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Mr. Hennick, I have a Tosa Yoshi Mitsu tanto that has menuki identical to the pair on the right side of your photo. What can you tell me about them - who made them? Time period? Thanks, John Loughlin

Thank you again Morita san! You've shown great kindness and patience in answering my questions! John Loughlin

Thank you Morita san! I suspected that the stamp preceding the serial numbers on the blade and the scabbard throat was that of Seki. Is the stamp on the tang also Seki ? John Loughlin

One more! John Loughlin

Okay, only one of the pictures made it that time! Here's another try. John Loughlin

Here are pictures of stamps on the hilt, blade, and throat of the scabbard of a late war sword my Dad brought back from Japan in 1953. Please tell me about them. John Loughlin

First, thank you for your replies! Greatly appreciated! The number 317 entered in the second column - what does it signify? "The date may be Mar 31 in Showa 26th year." Would this be 1952? If so, this would be the timeframe that my father bought the Tanto in or around Kumamoto. Does this mean that the torokusho was prepared at the time he bought it? The entry "none" in the sixth column - none of what? The shira-saya that came with the blade was marked with black paint indicating it is Tosa Yoshimitsu. A piece of paper is pasted to the other side stating in English "Possession authorized as an object of art." I know! I know! Pictures! I'll post some in the sword section when I get them made. Thanks again, John Loughlin

This is a picture of the other side of the paper that I think explains the rules for handling of the blade and the paper. Thanks, John Loughlin

Here's a full view of the paper front. John Loughlin

Please help me understand what this registration paper (torokusho ?) is describing. I've circled in red the entries that were handwritten in ink on the paper. Everything else looks to be preprinted. The characters in the fifth column from the right I think is the name of the smith - Yoshi Tomo. The characters in the top of the third column from the right I think describe the type of blade - is it tanto ? The characters at the bottom of this column I think give the length of the blade - ? shaku, ? sun, and ? bun. The circled characters in the second and sixth columns have me really stumped. I'm having trouble attaching more than one picture to this post, so will have additional posts. Thanks, John Loughlin