mecox

Steve, as noted by Conway and Bruce your sword is 肥前國住保廣作 "Hizen Kuni ju Yasuhiro saku" and dated Showa 17 (1942) January. Family name is Motomura but there is some confusion with sword names. Their context as WW2 swordsmiths is shown in a paper in NMB Downloads “Showa Period Swordsmiths of Fukuoka Prefecture Kyushu and the Kokura Arsenal”. YASUHIRO (保廣). Listed as from Fukumura, Nakagawa in Saga prefecture (old Hizen) with a post-war address: Saga-ken, Saga-gun, Kawafuku-cho, Oaza. Real name is Motomura Tamotsu (元村 保) (single “yasu” 保 can be read as “Tamotsu”). Born in Meiji 43 (1910) he produced through the war and also post-war. His blades have “Yasuhiro” as 保廣 but some references use simple form of 保広. In the 1937 national survey he is listed to have 2 deshi, capital 1000 Yen, and production of 3 blades per month. Before sword-making, he became a deshi making agricultural tools. Later trained under 3rd gen. Muto Hisahiro (武藤 久広) in southern Fukuoka. He submitted to exhibitions before and during the war: Showa 11 (1936): second Nippon-to Tenrankai exhibition sponsored by Ministry of Culture he received Ginpai (silver medal). Showa 13 (1938): third Tenrankai, received Kinpai (gold medal). [no exhibition in 1937]. In 4th, 5th, 6th Tenrankai (1939-1941): received “Suisen” (Recommendation Award). (6th Shinsakuto Exhibition in 1941: also listed as Dai Ni Seki “second seat”). Showa 17 (1942): received "Sori Daijin Sho” (Prime Ministers Award). In Showa 18 (1943) and Showa 19 (1944) the exhibitions were then run by the military as Rikugun Gunto Tenrankai. In 1943 and 1944: received Kaicho Sho (Chairmans Award). He became Rikugun Jumei Tōshō (maybe 1943), and in national 1942 Banzuke was ranked as Jōkō no Retsu (5/7). Post-war registered in Showa 29 (1954) November 1 (age 44). In Shinsaku Meito-ten Showa 42-45 (1967-1970) received Nyusen. Some references use simple "Hiro" 広　but his mei uses 廣 kanji. In 1941 exhibition and 1942 Banzuke listed as 元村 保廣 (Motomura Yasuhiro). Yasuhiro looks to have two sons working post-war and at same address. YASUHIDE (保秀) Post-war address: Saga-ken, Saga-gun, Kawafuku-cho, Oaza. Real name: Motomura Yasuhide. Post-war registraion: Showa 44 (1969) April 19. YUJI (勇次)　 Post-war address: Saga-ken, Saga-gun, Kawafuku-cho, Oaza. Real name: Motomura Yuji Post-war registration: Showa 44 (1969) December 12. Yasuhiro had an older brother who was very active in the war and a key smith in the Kokura Arsenal in northern Fukuoka. KANEMOTO (兼元) Address: Saga-ken, Saga-shi. Nagase-cho, 115. Real name Motomura Kensaku (元村兼作), born Meiji 40 (1907), he studied from 1924 under the 3rd gen. Mutō Hisahiro (武藤久広). He became Rikugun Jumei Tōshō, listed in 1942 Banzuke as late entry equal Jōkō no Retsu (5/7), in the1941 Shinsaku Nihontō Denrankai as 5th seat. Post-war he was registered in Showa 29 (1954) August 28 (age 47). “Hizen no Kuni Nagase-jū Kanemoto saku” (肥前国長瀬住兼元作). “Higo no Kuni Kanemoto” (肥前国兼元). Kanemoto had a son who was an active smith post-war and at same address. YASUNORI (保則) Address: Saga-ken, Saga-shi. Nagase-cho, 115 (later as Kawasuge-cho, Saga-shi). Real name Motomura Yasuhiro (元村 保広), born Showa 24 (1949). He studied under his father Motomura Kanemoto (元村 兼元). He registered in Showa 44 (1969) December 12 (age 20). Sensei of older Motomura. HISAHIRO 久広 3rd gen. Mutō Kizaburō 武藤 喜三郎 Lived in souhern Fukuoka. Real name Mutō Kizaburō, and third son of the 1st gen. Hisahiro; considered to have succeeded as 3rd gen. after his older brother (the 2nd gen.) had died young. He had at least one son, Muto Takekazu Hideyoshi Hisahiro (born 1891). He trained the wartime Motomura smiths.

Well its means one of us is wrong. It is tachi-mei, but from pics doesnt look shinshinto to me. As best I found his real name is Ishii Sanhachi and he was born Meiji 38 (1905) February. That would give ample time to have made a sword before the war, and for remounting as gunto. The lower hole looks a bit rough and newer? Is this the hole used on your sword? Sesko has another Tadaaki.....but not Hizen and different "aki": TADAAKI (忠明), Keiō (慶応, 1865-1868), Inaba – “Yamamoto Tadaaki” (山本忠明). I no longer have Hizen ref books.

Burt, mei is "Hizen (no) Kuni Tadaaki saku" and looks to be “Tadaaki” (忠昭), family name Ishii (石井). In 1942 Banzuke was ranked as Jōko no Jōi (4/7), and in 1941 Exhibition is Fourth Seat. Quite a good smith from Hizen with typical suguha hamon and in quality shingunto mounts. Not dated but looks early war.

Steve, looks a nice package. The smith is “Kaneuji” (兼氏), real name Yoshida Reiichi (吉田 鈴市), born Taisho 14 (1925) January 13 and registered as a Seki smith Showa 13 (1938) September 9 (which is very early and possibly as a deshi? His father was as swordsmith). He is also listed in 1940 as a member of Seki Token Kaji Association (at age 15). In 1942 Banzuke of around 400 smiths he is listed as Ryoko no Retsu (7/7) but would only be age 17. The mei with the date is a bit confusing, it could be read as "Ishii Iemori-to" ("sword of Ishii Iemori") that is the individual, or could be read "Ishii Ke Mamori-to" ("protection sword for the Ishii Family"). Possibly is the latter.

The F&G table for (ix) has Nagamura Kiyonobu, not Yoshikane. These names dont look right?

Bruce, the kokuin stamp has two kanji for "Fuji" and looks like the smith is YOSHIMITSU 義光: real name Yabushita Fujio (藪下不二夫). So looks to be his given name? Born Taisho 4 (1915) August 18. Reg. Showa 15 (1940) April 1 (age 24). (“Noshu Seki ju Yoshimitsu saku” he has a dated blade of “1942” SEKI). Seki gunto smith. Dont know about the "Kiyonobu" in the F&G table? There were three "Yoshikane" with that "yoshi" kanji, I dont know which one you have.

Kanenao....see previous posts.....

Alex, Naval kaigunto, probably stainless steel. Does it have a stamp such as anchor-in-circle. Then from Tenshozan Tanrenjo.

Date: Showa ju roku nen shichi gatsu kichi jitsu Showa 16 (1941) July a good day

@AirborneA152 Ron use the SEARCH on NMB for Kanehide.......some good info. He was a top level smith. 兼秀 Kanehide (中田 勇 Nakata Isamu). More info and context here:

@George KN George, well looks like yours is probably Miwa Masayuki. Its a bit confusing and as you note Ikeda would be too young. I found some other examples that have both taka-no-ha and sujikai filing, and although mei changes a bit looks to be the same smith. It is possible for dated blades he used taka-no-ha earlier and Sho stamp? (1941, 1942) and sujikai later with Seki stamp? (1943). But still needs more study. Miwa Masayuki is listed in 1940 in Seki Token Kaji Association and also to have registered as a Seki swordsmith in Showa 14 (1939) October 26.

@John C Yes the kanna blades by Teruhide and family were well described, but I dont recall reports of others during wartime. However, quite a few Seki (and other) wartime tosho came from backgrounds (father or grandfather) of agricultural tool makers or edged utensils (hamon) and also quite a few went back to that after the war (eg Toki family).

@John C @Bruce Pennington John interesting plane, mei on blade is probably Senkichi 千吉 and yes the ink character on the plane is trademark of Nakano Shoten. This trademark was applied for in Meiji 37 (1904) June 9 and registered same year on September 1. Registration No. 21988 was to Nakano Youzou 中野要蔵 and used into WW2. Nick Komiya [“warrelics”] notes that this logo would be read as “Yamayo”, the upper representing a mountain (“yama” 山) and the lower as katakana “yo” ヨ.

Jose, the mei reads Fukumoto Kanemune 福本 兼宗　with some variation in cutting style. He was a major swordsmith in the Amahide workshop of Seki and it appears the mei could be cut by different people. As noted this is in koshirae for civilian use. In NMB Downloads his background and examples:

@Lareon Tony as you noted the Takeyasu sword is stainless steel and made for the Navy at Tenshozan Tanrenjo (factory). Often they had a stamp of anchor in circle. There were three "Take" smiths: Takeyasu, Takeyoshi and Takeyuki. See paper in NMB Downloads which gives the background and context (also table in page 120):

Pav, mei is "Ishihara Yoshisada saku" (unusual saku). Does it have a stamp? He is YOSHISADA 義定: real name Ishihara Jō´ichi (石原錠一). Born Meiji 32 (1899) August 16. Reg. Showa 14 (1939) October 25 (age 40). Other mei: (“Seki ju Ishihara Yoshisada saku” SHO). (“Seki ju Ishihara Yoshisada saku” SEKI). (“Yoshisada” “1942” SEKI). But do a SEARCH on NMB for other examples and some other styles of mei.

Minoru, more material on Kanehisa in Downloads file:

Looks like it may have a remnant of leather securing strap on upper tsuba (the tsuka side) ?

Eden, it is most likely Kaneko Magoroko KANEMOTO from Seki. He was born in 1924 , trained as a smith and earlier signed Kaneko. In 1944 he became the 27th gen Kanemoto and from then signed 兼元. The hamon of the blade is the classic sanbonsugi of the Seki/Mino smiths that his line used. Your sword in Naval mounted kaigunto and he was known to produce for the Navy. See info and examples in NMB Downloads: Gifu Swordsmiths and also Naval Swordsmiths Part 2.

@Shortstack227 Alexander, your sword is 濃州住兼明作之 Noshu ju Kaneaki saku kore There are three wartime smiths of that name, but with a different "aki" , yours is Kuriyama: KANEAKI (兼明), real name Kuriyama Kenjirō (栗山鍵次郎), born in Meiji 21 (1888) December 4, was a student of early school of Watanabe Kanenaga (渡辺兼永) and Niwa Kanenobu (丹羽兼信) and also of Fujiwara Kanezumi (藤原兼住). He lived in Gifu, Kamo-gun, Kajita-mura, Tochibora, and registered early on as a Seki swordsmith on Showa 14 (1939) October 20. He died on August 23rd 1966. He was ranked in 1942 as jōkō no retsu, and in 1941 exhibition as Second Seat. So he was a very good smith. Be good to see the sword blade. As noted it has a Sho-sakura stamp so not fully traditional made. NOTE: I should have done this before, SEARCH on NMB shows we have had much discussion on Kaneaki.

William and Rob, hard to know circumstances. (the surrender of Japan was announced by Emperor Hirohito on August 15, 1945) Hibino Ichiji (日比野一二) was born: Taisho 6 (1917) May 6 Reg. Seki tosho: 1942, Sept 10 Address 1942: Oyama, Tomida-mura. Died 1945, August 20 (age 28). Meiirin Sangyo Co Ltd has a sword for sale, also with this text (translation): Originally, it is a valuable sword that should be displayed in a museum in Seki City. Kindo swordsmith, whose real name is Ichiji Hibino, was born on May 6, Taisho 6, and lives in Seki City, Gifu Prefecture. On August 20, Showa 20, he was a brave martyr of the Showa Restoration who took responsibility for Japan's defeat and judged himself at the age of 29 on August 20, Showa 20. At that time, many martyrs felt responsible for Japan's defeat in the war on August 15, Showa 20, and went to the square in front of the Imperial Palace or the Imperial Palace to apologize to the Emperor. The creator of this sword, Kindo swordsmith, is also a brave man in the spirit of bushido. It's a shame to think how many wonderful Japan swords he would have made if he had been resurrected as a swordsmith after the war The mei Is Kinmichi and date appears to be Showa 18 (1943) September

Can you post pics of whole sword and fittings? cheers

KINMICHI (金道), real name Hibino Ichiji (日比野一二), born May 6th 1917, he worked as guntō smith and died August 20th 1945. Seki stamp

After looking further....this is MASAYUKI (正行), but I dont think it is Miwa Tomoo (三輪友雄), born August 8th 1895. As he used taka-no- ha yasurime and was mostly before 1943. Here is similar example from Japanese Sword Index

Brass shingunto tsuba (one side slightly filed) with pair copper seppa Shingunto kabutogane with brass sarute (good condition) Shingunto fuchi with offset hole Pair black gunto sakura menuki (well made reproductions) 2 x gold transfers of mon Price for lot: AUD150 plus shipping (standard air mail to US with tracking AUD30). (Paypal)