Unable to translate

[meckr]

I have been unable to translate the date and signature for this blade. I have been trying for months now. I would truly appreciate any info that anyone can provide about this signature and date. If the pictures are too blurry or unreadable, let me know and I'll repost.

 

http://tspadvantage.com/signature.jpg

[Rich T]

Hi there (please post name)

 

This is signed Ishihara Kanenao. There looks to be a Showa stamp above the meiHe was a Seki smith from the WW2 period.

 

See this link http://home.earthlink.net/~ttstein/kanenao.jpg

 

The first image is the date, though I am not sure of its complete reading, I can see February, and 16 years in Showa. But there are a few kanji in that date I cannot make out.

 

As a side note, these mei should read top to bottom, so you have posted them sideways. it is much easier for members to read and answer posts when mei are posted correctly.

 

Cheers

 

Richard

[Nobody]

Hi,

 

The first two kanji in the date are Kigen (紀元 = the Era). In this case, it is equivalent to Koki (皇紀) which means the Imperial era.

 

FYI: http://militaria.co.za/nihontomessagebo ... light=2600

[meckr]

Here is a better picture as requested. This time they are lined up in the right direction.

 

Thanks for all your help but I'm still not sure I understand everything correctly.

 

Ok, So am I to assume that the smith is Ishihara Kanenao and the date is February 1941 (Kigen era)?

 

http://tspadvantage.com/Nihonto.jpg

 

Ron

[meckr]

By the way, how do I go about finding out how good of a smith he was? I have tried looking on the Japanese Sword Guide site to no avail. If anyone can help me out with that as well I would greatly appreciate it.

 

Ron

[Nobody]

Here are the correct readings.

 

mei:

Ishihara Kanenao (石原兼直)

 

date:

Kigen ni-sen roppyaku nen ni gatsu (紀元二千六百年二月 = 2600th Imperial yr., 2nd month) = Feb. 1940

[meckr]

Thanks for your help everyone, especially Koichi.

 

Ron

 

Here is the sword I have:

 

http://www.tspadvantage.com/overall.jpg

 

Thanks everyone who helped me out on this one. I will post more images of my collection. I have about 20 Gunto swords in all, give or take a few. I will of course display my finest only, of which the one above is probably up there.

 

Regards,

 

Ron

[Nobody]

Here is the sword I have:

 

http://www.tspadvantage.com/overall.jpg

Just out of curiosity, how did you know the dates of birth and death of Mr. Hideo Ogasawara who seemed to be the original owner of the katana?

[meckr]

Just out of curiosity, how did you know the dates of birth and death of Mr. Hideo Ogasawara who seemed to be the original owner of the katana?

I found the website for the Ogasawara family geneology http://members.aol.com/uchuujin/oga.html

 

I read everything on the site, it even has a picture of the original owner of the sword as well (as a young kid).

 

Ron

[Nobody]

Thanks Ron,

 

That seems to be a very fantastic story.

But there are also other possibilities that he is not, because Ogasawara is a family name which is not so rare in Japan and also Hideo is a very common given name. It is probable that there were many Ogasawara Hideo(s) in that times, although I do not intend to deny your finding.

[meckr]

I have considered that possibility, however, the fact that the Kamon is the same, I am playing the odds, as it is very unlikely that there would be multiple Ogasawara's with the same kamon on th sword and not be related. The site I provided showed the family members starting from the progenitor to present day. To the extent that one would naturally conclude that it is the same Hideo Ogasawara. Also, considering that he never left mainland Japan as a Warrant Officer would imply that he was some how connected to a prominent family such as one of royal blood.

 

Of course these are assumptions but they are safe assumptions.

 

Ron

[Nobody]

Thanks Ron,

So, if you inform the owner of the family web site of the katana with its documents, she will be pleased.

[meckr]

I had already done this and she said she is not aware of her Grand Uncle Hideo having served in the war which may not have been something he talked much about. However, she hasn't denied that her grand uncle is the same Hideo who owned this sword. She said she will do some research and let me know.