PNSSHOGUN

https://griffinmilitaria.com/product/1805-dated-katana-by-a-famed-Japanese-swordsmith-in-world-war-ii-army-officer-mounts/

This very much looks like a war time oil tempered blade with date and stamps removed, used for martial arts.

No decorations based on rank except an original General tassel, without distinct provenance it's impossible to ascertain from mountings alone if a senior or junior officer owned a sword. The curved Tsuka is more often seen on early Type 94, as it follows the initial IJA specification drawing that was given to sword shops and Koshirae makers. An officer could bring in a sword to a shop and the Koshirae would be made to fit it exactly, it was a matter of money on what features would be included. Additionally senior officers were known to own multiple swords. Occasionally with some of the better makers, the owners surname will appear on the fittings.

Yes, it appears to be a Type 94 from the curved Tsuka, thick Tsuba, and the low position of the Sarute. The whereabouts of the sword would be difficult to ascertain without detailed information about his surrender. Additionally members of the Imperial family were not required to surrender in Japan.

Was about to post the same, nothing else needed with the one from Grey.

Swords from the Kasama Shigetsugu Mon: 於相武台下歓喜入道昭秀作之 "Made by Kangi nyūdō Akihide, in Sōbudai 1943" 酒井一貫斎繁正彫同作 "Sakai Ikkansai Shigemasa, at the request of Iwate Takeshi 1943" 塚越繼延 三代川英雄所持"Tsukagoshi Tsugunobu for Hideo Sanyogawa/Miyokawa 1944"

If you are buying at Gimei prices and believe the quality of the sword is actually close to the target smith, or exceeds it, all the power to you.

Too bad for those who wanted to quietly bid on it!

There are most definitely forgeries out there, though they tend to target the Ningen Kokuho smiths that have passed away, nothing is sacred on yahoo Japan auctions. With Komiya Kunimitsu, there have been multiple generations signing with the same name since after the war. That may also be the case with Yasumitsu if he had a student?

From what I can see the Koshirae is at least original, everything after that is rather suspect. Perhaps a general thread on suspect Gunto would be useful, rather than a new thread on every shoddy listing.

Anyone with a semblance of appreciation for Japanese art would utter howls of protest at that thing, what a load of old junk.

The sword in question sold at auction for a rather eye watering sum, no doubt helped by the NTHK papers. Some don't hold any organisation in particularly high regard when it comes to Gendai, as there have been many cases of rather suspect swords receiving papers in the past. Perhaps there was other supporting provenance we are unaware of that unequivocally proves this was owned by Captain Ariga.... https://www.invaluab...df2322bbd8796b8eddf2 There is further discussion here:

Yes, both appear to be genuine tassels.

Far left is a early style Field Grade tassel, middle and right are Naval tassels. For whatever reason some Navy tassels are significantly shorter.

Hard to believe how quiet this thread has been, it would be nice to see more quality Gendai posted again. Tsukagoshi Tsugunobu Katana dated 1944, made for a Hideo Sanyogawa/Miyokawa. Tsugunobu originally signed as Kaneharu and hailed from Gunma. He studied under Ryuminsai Kanetomo before becoming the 16th student of Kasama Ikkansai Shigetsugu. He was an RJT smith and rated Joko No Retsu by Akihide, and East Komusubi on the Gendai Tosho Banzuke. While clearly a well accomplished smith, there aren't too many swords available online. Good Kai Gunto mounts with Mon, tassel, and leather cover. The Kanji on the Tsuka are interesting in that they note the fleet assignment and have a different officers name, presumably Lt Matsuoka ordered the sword for Lt Sanyogawa/Miyokawa, who is listed as graduating in the 74th class at Etajima Naval college. The blade is the classic Shigetsugu style Bizen Den. 四海軍予え- (Fourth Naval Fleet Preliminary/Reserve) 松岡大尉 - (Lieutenant Matsuoka)

Thank you Moriyama Sama, that is most interesting. Given the different names, you wonder if Lt Matsuoka arranged this sword for Lt Sanyogawa?

Very interesting, thank you Maurice for the help. The numbers match what is stamped on all the fittings, there is also a Mon that I thought was referenced but the unit information is rather special. There is a Chumon-mei on the Nakago for a "Hideo Sanyogawa - 三代川英雄所持" who graduated from the 74th class at Etajima.

Seeking professional assistance with profuse writing on the Fuchi:

Is the auction catalogue available to those who have registered to bid, or is it still being finalised?

It is rather interesting that despite being Saiha, it still retains Utsuri.

Hi John, is this on a Shin Gunto?

Looks like "Okada" 岡田 兼定, he's listed as a Seki Kaji Tosho and made both Gendai and Showato. Rated Chuge Saku by Akihide.

Thankfully it was an absolutely hideous Chinese fake, but I understand the sentiment of how a real swords could've just as easily fallen to the whims of idiots.

Particularly relevant: Too expensive for Hozon A long time ago in Japan a dealer showed me an ubu signed Awataguchi Hisakuni tachi and it was preserved in top condition. It was then, and still is now, one of the real treats of my life as a collector and one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. He said while the owner was alive he turned down an offer of about one million dollars for the blade. Now that he was dead, the family was selling it for half a million. I wished I had that money, I wished I could buy that sword. He then looked at me and said, “Only Hozon. Too expensive for Hozon,” and we all had a good laugh. There is no limit to how high that blade could go in terms of papers… or of dollar value. That much should be self-evident to anyone who studies just a little bit and therein lies the joke that someone would put the papers ahead of this blade. The owner’s family didn’t want it published so didn’t put it to Juyo. That blade could easily be Juyo Bunkazai if the owner wanted. But they stopped at Hozon, they just verified the signature and left it at that. Hozon tells you the bare minimum: the blade is antique, it is generally free of fatal flaws, the signature is accurate and here is the attribution or consensus about who made it. Today this blade has still not been handed to Juyo. It was quietly sold to someone of great taste and financial backing and quietly resides somewhere to the great pleasure of the owner. They don’t need the higher level paper to tell them what it is as they already know.

Nice Koshirae and certainly uncommon, if the blade wasn't so obviously Gimei it would be worth owning. A similar dust cover appears on Page 168 of Swords of Imperial Japan 1868-1945.