AndyMcK Posted September 14, 2014 Report Posted September 14, 2014 Could you help mr pin this one down? I have trouble pinning this one, is it meiji or kaei era in your opinion? It seems to be keishi masaaki kitau kore but my knowledge on kanji is still very limited... Thank you for any help on this one! -Antti Quote
kunitaro Posted September 14, 2014 Report Posted September 14, 2014 城慶子正明鍛之 Jokeishi Masaaki kore(wo)Kita(er)u 慶応二丙寅年春二月日 Keio 2 Hinoe-Tora doshi Haru 2(ni) gatsu bi Quote
AndyMcK Posted September 14, 2014 Author Report Posted September 14, 2014 Thank you for the fast reply Kunitaro-sama! So it should fall into the very late Edo period 1865? Can you tell anything from the workmanship of the kanji? -Antti Quote
SwordGuyJoe Posted September 14, 2014 Report Posted September 14, 2014 The mei is well done. Not always, but usually a good indicator of blade quality. Quote
k morita Posted September 14, 2014 Report Posted September 14, 2014 Hi, kunitaro san, When I translate a sword signature,I write in English except a proper noun. (Since many beginners in the world do not know the pronunciation of Japanese verb etc. ) The mei says: 城慶子正明鍛之 (Forged by Jōkeishi Masaaki.) Jokeishi is his pen name/art name. 慶応二丙寅年春二月日 (The 2nd month of the 2nd year of Keiō period(1866)). Masaaki was a pupil of Hosokawa Masayoshi and lived in Edo(now Tokyo). His real name was Takemura Kōjiro/Tsunejiro.竹村恒次郎 Quote
cabowen Posted September 15, 2014 Report Posted September 15, 2014 Masaaki's work is highly regarded. He works mostly in Bizen den, or Soden Bizen, like his teacher. Many large blades are seen with a rather grand sugata. One of the trademarks of the Hosokawa group is their yasuri-me, called "ippon suji". I have owned a few blades by members of this school and have seen quite a few more. Most are well made; personally, I think that after Masayoshi (nidai), of those I have seen, Masaaki is the most skilled. The mei looks very well cut. I can't say for certain but it doesn't scream fake to me. Google Masaaki and obtain some comparables- see what you think.... Quote
cisco-san Posted September 15, 2014 Report Posted September 15, 2014 Hi, is it this blade? http://www.ebay.com/itm/321522618829?ru ... 486wt_1171 Quote
kunitaro Posted September 15, 2014 Report Posted September 15, 2014 Dear Morita san, I thought that it is good to know pronunciation of mei as well. But, I understand that translation should be translation, I will do your way from next time. Thank you for your advice. Best regards Quote
AndyMcK Posted September 15, 2014 Author Report Posted September 15, 2014 Klaus, it should be the same one, I have been asking for more information and some additional photos on the blade. -Antti Quote
Guido Posted September 16, 2014 Report Posted September 16, 2014 IMO a transcription helps learning reading mei much better than a translation. Maybe posters should specify in the future whether they look for one or the other. Quote
AndyMcK Posted September 24, 2014 Author Report Posted September 24, 2014 Thank you all for the input! Decided to toss the dice and see how the Masaaki turns out... It is currently taking the long and slow route to Finland but if I'm lucky, I will get a nice Xmas present for myself. Will take photos and post them as soon as it is here... Cheers! -Antti M. Quote
cabowen Posted September 24, 2014 Report Posted September 24, 2014 I asked the seller if it had passed shinsa or if he would guarantee it passing. He said he would send me an email later with his answer. Never heard anything. I think the price he was asking answered my question.... Quote
AndyMcK Posted September 24, 2014 Author Report Posted September 24, 2014 He was really hard to communicate with because I think his english skills came from google translator. I had to wait also for responses. If it is a gimei at least it seems to be well made one. What prices were you discussing with him? I got it of him a little lower than the starting bid. -Antti M. Quote
cabowen Posted September 24, 2014 Report Posted September 24, 2014 He was really hard to communicate with because I think his english skills came from google translator. I had to wait also for responses.If it is a gimei at least it seems to be well made one. What prices were you discussing with him? I got it of him a little lower than the starting bid. -Antti M. I wrote him in Japanese so there should have been no issue with a reply,,,, The price when I looked at it was around $3000 as I recall. Normally, this smith's work goes for 3 to 4x that....that usually tells me it is gimei. Quote
AndyMcK Posted September 24, 2014 Author Report Posted September 24, 2014 Well I'll keep my thumbs up and hope he is beginner with the nihonto. slim chance but still ok for me even if it turns out to be gimei. We luckily have a lot smaller market in nihonto here so probably can still get the purchase price back reselling as a gimei. -Antti M. Quote
Jussi Ekholm Posted September 24, 2014 Report Posted September 24, 2014 That will be a nice Christmas gift Antti. Quote
AndyMcK Posted September 24, 2014 Author Report Posted September 24, 2014 True, I have few others on the way as well, so more presents for me! Soon have to start selling the older ones. -Antti M. Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.