John C

Probably not correct, however google translate has the back of the card as: John C.

Sam: One additional bit of information. If the all-brown tassel is original, it's a definite plus and would add a decent amount to the value. John C.

Warwick: The seki stamp would indicate it is a showa-to; meaning, not a traditionally made blade. Its importance may be related to its story rather than it being a special blade. Here is another example of his work for comparison. John C.

George: Personally, I would use a leather shim/seppa if looseness is the issue. As indicated by the pic, the size of the seppa depends on which side needs to be tightened. They also had different edge designs, which is another consideration if you are looking for authenticity. And each nakago-ana is cut to the sword (re: assembly numbers). Real parts are out there, however they usually command premium prices and there is no guarantee they will fit. You might spend a lot of money trying to get just the right one. Just my two cents. John C.

Steve: There is a Kaneshige listed in Mal's Naval Part 1 document (page 114), however he uses a different kanji for "shige". Also, the originial seller used the wrong kanji in his description. I think he was going for Kaneuji, but not sure. You may need to do some further research on this one. John C.

Jack: I agree with Piers. As an aside, the cherry bark craft used to make the saya is called Kabazaiku and has been around for a long time, however it has become prominent over the last 80 years or so. John C.

Hello Steve: Left column - Inspection mark for uniform depot in Osaka; middle - date (looks like showa 16); right - size medium. Not sure what the cartouche is on the far right. John C.

Just for comparison, here is the mei from my Kanenobu gendaito. 1944 star stamped signed Noshu ju kanenobu. Not sure which is father and which is son. Note: the hamon is similar in style to yours. John C.

...and yet they abound on ebay and other auction sites! Hence the myth. F&G (pg. 108) make a similar observation, noting "...They were probably more symbolic than practical..." The problem over the last few years, however, is how did the myth grow legs? Certainly, the huckster salesmanship style of internet auctions have promoted the myth exponentially. I conversed with one seller who exclaimed "I got the description from [everyones favorite simian] and he knows what he is talking about." But the myth may have grown up from a simple comment in F&G. Just in front of the quote above, the authors note: "Reputedly such dirks were for cutting the jugular before the plane crashed into its target. However they were probably more symbolic than practical since a pilot would require all his skill to operate his machine up to the moment of impact." This comment (reputedly) has no reference or footnotes, and is essentially hearsay. But I suspect folks have read that line and run with it as absolute fact and carte blanche to market any dirk or tanto they find as "kamikaze suicide" dagger, while conveniently ignoring their next sentence. John C.

Interesting that his mother supposedly told him that. Obviously he didn't take her advice! Hakusui Inami was asked in an article (1953?) about suicide daggers. His answer was "Calling a knife a suicide knife is like calling a gun a suicide gun." His point was that the intended purpose of the tanto is not for seppuku, but as a utiltarian tool. Its too bad none of the pictures actually show the pilots receiving (or even holding) the tanto at the time. But it would not surprise me if some units or unit commanders gave their troops tanto or other ceremonial items. There still is no evidence, however, these presentation daggers were for the purpose of "kamikaze suicide." John C.

Calabrese: There have been some very decent "replica" swords made from the 70s and 80s when the demand for Japanese souvenirs started to increase. But I think there is a semantic distinction between replica and fake, meaning it depends on the intent of the seller. Replica swords, like all other replicas, are made to feed a market need, however if one takes these swords and sells/markets them as the real thing, they become "fake." Just my two cents. John C.

Hoshi: I'll echo your humble beginning. My first posted sword elicited a fair amount of banter, eventually being labeled "a turd" by one of the long-time folks. It was a little disheartening, however I still like the sword because it has some unique and not-often seen features. Not bad for a "turd." John C.

Howard: The site seems to confirm what John and Jussi have said. You may already know this, however if you have a mac and visit a site in Japanese, you can go to view -> translate -> English and get a better translation than using AI alone (in most cases). John C.

Thanks, Bruce. It's still in its infancy, however I do have the outline done (been tied up finishing another book edition). As to a separate thread, not sure. The broader category is still about fake auction listings. Maybe a general category on common sword myths? John C.

Lucky, Dee! I personally think you also have a good eye for swords so I'm a bit envious. John C.

Thanks, Russ. I have that one as well. Of the hundreds of books on Kamikaze, I focused on those that were first had accounts (or at least family accounts). Most of the other, generic, books are based on those. John C.

Howard: With Google AI there is generally a couple of sites listed right after its answer. The first being where it got most of its information. Do you have that site? John C.

At 304 dollars now. Looks like the carving goes into the mekugi neatly, as if the mekugi has never been removed. John C.

Agreed, which is what prompted my research. You would be surprised how many sellers, including "trusted" sellers who certainly know the truth, market their tanto as "suicide" or "hara-kiri", serving only to perpetuate the myth. John C.

Correct. That book is one of my references as well. Again, even without direct evidence of tanto presentation, I think it's possible. But as F&G note, finding kamikaze tanto is extremely rare - though that does indicate they were carried. Cutting away a parachute (which several pilots said they used as a toilet rather than a chute), cutting rigging, or used as a religious object, are all good reasons to carry a knife or tanto. Just not for seppuku. John C.

Russ: I have been researching this for quite some time and have started a paper on the subject. After reading 6 or 7 books written by former kamikaze pilots or their family members, studying references (including the one above), and reading the kamikaze pilot's manual (the parts available in english), I'm very certain the issue of kamikaze pilots using a dagger for seppuku is a myth. In addition, the only picture of a presentation I have found so far is of a kaiten sailor receiving a tanto. You are correct in your assessment that kamikaze pilots would have been too busy to commit seppuku. Their radio communications were spotty at best. To overcome this, many were given telegraph keys strapped to their left thigh so they could report which ship it was they were about to attack. Additionally, the manual tells them to ensure they keep their eyes open until the moment of impact. This was to overcome the tendency to pull up on the stick when their eyes were closed, thereby missing the target. Lastly, the tanto were kept on a lanyard hung around the neck. I have not found a single picture where you can see the tanto. Presumeably, they were being worn under the clothing making them hard to reach. Certainly, committing any form of seppuku with a tanto under these conditions would have been nearly impossible. As to whether or not they were issued, I would say most likely since all soldiers, sailors, and airmen carry knives of some sort. But for the purposes of seppuku? Not likely. John C. p.s. I have not solicited the members for pictures. So there may be some out there that show their tanto, I just haven't seen them.

17 and 18! Wow! At 17 I was sewing the paisley print material into the hem of my bell bottom jeans and trying to figure out how to attach my surfboard to my bicycle!!! At 18 I traded in the bell bottoms for army uniforms. I never would have dreamed of collecting swords back then. John C.

1569?? (Depending on the month, I guess) John C.

This type of sales tactic may not be exclusive to Japanese sellers. I know of at least one seller based in the US who posts much of his best stuff on facebook; puts his junkier stuff on Ebay; and puts the best stuff on ebay if it doesn't sell on facebook first. John C.

Another from this seller: https://www.ebay.com/itm/336129368396?itmmeta=01K3EH7GK82AS0AP4DV8YCGPFB&hash=item4e42df214c:g:EqEAAeSwhOZooTnD Note the lack of patina on the saya and the crudely chiseled "Japan" on the blade. John C.