Emura

[Jiro49]

Does anyone know how rare his "e" tachi mei is?

 

Thanks in advance!

[Rich S]

Not rare at all. I have one and have seen dozens of others.

 

Rich S

[Jiro49]

Is it known if that's a daimei or not?

 

Thanks!

[Rich S]

Emura, like Nagamitsu, had several helpers/apprentice smiths working for him. I don't believe anyone has identified which mei are actually Emura and which were made or just signed by his apprentices.

 

Rich

[Jiro49]

Thank you for the info, I appreciate it as I have no books on showa era smiths.

 

Regards,

[k morita]

Hi,

As you know,Mr.Emura(real name:Emura Shigetato) was a governor of Okayama prison.

Autumn in 1941,Mr. Omura Kunitaro who was a publisher of [Art Craft Sword Jaurnal], visited the prison and interviewed Mr.Emura.

This report appears on [Art Craft Sword Jaurnal,刀剣工芸] 1942,#86.

 

According to this report, it is written that Mr. Emura did hardening(quenching)焼入れ of all the swords manufactured in Okayama prison.

[cabowen]

At least until 1942....Since few are dated, without knowing if that practice continued until the end of the war, it is hard to know with any certainty whether or not any particular (undated) sword was daisaku, etc....

[k morita]

Chris san,

You are right.

The historical records(paper) about Mr.Emura after 1942 are not found.

(Only name list of Gunto-exhibition exist. )

[Rich S]

Chris and Morita san: thanks for the information. I will add it to my Emura page (with credit given as usual).

 

Rich S

[k morita]

Dr.Stein,

I feel honored.Thank you so much. :D

[Jiro49]

It is written that the bishu mei were swords produced at the prison. Since there are no dates is it safe to assume there were other mei used during his production at Okayama prison?

 

Respectfully,

[Rich S]

Matt -

 

While I have no hard data on the subject, I believe a variety of mei were used by Emura while working at Okayama prison.

 

I have always wondered about the lineages of Emura and Ichihara Nagamitsu. Who were their teachers; where did they learn to forge blades, etc? I've not seen any info on those topics; of course I have no access to first hand info or original literature.

 

Rich S

[Jiro49]

Sir, thank you for the reply! The Emura I have now is a dead ringer for a Nagamitsu I used to have, the main difference being the sugata. Also I had a Hosho Hiromasa with the same Bizen style work as Emura and Nagamitsu..

 

Im not really into Gendaito but I am starting to appreciate them more!

 

Thank you again for your input!!!

 

Respectfully,

[chrisf]

Have a peek at my thread 'Is this a Showato'.....

[Bruno]

Emura, like Nagamitsu, had several helpers/apprentice smiths working for him.

 

Rich

 

Hello Rich,

 

Is it known for sure that Nagamitsu had helpers/apprentices? I know that for Emura it is sure.

[David Flynn]

I have been under the impression, that Ichihara Nagamitsu was an army commissioned smith working out of the Osaka arsenal.

[cabowen]

Here is some info that fans of Emura blades may find interersting....

 

There was an article about the so-called Emura-To published in the May, 1942 edition of "Token Kogei" by a Mr. Omura Kunitaro, who visited the forge.

 

Emura Shigetaro was the head of the Okayama Prison, not the chief warden. He was originally from Tokushima prefecture. He passed away in 1960.

 

The sword forge was a "state enterprise" which the Ministry of Justice authorized. The operation had more than 100 persons engaged in addition to the forge and polishing, and was the largest sword factory in Japan.

 

The swords were made using a division of labor with Emura himself always cutting of Mei and performing the yaki-ire. There were at least 4 forges in use and 50 people employed in the polishing section.

 

The sword-making method was based on Shin Shin-to methods with the use of a power hammer for forging. With regard to this forging method, some processes were mechanized.

 

Mr. Omura rated the Emura blades highly.

 

The goals of the program were two-fold: to supply the need for swords and to rehabilitate the prisoners.

[Bruno]

 

The swords were made using a division of labor with Emura himself always cutting of Mei and performing the yaki-ire.

 

If Emura himself cut all the mei but that 100 persons were involved in the swords forging, how is it reasonably possible to identify those forged by Emura himself?

[cabowen]

 

 

 

If Emura himself cut all the mei but that 100 persons were involved in the swords forging, how is it reasonably possible to identify those forged by Emura himself?

 

Division of labor means that no one person made each blade, but many made the blades. I doubt Emura even forged any of them himself. I doubt he had much time with his official duties.

[Bruno]

Division of labor means that no one person made each blade, but many made the blades. I doubt Emura even forged any of them himself. I doubt he had much time with his official duties.

 

Indeed, Emura-to are a myth?

[cabowen]

Indeed, Emura-to are a myth?

 

They are called Emura-to in Japan....