Help Please With Translation

[Mark]

I have a wakizashi, ( I posted about the lacquer on the nakago in another thread). 

 

Anyway I can read Tamba (no) Kami Yoshimichi but not sure the first 2 kanji above Tamba. Also the other side has an inscription, maybe a strange date, or something else.  Any help with the first 2 kanji and the other inscription appreciated.

 

I showed both sides of the nakago horizontally but did the inscriptions that I need help with vertically to make it easier to read

 

Thanks!!

[Jussi Ekholm]

I think ura side starts with 戊辰, which is the year of earth dragon. NKP has good info on zodiac system: http://www.jssus.org/nkp/kanshi.html

[k morita]

Hi,

Omote side,the first 2 kanji are 洛陽 (Rakuyō).

In the past Kyoto was also called 'Rakuyō' by making an analogy to Rakuyō (洛陽), the capital of China.

 

The mei says 洛陽 丹波守吉道　(Tanba-no-Kami,Yoshimichi in Rakuyō (Kyoto)).

Date is 戊辰冬作之　(Made in winter of Tsuchinoe-Tatsu year ).

[Mark]

Thank you Morita san  . That gives me some direction. The blade may be gimei but if genuine I need to check the Kyo branch and a smith working in either 1628 (seems a bit early), 1748, or 1868 (seems a bit late).