Translation fun if interested :) Plus blades pics

[bobtail44]

I have this blade and it has artistic writing that I am guessing is of of various ages on the outside of the shirasaya. Just wondering what it says. Im still learning to read kanji and finding it hard to find the time to translate especially when it is all hand written.

 

If someone feels like cracking the code feel free and thanks

 

Cheers,

 

Trent

 

NOTE I added images of the blade on second page! :D

[bobtail44]

The lighter kanji starts at the top and im guessing was written first and it gets darker as it goes down towards the tip of the blade.

 

Trent S

[mywei]

I'll start with the easy bit at the start

 

Echizen ju

R) Izumi no kami fujiwara Kunihiro

L) Sagami no kami fujiwara Kunitsuna

 

joint work (合作也)

[k morita]

Hi,

 

Matt,

You have good eye.

Right and left line is reverse.

 

 

bobtail44,

There is only one Kanji character which is hard to read on the Sayagaki. Do you know,What year the sword was made in Keian period ?

[bobtail44]

I cant read kanji I just match them. Ive been collecting for a few years but ive only had a couple of hours free time to learn to Japanese. I wanted to confirm what people thought the date was. Also why is there so much text on the shirasaya, is it just a repeat of the same thing?

 

Trent S

[k morita]

Hi,

Can you take a pic of date of the sword tang ?

[bobtail44]

Sure can, when I get home in 8 hours ill be taking some pics

 

Trent S

[k morita]

Thank you for your time.

[bobtail44]

Got home late, no photos today

 

Trent S

[k morita]

no problem.

 

This is a appraiser's signature.

He is Satō(family neme) Kanzan.

[bobtail44]

oh I see. I tried matching the nakago to the shirasaya but it didn't all match. Now I know what the other bit is. Thank you. I was looking for more information on this smith but the information that I found seemed to say that he wasn't alive as late as the blade was made. I might have been confusing smith generations though.

 

That guy might have been an author: http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/560764 but who knows

 

http://www.jp-sword.com/files/books.htm down a few books

 

Cheers,

 

Trent Spencer

[k morita]

Is there any golden inlay on the Tang?

[bobtail44]

Yeah it says that it cut someone in half through the chest into the ground.

 

Trent S

[k morita]

You already know English translation of the sayagaki?

[bobtail44]

You already know English translation of the sayagaki?

 

No, That is from when I bought it and it was translated from the nakago

According to Hawley they are from the Shimosaka group,I wonder if they were brothers.

 

Trent S

[k morita]

I see.

Because the inlayed cutting test result is also written in the sayagaki.

 

Yes,Shimosaka group in Echizen province.

[bobtail44]

I see.

Because the inlayed cutting test result is also written in the sayagaki.

 

Yes,Shimosaka group in Echizen province.

 

Do you happen to have any information on them, im interested in the history. thanks for your help.

 

Trent S

[bobtail44]

Here are the images :D :D

 

Trent S

[bobtail44]

some more cos I can ;D

 

Trent S

[cabowen]

Kunitsuna was the lead smith who made the blade, Kunihiro the secondary.

[k morita]

Thank you for the pics.

 

Does blade length match Sayagaki?

[bobtail44]

Yes the blade length matches Thanks for taking the time to post that great diagram All of the information seems correct. Id love to know who the person was who wrote on it and what relationship the two smiths were to each other.

 

Cheers,

 

Trent S

[mywei]

Thanks Morita-san for the full translation.

[cabowen]

Sato Kanzan Sensei wrote the sayagaki. Do a little googling and you will find out who he was....

[bobtail44]

I just figured it out because I added sensei so a lot more came up on him because then I could search through Dr and kantei.

Is there a way that I can preserve the fading writing on the shirasaya, like a light coating of clear varnish? I don't want it to wear off anymore, its a part of its history.

 

Trent S