Ian B3HR2UH

Army Surgeon Lieutenant Kamisaka Yoshinosuke

I thought this one was interesting , a naval officer with a Shinto gunto

This one is signed Yanagawa Naomasa but the mei doesn't match those in Kinko Meikan or Wakayama. Bonham's did sell a very similar pair in 2023 which had Tokubetsu Kicho papers and a Sato Kanzan attribution to Naomasa

Similar ones to this piece in Japanese publications are labelled Satsuma or Oda school

Hi Jake , it is right here in Victoria

Thanks , yes my mistake I had it as Morimasa and wrote Morimitsu by mistake . Thanks again for your help with the translation. Ian

I am glad you liked it Brian . The blade is hirazukuri with an orikaeshimei Bishu Osafune Morimitsu , circa 1360 , I believe . It is tokubetsu hozon from memory . None of the fittings are signed Lewis Ian

Here is the first page again hopefully with the correct alignment

The attached might be of interest

I was struggling with the Japanese description of a mounting . Mr Moriyama , who is a huge asset to the Board , assisted by giving me the translation ,being Yosegane ,together with a link to the Mokumekin Museum . The museum describes Yosegane as"like marquetry Yosegane combines metals of different colors to create patterns ". Members might be interested to see an example of what I now know to be Yosegane. This sword , regretably not mine , is one of the finest that I have ever handled. I hope you enjoy looking at it . Ian Brooks

Thank you , that makes sense . Your help is much appreciated . Ian

Can anyone tell me what these characters would read when they follow the characters for fuchi or kashira . On their own they read kikin meaning contribution or donation but that makes little sense as part of a description of a fuchi kashira or tsuba

Nagasone okisato nyudo Kotetsu . A much faked maker

That is the makers name not a valuation

I think this is the swordsmith Munechika forging the blade Kogitsune Maru ( little fox ) aided by the Fox Spirit in the form of a youth . See plate 5 of Robinson's The Arts of the Japanese Sword

Your tsuba is signed Shozui . Shozui 1696 - 1769 is a very famous and much faked maker who founded the Hamano school . Your tsuba looks to be a quality piece but not in Shozui's style. Ian Brooks

I am sorry to say it but this is a Chinese fake Ian Brooks

It is almost impossible to give an opinion from these photos without having the sword in hand but here goes The freshness of the nakago and the roughness of the file marks lead me to think that the blade is probably Showa . On the other hand the Habaki is older and points to the blade also being older . The habaki seems not to fit too well though so may be added. The overall impression that this piece gives is one of low quality so I wouldn't be expecting too much . Ian Brooks

Great piece . Have a look at Fuller and Gregory's write up on Imperial household swords

It is a modern Chinese fake

It is genuine in that it is a real Japanese sword . The question as John says is the blade really made by Yasuyo . The Japanese produced a lot of blades and put the names of famous makers on them to make them more saleable . This is like coming across a painting signed by say Picasso . It is a real painting but was Picasso the actual artist or did someone sign it with his name to make it more saleable