mecox

As noted above looks to be (in Sesko) .... KANENAO (兼直) , real name Ishihara Kanenao (石原金直), born May 25th 1908, he studied under Amachi Suzuichi (天地鈴市) and worked as a guntō smith. He was from Gifu, Kamo-gun, Tomioka-mura (Mia-ji). Looks to have made both Showato and gendaito. Has blades with Seki and Sho-sakura stamps. Oshigata show mei of: Ishihara Kanenao saku (Seki); Seki Ju Ishihara Kanenao saku (Sho); Noshu Osugi Ju Ishihara Kanenao saku (Seki) [Osugi 大杉 maybe a village]. But looks like your blade was remounted is older fittings. There is also another Kanenao (in 1940 record: KANENAO Yasu Kyoichi (兼直　那須　京一) also in Kamo-gun, Tomioka, but probably another village. But no other record of him.

Roger, what about author of this book. Interesting and useful book also.

From what I have seen I think you are correct Maurice, with production through the war and most blades stamped.

Bill, in my files I have two Yoshimune (I assume they are different smiths): YOSHIMUNE 義宗: real name Furukawa Eiichi (古川栄一) . Born Meiji 25 (1892) November 25. Reg. Showa 18 (1943) October 28 (age 51). This is in Sesko list. Now I think these ones were oshigata I found (but I did not keep pic): YOSHIMUNE 義宗: family name Fukumoto. (“Fukumoto Yoshimune” SHO stamp), (“Seki Yoshimune saku” SHO stamp) (“Yoshimune” “February 1945” GIFU stamp) [rinji seishiki] Yours would be like #3 in rinji mounts, with Gifu-sakura stamp and late war (Jan 1945) Or may be the same person?

@SimonAitch interesting record. Looks like surrender would be end of Sept or start of Oct. Thanks for follow up. Mal

Wo motte yasuki hagane Kanemichi saku 以安来鋼兼道作 sho-sakura stamp

@DaveH Dave, your sword is signed: Ichimonji Minamoto Amahide kitau kore 一文字源天秀鍛之 on opposite side looks like 3 stamped numbers, part of assembly process. In NMB Downloads is a summary of his workshop and background of the swordsmiths. The mei like yours on p. 15 & 16.

Examples of Toki Sukenobu of Noshu with and without stamps:

Along these lines, there can be some confusion identifying swordsmiths with the name “Kanekuni” depending which kanji for “kuni” is used. Commonly, publications (and certificates) in English use the simplified form 兼国, however, need to check the sword mei to show which “kuni” was used by the smith.

@Bruce Pennington @Navy I am aware of the various Kaneshige smiths but for the record with Nishimura I note that Jinsoo Kim (in Steins Sword Index) reads him as Kinju. Very little info on him. I prefer this reading, but need to ask the smith how he reads it. 金重 (Kinju) 西村 仁一

I wonder if this could be Kinju (Kinju, Nishimura) ( there are also several Kaneshige)

Dee, yes its not straightforward, and back more so as they started to move sections of Kokura arsenal from 1943. But there were "control groups" for the arsenal is different prefectures. They opened one in Kumamoto (page 29) in Jan 1942, and it could check/accept blades for the arsenal. I understand there are gendaito made of tamahagane which when the RJT scheme was in place (late 1942 and into 43) received star stamp. Before this no star but got "ho" and then was processed within the arsenal system and got 2nd "ho" (I think). So is yours dated? (1942 based on this). Patriot sayings are custom orders or gifts to shrines/special people. PS. I put my paper in PDF format so you can use SEARCH keywords

@Bruce Pennington @Kiipu @KungFooey Moritaka very good smith. Have examples of work and his students in Fukuoka/Kokura paper in NMB Downloads Mal

Ha! We have a similar translation of FIAT - Fix It Again, Tony! Yes, Type 3 is likely the most universal term in the community. It will wash out in time, as all the terms get stirred in the pot and something will come out the other side @Bruce Pennington @vajo Well I was brought up with Fiats in Aust ..... in late 1960's I had an 1100, then 1200 waggon (lay back seats) and my dad had a 2300S coupe and mum a 600.....motto then was "First In All Tests". Of course FIAT is Italian for the company in Torino, or in Latin is "let there be".

@vajo Chris, Nick Komiya located the original Japanese docs using "rinji seishiki" which give the history and explanation. I have attempted to summarise that in my Kyushu paper on pages 16-17 to give correct historic context. The intro..."Rinji Seishiki Gunto 臨時 制式 軍刀 There is some confusion regarding the “name” of this sword and what it is. The first reference was in Army Ordnance No. 5668 September, 1938 with a proposal for a “rinji seishiki” sword, meaning a “temporary regulation” sword as a contingency measure. However, it was never formally approved as a “Type” so does not have a name; therefore, terms such as “Type 3” are incorrect; “Type 100” is also used as the design was approved in 1940, and “1940 Variant” has also been proposed. These terms are labels for convenience.

@Adam D here is some further perspective on Asano Kanezane:

Tamba no Kami Yoshimichi, there were 4 or 5 of the line in mid-late 1600's. Ray could be correct re gimei. Blade pic looks rather new. However, good quality early war mounts for officer, not NCO and look original. Mal

@nihon Jedediah, thanks for post on shinsa of your Sanekage, interesting. In support of Kashu Sanekage quite a bit in NMB Downlaods:

Jacob, for background and comparison there is something on our own NMB Downloads:

Rob, thanks for comments. I use Microsoft Publisher so can cut and past pics and text (e.g. from NBM) then edit and format. The text takes most time and need to find the info, then check and cross-check Japanese and kanji (this is a challenge but my wife is very helpful, and patient!). Also a lot of confirmation is needed. But also lots of help and input e.g. @Kiipu , @Bruce Pennington and others. When you go for the hols, be sure to take Parts 1 and 2. I hope these papers will be a useful start for future studies. Mal

Two really good videos reflecting a dedicated sword artisan now 83 (and supportive wife). As some background here is his 2004 book, signed and stamped (in red) with a positive saying. Not sure how to read it but looks to be "Zengo" words for such as tea ceremony or flower arrangement, with a welcome invitation to participate.

Bruce and Chris, its an interesting example package of a post-war souvenir, showing the mixed koshirae parts. The kodogu all look to be gilted shingunto, and the habaki silver coated (but poorly made). I would think all that work is post-war refit/upgrade. But as you note unusual for a souvenir Hiratoshi. Looking at the blade I would think it is a wartime work. In the update of Naval Swords Part 2 we looked at Tenshozan closely and have 7 Hisatoshi.

Noshu ju Kanenobu Koki ni sen roku hiaku nen ki nen 　濃州住兼延　　　　　　　　皇紀二千六百年　紀念 2600 th year of empire (1940) "memorable year" or "commemorate" less common to see that examples in Slough p. 54 & 55

I have to mention that I got to Part 3 of the Batto-Jutsu in America and in a list of publications found my own book from back in 1997: Iwata Norikazu’s Kiso Iai Kosa was translated in 1995 by Colin Hyakutake Watkin; and in 1997 Malcolm E. Cox’s Iaido: A Handbook; Dr. Friday’s Legacies of the Sword: The Kashima-Shinryu and Samurai Martial Culture, and Nagayama Kohai’s The Connoisseur's Book of Japanese Swords all came out. Stephen Turnbull’s The Samurai Sourcebook and G. Cameron Hurst’s Armed Martial Arts of Japan: Swordsmanship and Archery, both came out in 1998. The decade closed with David Millar’s Samurai Warriors, Scott Shaw’s Samurai Zen, Kenshi Nabeshima’s The Needle and The Sword: Health Strategies of a Samurai Acupuncturist, and Clive Sinclaire’s Samurai: The Weapons and Spirit of the Japanese Warrior on the art and armor of feudal Japan.

Very interesting read and detailed coverage of development, history and people. I lived through a lot of this in Australia at the end of the 1980's and through the 1990's. A worthwhile post Peter. Mal