.

 

In my opinion， the serial number should be stamped  on the tang.

[Bruce Pennington]

21 minutes ago, BANGBANGSAN said:

on the tang.

Yes, that's what I meant.  So, this chart semi-confirms my theory that the stamped numbers are put there by the Army, not fittings shops.   The final step would be finding a blade that actually matches the chart.
 

Is there more to the chart, or is that it?

[BANGBANGSAN]

4 Shigetsugu （會津住重次作 Aizu Ju Shigetsugu Saku ）signed blades in my records:

 

1.Date marking ground‑off, can't see the star stamp / serial number on tang.

 

 

2.Dated Aug Shōwa 19, can't see the star stamp / serial number on tang.

 

 

 

3.Dated Sep Shōwa 19, can't see the star stamp / serial number on tang.

 

 

 

4.Dated Mar Shōwa 19, has star stamp, no full‑tang photos; serial number status unknown.

 

 

[BANGBANGSAN]

14 minutes ago, Bruce Pennington said:

 

Is there more to the chart, or is that it?

The complete chart is not present in the book.

[Bruce Pennington]

34 minutes ago, BANGBANGSAN said:

Shigetsugu （會津住重次作）

I see a Wakabayashi Shigetsugu on the RJT list of JSI, but don't see him in either Slough or Sesko.  Do you know a prefecture he was from?

[BANGBANGSAN]

29 minutes ago, Bruce Pennington said:

I see a Wakabayashi Shigetsugu on the RJT list of JSI, but don't see him in either Slough or Sesko.  Do you know a prefecture he was from?

 

As previously noted  on page 11 of  Mantetsu‑sword thread, he was the 6th‑generation Shigefusa 重房, also signed as Shigefusa.

Aizu 會津 -historical region in western Fukushima Prefecture 福島縣, Tohoku (Northeast Japan). Main city is Aizu‑Wakamatsu 會津 若松 once the seat of Aizu Domain, famed for its long sword‑smithing tradition.

 

From Sesko&Slough 

SHIGEFUSA (重房), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Fukushima – “Shigefusa” (重房), “Aizu-jū Wakabahashi Shigefusa

saku” (会津住若林重房作), family name Wakabayashi (若林), the Wakabayashi Shigefusa lineage was one of six that

made swords on a hereditary basis for the Aizu fief, buth with the Meiji Restoration and the ban on wearing swords, they

had to give up sword making and became manufacturers of carpenter and agricultural tools, although playing an

important role in the rise and spreading of the local cutlery production, this Shigefusa made again swords and worked as

a guntō smith, jōko no jōi (Akihide)

[Bruce Pennington]

4 hours ago, BANGBANGSAN said:

also signed as Shigefusa.

Trystan, forgive my slowness, but I don't see on your other posts or in the Sesko citation a statement that Shigetsugu also signed as Shigefusa: "若林重次 Wakabayashi shigetsugu study under 笠間一貫齋繁繼（Kasama Ikkansai Shigetsugu）and his father 若林重房 Wakabayashi Shigefusa."

 

On the other hand, I have references that Shigefusa also signed as Zuiho.  But I don't have a Shigetsugu - Shigefusa signing reference.

[BANGBANGSAN]

1 hour ago, Bruce Pennington said:

 

 

On the other hand, I have references that Shigefusa also signed as Zuiho.  But I don't have a Shigetsugu - Shigefusa signing reference.

The Shigefusa (重房) lineage is somewhat complex and gives me a headache. Below is their family chart.

1st‑generation Shigefusa: Wakabayashi Aemon (若林安右衛門) (d. 1830)

2nd‑generation Shigefusa: Wakabayashi Inokichi (若林豬之吉) (1824‑1875), second son of Aemon (安右衛門)

3rd‑generation Shigefusa: Wakabayashi Daisuke (若林大助) (1850‑1891)

4th‑generation Shigefusa: Wakabayashi Morizō (若林守藏) (1868‑1942), brother‑in‑law of Daihachi (大八)

5th‑generation Shigefusa: Wakabayashi Daihachi (若林大八) (1879‑1926), eldest son of  Daisuke (大助)

6th‑generation Shigefusa: Wakabayashi Shigetsugu (若林重次), real name Ichiji (壹次) (1879‑1960), eldest son of Morizō (守藏)

7th‑generation Shigefusa: Wakabayashi Noboru (若林昇) (1914‑1944, KIA on Iwo Jima), eldest son of Daihachi (大八)

8th‑generation Shigefusa: Wakabayashi Morinobu (若林守延) (1926‑1982), eldest son of Shigetsugu (重次)

The direct male heirs of the main Wakabayashi family tended to die relatively young. In contrast, Shigetsugu (重次) and Morinobu (守延), from the lineage of the son‑in‑law Morizō (守藏), enjoyed comparatively long lives.

 

 

[BANGBANGSAN]

6 hours ago, Bruce Pennington said:

Trystan, forgive my slowness, but I don't see on your other posts or in the Sesko citation a statement that Shigetsugu also signed as Shigefusa: "若林重次 Wakabayashi shigetsugu study under 笠間一貫齋繁繼（Kasama Ikkansai Shigetsugu）and his father 若林重房 Wakabayashi Shigefusa."

 

 

According to Morinobu 八州延 (the youngest son of Shigetsugu 重次): His father Shigetsugu 重次 , to whom this lineage traces, also forged swords and likewise carved the signature Shigefusa” 重房 onto his blades.

A few Mantetsu blades bear the Wakabayashi Shigefusa (若林重房) mei. Shigetsugu (重次) was employed by Mantetsu from 1937 to 1941. The mei example shown in Slough’s book reading “At Fushun Coal‑Mine Factory, Wakabayashi Shigefusa saku kore” (於撫順炭礦工場 若林重房作之) is also his work.

I believe you can now see how Shigetsugu 重次 and Shigefusa  重房 are connected.

[BANGBANGSAN]

1 hour ago, Bruce Pennington said:

 

 

On the other hand, I have references that Shigefusa also signed as Zuiho. 

That was Kojima Shigefusa 小島重房  from Tokushima 德島。Not Wakabayashi Shigefusa  若林重房 from Aizu 會津.

SHIGEFUSA (重房), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Tokushima – “Zuihō Shigefusa” (瑞峯重房), real name Kojima

Kameta (小島亀太), born 1887, he used the gō Genbusai (玄武斎) and was the son of Kojima Kunitomo (国友), he

founded the forge Genbusai Tantō Jo (玄武斎鍛刀所) and also worked as rikugun-jumei-tōshō, kihin no retsu (Akihide)

[Bruce Pennington]

Now I have a headache! When I get a chance later today, I will go over this. Thank you, Trystan.

[Bruce Pennington]

Ok, I got them straightened out in my head.

All the Shigefusa star stamped blades I have on file (5) are Kojima Shigefusa, who also signed Kojima Zuiho, whom I have 1 blade of.

Shigetsugu Wakabayashi (1 star blade on file) also signed Shigefusa, however I have no blades of this mei with star on file.  Also, the only Shigefusa on the RJT list was Kojima, so maybe Wkabayashi never registered with the RJT under his Shigefusa mei.

 

Now, my apologies to @Julien for the hijacking of his thread - back to your regular programming!

[Hector]

Hi Bruce,

 

This is a Yahoo auction from a couple of months ago for one of Aizu Shigetsugu's blades from Shōwa 19. It may be one that is already featured above - in which case I apologize.

I can't see any number stamps on it.

 

https://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/g1096064452

 

PS: The blade itself went for absolute peanuts!

Edited Monday at 03:46 AM by Hector
Typo.

[BANGBANGSAN]

47 minutes ago, Bruce Pennington said:

Ok, I got them straightened out in my head.

All the Shigefusa star stamped blades I have on file (5) are Kojima Shigefusa, who also signed Kojima Zuiho, whom I have 1 blade of.

Shigetsugu Wakabayashi (1 star blade on file) also signed Shigefusa, however I have no blades of this mei with star on file.  Also, the only Shigefusa on the RJT list was Kojima, so maybe Wkabayashi never registered with the RJT under his Shigefusa mei.

 

Now, my apologies to @Julien for the hijacking of his thread - back to your regular programming!

Bruce: I think you will still have a headache.

He rigistered as  Wakabayashi Shigetsugu (若林重次) on the As seen in the Rikugun Jumei Tosho Swordsmiths Known From Literature Sources list, Row 3, Number 35. https://japaneseswordindex.com/gendai2.htm

However, in the WWII Japanese Swordsmiths Ranking, he is listed as Wakabayashi Shigefusa (若林重房) under Chūjō‑saku (中上作) = Jōkō no Jōi (上工の上位). https://japaneseswordindex.com/tosho.htm

 

 

[Bruce Pennington]

10 hours ago, BANGBANGSAN said:

However, in the WWII Japanese Swordsmiths Ranking, he is listed as Wakabayashi Shigefusa (若林重房) under Chūjō‑saku (中上作) = Jōkō no Jōi (上工の上位). https://japaneseswordindex.com/tosho.htm

Sure.  I didn't mean that his Shigefusa mei wasn't registered anywhere.  I just mean it maybe that he didn't do any RJT work (meaning gets star stamp) using his 'fusa' mei.

[Kiipu]

I think we covered this before via the thread below.

Tang. Your opinion ?