Translation Help Please

[thewired1]

I recently aquired a katana which had this inscription. I'd love to know more about it. I asked a Japanese friend and she was able to translate a portion of it as "ITO TERUYOSHI". She mentioned the first 2 characters were older and appeared to reference a position or rank but she wasn't too sure. If she was correct with the name, I did find some references to an "ITO TERUYOSHI" swordsmith online but I'm not sure if I'm going in the right direction.

 

I'm relatively new but would love to know more about this katana. This is for my own personal use and not for sale or commercial use FYI.

 

Thanks!

Edward

[John A Stuart]

伊藤輝義 Ito Teruyoshi, I'm not sure before that. John

[John A Stuart]

上州住 Joshu ju.... John

[Shugyosha]

Maybe Toshu: 土州??

[thewired1]

Thanks!

 

So I was searching the "The Nihonto Knowledge Base, Swordsmith data base" and found 2 results with "Joshu ju Teruyoshi". Nothing with "Toshu". Of the two I did find, neither had the name "Ito".

 

Based on the database's translations, this appears to the closest match:

 

上
野
國
 

輝
吉

 

①
城
州
住
輝
吉

Teruyoshi

Kozuke no kuni (Tenbun)
TER107 (15pts)

1. joshu ju teruyoshi

 

Could it be possible that the swordsmith occasionally added his first name? Also, can someone explain what "TER107 (15pts)" means? Does this appear to be correct direction for this swordsmith that made this blade?

 

Please pardon my ignorance. Thanks!

 

Edward

[thewired1]

OK... So I figured out that ""TER107 (15pts)" is the reference number and rating. I'm still unsure of the first name issue though and if this is a match though. I suspect I'm wrong though.

[Shugyosha]

Hi Edward,

 

TER107 (15 pts) is a reference number and grading given in Hawley's Japanese Swordsmiths - sorry just saw you got this.

 

However, I don't think that this is your guy. The kanji for "Yoshi" is different on your sword to the one listed in Hawley's. Smiths do occasionally change the characters that make up their name but that's exceptional. 

 

I've checked Hawley's and Nihon Toko Jiten by Fujishiro and can't find another reference to a Teruyoshi. Unfortunately, that's about as much help as I can be as my library doesn't stretch any further. Perhaps someone who has a copy of the Meikan can help or It may be that he is one of those smiths that escaped being listed in the Meikan - they do show up once in a while.

 

Good luck with your search,

[thewired1]

Thanks! I think I'll take some additional photos of the entire sword and create a new, separate thread in the Nihonto forum. Hopefully someone can assist with some further identification. I recently aquired this sword and it came with a standard "family member went to ww2 and brought this back" type story.  

[Kronos]

There's a couple of Ito TeruYoshi's in Markus Sesko's index.

 

Teruyoshi (英吉), Bunka (文化, 1804-1818), Tosa – „Doshū Kōchi-jū Teruyoshi“ (土州高知住英吉), „Tosa-jū Teruyoshi“ (土佐住英吉),
civilian name „Itō Jōsuke“ (伊藤丈助), he studied first under Ozaki Suketaka (尾崎助隆) and later under Suishinshi Masahide (正秀), we
know blades from the Kyōwa (享和, 1801-1804) to the Bunka era

 

Teruyoshi (輝美), Kaei (嘉永, 1848-1854), Tosa – „Teruyoshi“ (輝美), civilian name „Itō Jōsuke“ (伊藤丈助), he studied under Tosa
Teruyoshi (英吉) and lived in Tosa´s Kariya (刈谷)

[thewired1]

James,

Looks like "Ito" matches up... 伊藤 on both.

 

It appears that both of those swordsmiths spelled "Teruyoshi" differently than mine.

 

MINE - 輝義

#1 - 英吉

#2 - 輝美

 

The 2nd one is pretty close but I honestly know very little Kanji use so I could be wrong here. I'm basically just mathcing up symbols on my end.

 

Edward

[thewired1]

I found this inside the tsuka. Is anyone able to translate it? Thanks!

 

Ed

[John A Stuart]

The kanji 美 is a simplified version of 義 John