YOSHII NAGANORI

[Daniel Q]

Good evening ladies and gentlemen.

 

Thank you for accepting me here, I have already learnt much from the short while I have spent reading on here. And I am sure much more will be learnt. I hope it is alright for me to post a few pictures and ask for some information. English is not my first language either so I apologize for any misprints, misspellings that is sure to occur

 

A bit of an introduction. I live in Sweden, I am a knifemaker (not professionally, but it sure does take up alot of my time ), and I work as a wood measurer for a living. Recently, I fell in love in a sword I saw on an online auction, placed an offer and won it, this despite being quite of a sceptic by nature and not seeing it in person. So, a bit stunned by it all to be honest. Now I feel the need to learn more about the sword in question and how I should take care of it.

 

Here is the information posted about the sword on the auction site (translated by me, errors might occur)

 

YOSHII NAGANORI 吉井永則, 1429

 

Svärdssmed (Swordssmith): Naganori 永則

Svärdsskola (Sword school): Yoshii 吉井

Region: Bizen 備前/Izumo 出雲

Tillverkningsår (Year of making): 1429 永享 Eikyo

Konstperiod (Art period): Muromachi (1392–1573)

Svärdsperiod (Swords period): Koto (800-1596)

Total bladlängd (Total blade length): 69.9 cm

 

Konditionsrapport (Kondition rapport)

Bruksslitage. Värderings-/äkthetsintyg ingår. Nyligen polerad. Signerad som Tachi, på omvänd sida, då bladet bars med eggen nedåt för bruk från hästrygg. Sällsynt blad. (Signs of users wear. Valuation-/authenticity papers included. Recently polished. Signed as Tachi, on reversed side, the blade was carried edge down for use from horseback. Rare blade.)

 

Here is link to the pictures of the sword and the papers that the auction site provided. ---> http://auctionet.com/sv/180816-svard-Japan-yoshii-naganori-1429/images#image_3

Here is a link to the auction in question. ---> http://auctionet.com/sv/180816-svard-Japan-yoshii-naganori-1429

 

I am afraid that I cannot upload pictures via this terminal, I am sorry, I can upload a few of them later.

 

If someone is willing to take the time, I would be very grateful for any and all further information you could give on this sword (or where I can find it). For example, Does the information the auctioneer give seem real? Is the papers and sword genuine or does it seem to be faked? Where can I find more information about the school and smith in question?

 

 

Some more questions:

-Storage, should be stored horisontally in a dry and room tempered space with the edge up, yes? It comes with the shirasaya in the pictures. Does it need any other container?

-Should the shirasaya be oiled or cared for in any other way?

-I do not currently have any access to choji oil or other traditional media for care of the blade, can other substances be used for cleaning and oiling, indefinatly or now in the beginning of my ownership?

-Have printed the Japanese Sword Care and Etiquette PDF from NBTHK American Branch (found the link in the forum, thank you). Anything else I definatly should read?

-Are there any books that holds any information about this particular school/smith?

 

And just to be polite, I have no plans on selling this sword (or even flaunt about having it). This is for my own personal joy, but I would truly enjoy knowing more about it, especially if it is a "true" sword. And I hope I haven't been impolite asking these questions and taking up your time.

 

Thank you all, have a pleasant evening. Is there any information or views of the sword I should add on?

 

//DanielQ

 

Edit: Four pictures.

[Ron STL]

Hello...(name?),

 

I can not say much about the sword other than the nakago looks quite old, older than the date shown on the origami. The sword is mumei (unsigned) as you can see. The origami states the sword was attributed to NAGA(NORI) although if NORI, I am unfamiliar with that form of the kanji for NORI. It then states Yoshii den (school) and placed the sword as from Kan-ei period (1624-1643). Perhaps I'm missing something in what I'm picking out of the Japanese text but as I said, the O-suriage nakago sure looks older than early shin-to period work. Maybe somebody will read more of the origami for you.

 

Ron STL

[Surfson]

Ron, I see the more traditional Nori in the text on the left, so it is odd. Another odd thing is that the papers appear to have both a Showa date and a Heisei date.

[Daniel Q]

Hello...(name?),

 

I can not say much about the sword other than the nakago looks quite old, older than the date shown on the origami. The sword is mumei (unsigned) as you can see. The origami states the sword was attributed to NAGA(NORI) although if NORI, I am unfamiliar with that form of the kanji for NORI. It then states Yoshii den (school) and placed the sword as from Kan-ei period (1624-1643). Perhaps I'm missing something in what I'm picking out of the Japanese text but as I said, the O-suriage nakago sure looks older than early shin-to period work. Maybe somebody will read more of the origami for you.

 

Ron STL

 

Thank you very much for your information, a question about the sword being a mumei, I thought in my ignorance that the signs there on the picture of the nakago I recently added in the first post was a signature? It is quite faint and hard to see in the picture.

 

Ron, I see the more traditional Nori in the text on the left, so it is odd. Another odd thing is that the papers appear to have both a Showa date and a Heisei date.

 

Ah, interesting, thank you very much. I appreciate the speedy response from the both of you.

 

//DanielQ

[cabowen]

The kantei-sho gives Eikyo as the date (1429.9.5-1441.2.17). The Showa date on the right side of the origami is the year it was registered (in Hokkaido).

[Jean]

Try this:

 

http://www.sho-shin.com/yoshii1.htm

[Grey Doffin]

Hi Daniel,

Horizontal storage is best; edge up isn't necessary but the sword should be in a sword bag. Don't put anything on the shirasaya; leave it exactly as it is. If you oil it you'll decrease the sword's value significantly. If you can't find choji oil you can use light machine oil (sewing machine oil for instance). Be sure to apply it as advised in the etiquette brochure; anything more than the thinnest of coats will gum up the inside of the saya.

Nothing else needs to be read about care; the brochure from the NBTHK/AB tells all.

I believe the paper says you have a 2 character mei: Osafune. And then goes on to say Yoshii.

Grey

[Peter Bleed]

Daniel,

I think Grey is correct. The document says that this sword is signed Osafune, but I sure can't see that in either the oshigata or the image. The fact that the document shows the rubbing it does presumably means that the blade is tachi-mei.

Ron has a very good eye, but this does not look like a shin-shinto to me.

Peter

[Eric H]

These JTK papers belong to a Wakizashi with mei -according to the papers- NAGA.....?, hacho 54.5..... cm, jidai Eikyo. However I can‘t make out a mei. Anyway the description in the auction catalogue lacks accuracy.

 

Eric

[Daniel Q]

Hi Daniel,

Horizontal storage is best; edge up isn't necessary but the sword should be in a sword bag. Don't put anything on the shirasaya; leave it exactly as it is. If you oil it you'll decrease the sword's value significantly. If you can't find choji oil you can use light machine oil (sewing machine oil for instance). Be sure to apply it as advised in the etiquette brochure; anything more than the thinnest of coats will gum up the inside of the saya.

Nothing else needs to be read about care; the brochure from the NBTHK/AB tells all.

I believe the paper says you have a 2 character mei: Osafune. And then goes on to say Yoshii.

Grey

 

Thank you very much sir, I'll scramble up some sewing machine oil right away. And I will not treat the shirasaya with anything, I am glad that I asked .

 

Try this:

 

http://www.sho-shin.com/yoshii1.htm

 

Lovely, thank you!

 

Daniel,

I think Grey is correct. The document says that this sword is signed Osafune, but I sure can't see that in either the oshigata or the image. The fact that the document shows the rubbing it does presumably means that the blade is tachi-mei.

Ron has a very good eye, but this does not look like a shin-shinto to me.

Peter

These JTK papers belong to a Wakizashi with mei -according to the papers- NAGA.....?, hacho 54.5..... cm, jidai Eikyo. However I can‘t make out a mei. Anyway the description in the auction catalogue lacks accuracy.

 

Eric

 

Glad to see so many chiming in, thanks yet again.

 

Is it easier to see the mei for you guys now? I tried to take some pictures of the mei and the hamon. Cameras and I don't really get along though. I'll see if I can get some help taking better photographs of it.

 

Total length was 70 cm, and the length from the ridge of the blade by the habaki to the tip is 54,5 cm. (sorry for not knowing the correct terminology yet)

 

//DanielQ

[Daniel Q]

Just a couple of full length pictures. For an overall image and judge of curvature.

 

//DanielQ

[Jussi Ekholm]

Welcome Daniel.

 

The previous owner of the sword is a fellow NMB member and I can PM his info to you so you can talk with him in your native language and he can tell you more about the blade.

 

I also think that paper says blade is signed Osafune and is attributed to Yoshii. However I am not sure if this is attributed to Naganori 永則, I would be leaning on Yoshii in general. I'm just a novice when it comes to swords and reading Japanese. But in the JTK paper it reads Eikyo as the period and you can see it reads Bizen Osafune next to it. The left most bracket with lots of text is way above my skills to translate properly, but I can easily see parts of it. In brackets it starts with [bishu Yoshii Naganori] then I see Einin era (1293-1299) mentioned, first Naganori who moved to Yoshii is said to be active during that time. In third line there reads, tachi mei Osafune and I believe it's followed by と切うりる... Unfortunately I cannot read the following part properly, I think I know the characters but I don't know what it translates to as I don't know enough words yet.

 

I can also send you some info about the Yoshii school from couple books.

 

You are lucky that there are many collectors in Sweden and NMB has many members from Sweden too, so you can learn a lot in Swedish too.

[cabowen]

I think the comments are saying that while it says "Osafune" on the nakago, this is not correct in their view, rather they believe the sword is from the Yoshii group.

[lonely panet]

Hi Guys,

 

I once owned a yoshii kiyonori uchigatana, from the simular period.

 

when doing some study on the groups, I read that the yoshii group moved to osafune in the early 1400s and was absorbed by the osafune school in the following years,

 

so may this fine piece is from the transitional period?

 

regards

h

[Jean]

Just to add that the hamon is not the usual one seen in Yoshii school

[Daniel Q]

Thank you gentlemen for all the helpful input! Kiitos paljon Jussi!

 

After working some very long work hours this week it is pleasent to read up a little bit more about this little gem.

 

I asked a friend for a quick review of the papers. She isn't knowledgeble about swords mind you, so this is her words.

 

I will write this by some msgs.This paper is about Knife profile and assessment.

Naganori Yoshi made this small knife His father also famous smithy.

570 years ago He made a lot of small knifes.He lives in Bizen province.

His fathers have group of his style.This knife called Wakizashi.Wakizashi

is second knife for Bushi.They usually have two knife when They go out.Because

If something happens.They could use long knife(Katana) then If lose main knife.

Wakizashi was useful.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wakizashi

 

Japaese family name made by their lived places.Example My

name is .I don't know exactly my family name mean.But

People can guess maybe Old relative job is kinda salt seller

or famous salt land.I just know our old relative were from Kyoto.

Old time a lot of prefercture kings did flight for lands and castles.

If your king lost.You have to escape to other lands for save life.

長船 is city name in Bizen.prefercture name is not same with now we use.

So 長船 is in Okayama prefecture right now.刃長 is knife size I guess 54.5 cm.

We don't use same kanji for m,cm,mm.Some old kanji is now younger people

didn't learn at school.It alreday deleted from Japanese society.Some kanji

Had disappeared.language is grow and some are not useful.then People forget

What does it mean.Next generation never learn.反り is Degree of curvature of

the blade?knife curve form?Japnese knife has to have beautiful form and shape.

造り込み is How naganori made by this knife.He made this by shinogi zukuri style.

 

地肌 is knife pattern.You shape and shaped.You can see pattern.His knife pattern

is Mokume.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mokume-ganeHere you can see Mokume pattern.

,刃丈 is size.小 mean is small.This knife made in Eikyo era.茎 is bottom of knife.

http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%8C%8E_(%E5%88%80) I don't know 摺りあげ is how to

make it to 茎.A lot knife word.His sytel is bizen Osa fune style.Their style skill

had long historty.I am not sure it still or not.Now,we don't have many smithy in

Japan.But you might find someone their style smithy.. This is museum bizen knife

web site in English.http://www.city.setouchi.lg.jp/~osa-tok ... /index.htm They

have small knife work shop at museum.Okayama is close to Hiroshima.south part of Japan.