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As always excellent Morita San. No sarcasm or silly comments,pure class. You truly are an asset to the board. ありがとうございました。

Guido wrote:- If he's indeed the maker of this blade, he forged it posthumous during the Kamakura period ... My post was a copy and paste of the top answer to a munechika search obviously not connected to this paper,used purely for the name. Do a search and see for yourself. Something's never change

Munechika, the maker of this tachi blade, lived in the mid-Heian period (794-1185) and is famous as an expert craftsman active when Japanese sword-making techniques were first being established. He is reputed to have lived on Sanjô Avenue in Kyoto during the Eien era (987-989), and is thus known as Sanjô Munechika. He used two signatures, signing his works either Sanjô or Munechika. Clearly the above info states "Blade" and this thread is on a PAPER,so we are talking about the name Munechika as already stated before. If you go a search you will also find more on this.

The 2 large kanji on the right read munechika,who was heian jidai. Im struggling with the rest though sorry. I know you have a translation for the left but if it's not a sword and your open to variation,it could be 小札-こざね which is a small armour platelet. I'm sure Moriyama san or some of the others will help.

I know it's been said here already but I've seen this on the board a few times. I think I even got some of the abrupt,strong,negativity on one of my posts too. We are not all experts and it's human nature if your interested in something to go out and buy it,I'm well aware as I'm sure we all are that books and studying is the way to go but sometimes we are impulsive and just do what we want. Statements like crap,rubbish,you think you know better,go buy books etc don't help and often hurt. There's such a thing as tact and sometimes on the board it's sadly neglected when it comes to less knowledgable people. There's a huge difference between teaching and talking down to others and let's be honest this is a net board about Japanese swords and the like,not everyone has unlimited funds and huge collections. Some people just want to be involved in something. I'm aware when people reply they are mostly trying to help but there's a way to go about it. Not intended to ruffle feathers just an opinion (that I'm allowed),from a member who really wants to be on the board but occasionally feels saddened by tone. Regards Ps When was the last time Morita San came onto the translation page and told someone your translation is crap,can't you read kanji,go buy a book ! The whole Japanese,budo way was based around honour and respect so let's try to show a little more.

Morita San your eyes are excellent and Stephen I too am confused. Why are you an a.....e ?

Hi I don't now about anyone else but I can't see the kanji very well,can you take better photos or use some baby powder on the mei that helps.

The kanji can be read as sei - せい - 制 Which has various translations:- system,organisation,imperial command to name a few. No idea on the A though sorry.

chris wrote:- see above.... (Can't figure out the copy thing ) There were no replies when I posted to this,yet my post shows 3rd ? Would that be time difference? 面白い ?

Hi ? No kuni ju Yamato O or dai (sorry) fujiwara kanehiro but I can't get the other sorry I can't see it to well. I'm sure the boys will sort it out.

It looks like haku- 博 - but 2 strokes are are a little different. Haku or 博 can mean doctor/pjs or it can also mean exhibition/fair. The symbol below is a kamon,these can be family or company names but there are lots. Do a search I'm sure you will find it or something similar.

I like this kind of post almost no info, a name only. On a quick search I saw 1 in Showa period but you would assume more than 1 with that name. It will be interesting to see what info comes in from the experienced guys, with a name only and no pics of the sword.

That helps Hamish. Large kanji reads :- kato shin ichi Hamish kanji has various readings on their own and with other kanji. Your also not Japanese so don't bash yourself too hard. You got fuji etc it was just the other reading. I like your posts,stick with the kanji and keep posting.

Hamish it could also be a name such as kato it depends what's below. The writing on the side is an address or address. I just smashed the screen on my phone so I can't see clearly sorry.

Use some talc powder it might show up better but it doesn't look great.

As above, also the later is a bit outdated and not used so often,also 面倒くさい ( bother/tiresome) to write.

Ouch ! Just for comparison and a little humour can you take another shot of the glass on the tsuba :D

"My impressions echo Pete's exactly. The indents on the linings of the ryo-hitsu are for a round 'seppa' also, not the usual oval. I wouldn't even call it a tsuba." Could be a really expensive coaster

Top is hashimoto Masao I think, bottom not so sure.

I think the top part reads eiwa San nen. Similar to Showa etc a period, mid to late 1300's. ( but I've been wrong before :-) ).

No problem at all Malcolm. にほんご の べんきょう を がんばって。

Forgive me if I'm wrong but there is no small tsu in ゆう,もう or かかん？ I believe it's written as kakan not kakkan which would make it a small tsu as you suggest. The kanji is 果敢 which is kakan. Just as a point of interest kakkan or かっかん would mean object (as opposed to subject).

勇ーゆう、猛ーもう、果敢ーかかん。 Bravery,courage. Ferocious,energetic. Determined,bold. A description of those who enter battle.

Ed and Stephen,when I came and posted here I got off on the wrong foot and very quickly apologised to those concerned and they were graceful enought to forgive. I would like to add that the people in question were mods and senior members who seemed to have extensive knowledge and forth coming with it. Anyone that read my post can clearly see I have no knowledge in this field so if I came across as "disrespectful" it was certainly not my intention. My wife and her father ( who are Japanese) tried to help translate 400 year old kanji and in this instance appeared they may have gotten it wrong so I've done my apologizing here you'll get no more. I got the information I needed,so if it pleases the likes of you I won't post again. To the mods and anyone who helped thank you very much. To the trolls and kiss asses that jump on band wagons **** *** very much.

Thanks jean I got that,I was just looking for anything extra or indepth. Worth,previous sales,sought after etc