First Time I Saw This...

[SalaMarcos]

Hi guys,

This is first time I saw this mei, this kind of mei (omote and ura mei and more mei in ura than omote) and first time I saw this kind of square "kôgai ana" and first time I saw this mix "kozuka-kôgai" for the kozuka ana,  and first time I saw this round area in ura...and about this round area.. what do you think is this kind of "bubbles" in the iron?

[Kai-Gunto]

I like it.

[manfrommagnum]

Sand Cast?

 

Mike

[SteveM]

My guess: the top mei (the one in-between the nakago-ana and the square kōgai-ana) reads 君萬歳 (kimi banzai). It's a phrase showing reverence for the emperor.

 

The bottom right mei reads 東龍斎 (Tōryūsai). I can't make out the final kanji (or is it two kanji?).

The bottom left mei is 囗文（丈？）花押

 

There were at least four artisans who signed as 東龍斎. This particular signature doesn't check off all the boxes on any of the candidates in my reference, but 清寿 (Kiyotoshi) might be a strong candidate as he used several a variety of names, often variations of 東龍斎, and added on extra signatures throughout his life.

[SalaMarcos]

Wow Steve, that was so amazing, thank you very much, I'm gonna search now in my books with your ideas. 

Thanks again!