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Mei translation help please?

CurtisR

By CurtisR
in Translation Assistance

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CurtisR Experienced

CurtisR

Posted
Posted

Greetings all,

 

I received this sword, in gunto mounts, as a gift. On closer examination, it appears to be mor than the "average bear"...can anyone ples assist with the writings on both omote and ura sides of the nagako? Nice, active hamon and in pretty decent polish as well. More pics available but am trying to figure out the "who/when" first :)

 

Many thanks!

 

Curtis

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cabowen Grand Master

cabowen

Posted
Posted

Whoops, forgot to finish up the mei before I hit submit...Looks like Moriyama san and Morita san took care of you....

 

I have seen several of his war era blades and a few post war as well. I know a few craftsman in the Aichi/Western Shizuoka area who knew him and had very nice things to say about his work. I remember seeing a hocho Masamune copy that was wonderful....

Markus Mentor

Markus

Posted
Posted

The entry from my Swordsmith Index:

 

Kiyokane (清兼), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Aichi – „Mikawa no Kuni Okazaki-jū Tachibana Kiyokane“ (三河国岡崎住橘清兼), „Suirosai Tachibana Kiyokane“ (椎魯斎橘清兼), „Ryūjōshi Kiyokane“ (龍城子清兼), civilian name „Tsutsui Seiichi“ (筒井清一), gō „Suirosai“ (椎魯斎) and „Ryūjōshi“ (龍城子), born March 25th 1907, his family was since the 1st gen. Tsutsui Ichirōbei Kiyokane (筒井市郎兵衛清兼) successively working for the Okazaki fief (岡崎藩) of Mikawa proince, he studied under Kurihawa Akihide (栗原昭秀) and worked as rikugun-jumei-tōshō, he lived in Aichi´s Nagakute (長久手)

CurtisR Experienced

CurtisR

Posted
  • Author
Posted

MANY thanks to you all for your translation of the smith and other information on him. I was very happy and "thought" the forging and shape looked very nice for a gunto-mounted sword. Seems like my friend gave a very good gift, and is my first as my first Nihonto (or would the proper term be "gendaito"?) no less :clap: !

 

I took more photos in overall, of Ura side of the nagako (also signed), Mune, and tried to get decent photos of the hamon activity and mountings. I don't have a macro lens for hada photos unfortunately ---- did them w/ my Nikon so have to re-size them but will post them this evening for sure. On the kissaki, there are very slight 'dings' as well which I tried to photo....none more than 1mm in depth and probably more like 1/2 mm.

 

I'm guessing it would be best to leave it in it's original mountings vs. have koshirae made down the line?

 

Again, thank you all and will be interested in the follow-up for the ura inscription as well as any other opinions :D .

 

Best Regards,

 

Curtis R.

Jean

Jean

Posted
Posted

Curtis,

 

It is an easy one and after 236 posts you should be able to translate it by now!!!

 

It is the date. Go to the Kanji pages and if you don't succeed in translating it in 5 minutes ... :steamed:

 

Edit to add: I have just done it in 5 seconds

CurtisR Experienced

CurtisR

Posted
  • Author
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Hai!, Jean san - I shall do that. Sorry...trying to learn SMR and study swords and major transitions at work. As my old platoon Sgt. used to say...."If you ain't cheatin', you ain't tryin!" :D .

 

I suspect Ill learn more via your method and hey don't worry - I drove my MJER and Aikido instructors nuts as well with my languange IN-abilities...I'm fightin' it though... Many thanks and will post new pics regardless tonight.

 

I truly do appreciate the mei translation also - I suspect I'd have spent weeks on that one.

 

Sincere Regards,

 

Curtis R.

Jean

Jean

Posted
Posted

Chris,

 

It is very easy, starting from the top, at 95%, it is always the nengo (which era? Oan, Eisho, Showa, Heisei?) then a number (corresponding to the number of years) then the word "year", then a new number (corresponding to the month) then the word "month" and the word "day" or a "lucky day".

 

Go to the kanji pages or to Dr Stein's webpage and I bet you'll do it in a blink

CurtisR Experienced

CurtisR

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Heading to the kanji page now Jean - thanks! The order makes sense and will help me when I see it again! I'll let you know how it goes.

 

And Mr. Bowen, I believe you may be right....going to look into shirasaya (but probably not a polish @ $100/inch).

 

Best Regards,

 

Curtis R.

CurtisR Experienced

CurtisR

Posted
  • Author
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Doh! "Nineteen FOURTY two" - yep the " + " would be a 4.

How did I do on the rest? (you guys are brutal ---- I love it!! :laughabove: )

 

And believe me, I also know all of you wouldn't spend the time with me unless you saw a true interest so thank you all, doubly!

I'm transitioning from an office back to a police car, so must print a reference of Kanji pages while I can get away with it .

 

Curtis

CurtisR Experienced

CurtisR

Posted
  • Author
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Ok - trying again.....

 

Sword was made before WWII in the Showa era. (80th year of the Show period perhaps?).

 

Translated as:

 

昭和

Showa(era)

 

十八

80

 

年

Nen (year)

 

二 (ni 2nd)

 

月

Gatsu (month)

(perhaps also meaning second Month?)

日

 

Hi (day --- lucky day?)

 

 

Is this a bit better?? I hope?? :)

 

Curtis

cabowen Grand Master

cabowen

Posted
Posted

:bang: :bang: :bang:

 

Showa started at the end of 1925. 1925+80 = 2005. Showa didn't last 80 years and the sword was made during the war...

 

You need to do more reading Curtis. Once you see how simple this is you will kick yourself....

Jean

Jean

Posted
Posted

Curtis,

 

:trout:

 

You are suffering from severe dislexy: you must read Japanese number the same way you read occidental numbers, so:

 

十八 = ???

Very different from

十 x 八 = 80 :phew:

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