mecox

A very interesting saying and concept and shown here in a 1997 handbook on iaido

Yes F&G has lots of info. Also he was born Meiji 14 (1881) January 13, real name Yoshida Suzuichi , in Naka-machi, Seki and was early on a registered smith in Seki on Showa 13 (1938) September 9 , at age 57. He is in the 1942 Kurihara tosho list as Ryoko no Retsu (Ge Saku) 7th level of 7.

Yes Mark and Thomas, smith is Kaneuji and dated October, 1941 (10th month, Showa 16). There are 2 Kaneuji listed, he looks to be “Kaneuji” (兼氏), real name Yoshida Reiichi (吉田鈴市), he was a Seki-based guntō smith. Shown in Slough p. 72.

Bruce and Trystan, there is some confusion with how name is read. Sesko has: KANETAKA (兼上), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Gifu – Kanetaka” (兼上), real name Kōketsu Genzaburō (纐纈 源三郎). But may be more common to read as KANEKAMI. He was born July 8th 1899, student of Watanabe Kanenaga (渡辺兼永) in Seki. He is in rikugun-jumei-tōshō list as Koketsu KANETAKA. In 1942 tosho list of Kurihara read as Koketsu Kanekami at 3rd/7 level, Kihin no Retsu (Jo Saku). In 1941 6th Exhibition as "Hanabusa KANETAKA" (Slough p. 215) at First Seat. In the Seki registry of smiths, he registered on Showa 15 (1940) July 25 (age ~ 41), then was living in Seki, Takami-cho. Died Dec 14, 1963.

Bruce and Manuel, have a look at Kojima Kanemichi paper in Downloads page 26 : Kiku Ichimonji 菊一文字 refers to the 82nd Emperor of Japan Go-Toba Chrysanthemum Throne who was a sword enthusiast and 1939 was the 700th anniversary of his death in 1229.

Xander, the two Kinai tsuba are from the later period of the school of the Rokudai (6th) Takahashi master, who had a number of deshi working for him (so variations in the basic mei). They are good basic work in smaller tsuba, probably often given as presents. Here is a summary I did back in 2006 SUMMARY OF ECHIZEN KINAI TSUBAKŌ (on.net)

Good point made by Brian. To me the mei looks rough and certainly not a neat Hizen. Cant see much of the blade, but the ito binding is a quickie western job, so dont know about menuki, and could be some composite parts. Of course this could also go to the owners name tag. No guarantee its original. I have see added ones, both canvas strips and wooden label. Not a dump, just a comment!

That is a very interesting blade/sword and a quality item all up. The level of workmanship indicated on the blade suggests it could well be Kawamura Eijiro Kanenaga. He was a brilliant metalwork artist and an innovative metallurgist, doing leading work with stainless steel, referred to as "taisabiko". He also successfully produced real hamon in stainless steel...which looks like it in the pic? He typically inscribed blades with mei of this smaller, precise form, and also at times used a criss-cross (higaki) yasurime. Although from Seki he did spend extended periods at Tenshozan Tanrenjo....working and experimenting. He died in Aug 1943, but only age 57. This blade is August, 1942. Its OK to be critical of stainless steel swords as not true nihonto, but in my view Kanenaga was highly skilled and well ahead of his time. He also early on (1920's-30's) produced unique stainless pocket knives plus exotic articulated insects from iron and other metals.

There were many generations of Kagemitsu in Kaga (Ishikawa) from early koto and well into shinto. Early ones include 4-5 Juyo blades. Most signed tachi-mei but were some kata-mei. Summarised and examples here:

Bruce, two of his swords have Sho stamps, but he is not in the 1937 Gifu list of smiths, and not in the wartime Seki Registration list. So did he stop work before 1937 or was missed??

OK, likewise could not find a Fukuda Kanetsugu, so does look to be 関住福田兼次作 . There are 3-4 other Kanetsugu, but with 2 other tsugu kanji. The one below looks to be the same man, also Sho stamp, same yasurime. Confirmed with Torokusho. But I could not find any record, and not in the Seki Registration list. So seems to be unrecorded smith. Maybe only worked in late 1930's? https://search.yahoo.co.jp/image/search?rkf=2&ei=UTF-8&gdr=1&p=関住福田兼次&chips=q%3A関 住 福田 兼 次%2Conline_chips%3A軍刀%3AVKP15m7EURw%3D&usg=AI4_-kRDB4ctflvPm93j41bfyHwuwXM9jQ

Ed, as Jan noted he is Fukuda Kanetake. He was an early wartime smith and is in the Gifu list of 1937. Not much available on him, and seems limited production. in this report: It does appear it is not Kanetake, but Fukuda Kanetsugu 関住福田兼次作 . He is very early war as Sho stamp....but it is of interest that he is not in the 1937 Gifu list.

He was a good smith and in the 1937 Gifu list.

Yes I dont have a listing either for 濃州井之口兼正 "Noshu Inokuchi Kanemasa" Others are: # Kurimoto Shoichi Kanemasa (栗本 正一 兼正) born Taisho 7 (1918) a student of Kojima Kanemichi, usually signed “Noshu Seki ju Kurimoto Kanemasa kin saku”, also became a Rikugun Jumei Tosho. # Ono Masaki Kanemasa (大野 正己 兼正) also used Shuryushi (桂龍子) born Taisho 12 (1923) student of Morita Kaneshige 兼重. # Toki Kanemasa (Toki Zenpei) (土岐善平) born 1897 one of 15 students of Kojima Tokijiro Kanemichi 小島 時次郎 兼道 always signed using his family name “Toki”. All produced both Showato and gendaito.

Fritz, this is the Seki, Gifu one, examples and background here:

David, some examples here:

Thanks Brian, it was interesting to summarise the unique history for my own understanding. The folk in Kanazawa museums are also proud of this history and have some good exhibitions. I did contact the local Token Kai but unfortunately no response.

Steve, an active Seki smith. Have a look in this paper

Bruce and Kiipu, following advice of my Japanese speaker; some of his mei read "Ryūōshi 龍王子" and in this context shi means child of king = prince. in his kokuin the 2 kanji are "龍王 = Ryūō" as noted which appears to cover all King/Prince/Monarch/etc. . Maybe its an abbreviation. But we chose to go with "prince" in the general overall discussion.

Peter, I found a few errors and an update and so withdrew it. Should be back up in a week or so.

No I don't believe so.

Bruce/Trystan, I now see he is in Slough page 179, and also uses place name Kozuke an old name for Gunma (not Gumma). Slough reads his family name as Tsukagoe (Slough reads Tsukakoshi).

Bruce and Trystan, it looks like this bloke from Sesko TSUGUNOBU (継延), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Gunma – “Tsugunobu” (継延), real name Tsukakoshi Yonekichi (塚越米吉), born 1906, he studied under Kasama Shigetsugu (笠間繁継) and Kanetomo (兼友) and signed in early years with Kaneharu (兼春), he worked as rikugun-jumei-tōshō, as Kaneharu jōkō no retsu (Akihide), Fourth Seat at the 6th Shinsaku Nihontō Denrankai (新作日本刀展覧会, 1941). Using an old style "tsugu" and Showa 18 (1943) February (not 1936!)

Bruce, sorry I cannot help, dont know this stamp. From the nakago detail and mei cutting looks like an early war product (before 1942?). The position of the stamp could also refer to a type of steel?

Here's a bit more on the Minatogawa Shrine: Minatogawa Jinja Kikusui Forge. The Minatogawa Shinto Shrine was built in 1872 to honour the devotion to the Emperor of army commander Kusunoki Masashige 楠正成 at a battle in 1336 at what was the Minato River, and is now in the western part of Kobe City. The Kikusui mon (chrysanthemum floating on water) his family mon, was later adopted by the shrine and also the Imperial Navy. A version was used on Minatogawa swords. In 1940 the Kikusui Tan-to Kai (Kikusui Sword Forging Association) was formed with an aim to produce Nihonto dedicated to the shrine and for naval officers. A dedication and forging ceremony was conducted on 25 December, 1940 (Showa 15). Around 12 months later, on 2 December, 1941 the forge was moved to a Egeyama, a hill about 1 km to the west (now a bushland park). The dedication and forging ceremony was repeated on 8 December, 1941 (Japan time); Japan declared war on US and UK the same day (7 December US time) one hour after Pearl Harbour was attacked. The shrine was active during the war but was destroyed by fire during an air raid on 17 March, 1945 and was rebuilt post-war; it was dedicated on 20 December, 1950. Traditionally made swords were produced at Kikusui from the end of 1940 to the surrender in August, 1945, but there appears to be a period when tanto were made in place of tachi. These gendaito were for Naval Officers and were largely distributed through the Naval Officers Club. Presumably the forge had supplies of tamahagane, or a substitute. On the nakago the “Kikusui mon” (chrysanthemum flower on water) was engraved above the mei (however, it is not clear if this was only for blades produced at the shrine).