translation help -- something mitsu

[David McDonald]

Dear All

 

I am working on identify a 28.3 inch katana signature.

Sori is 1.25 inch (2.8 cm)

Hamon looks to be midare to a ko-choji midare

 

I am not sure of the first kanji.

 

拝gami, hai or maybe 祥yoshi, Jō, Shō

 

光 mitsu

 

Yoshimitsu does lead to a a Bizen smith working around 1429.

 

But the nakago does not look Bizen.

 

Any ideas?

 

Thanks for any thoughts you might have. I am starting to lose sleep trying

to identity the first kanji.

 

Thanks

david

[Ludolf Richter]

Hi!The 1st Kanji,without the upper part to be seen,is probably Yoshi 義,so it's Yoshimitsu.I have checked the Mei of the 2 Koto guys from Bizen,YOS 1563 and 1565.The writing is similar,but it's not from them.There are some more 義光 without references where to look.Ludolf

[David McDonald]

Dear Ludolf

 

Thanks for the thought. Looks like it might be right.

I did not find an example in my books to confirm but sure do not see anything else.

 

Thanks all that looked

 

later

david

 

Hi!The 1st Kanji,without the upper part to be seen,is probably Yoshi 義,so it's Yoshimitsu.I have checked the Mei of the 2 Koto guys from Bizen,YOS 1563 and 1565.The writing is similar,but it's not from them.There are some more 義光 without references where to look.Ludolf