Inherited Kozuka

[0331_usmc]

My grandfather passed this kozuka on to me. He got it while stationed in occupied Japan. Doesnt look to be signed and appears to be made of copper. Not sure if this is a cheaply made item for westerners. There is a kogatana that came with it as well.

[0331_usmc]

Here is the kogatana. He removed some rust on the polished side with either sandpaper or steel wool.

[SteveM]

If I'm not mistaken, the kogatana has "六歌仙" (rokkasen) written on it in large letters. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rokkasen

 

If my reading is correct, the fine writing underneath it might be representative poems from the six poets of the Rokkasen. I have never seen anything quite like this on a kogatana, so to me it is interesting and enigmatic. If I could only go back in time and warn your grandfather to refrain from using any abrasive on it...

Note my reading may be incorrect. The middle kanji isn't enough of a match for me to have complete confidence.

[SAS]

That is very interesting, I have not seen anything quite like that.

[0331_usmc]

Im thinking that the writing in the second to the last picture lists the poets.  Im not positive this is all very new to me. As for the fine writing I didnt even realize it was writing to begin with. Thought it was just a design.  

[SteveM]

Yes! You are right. Each is a four-character name. There are three names on the top, three on the bottom, arranged vertically (read as if you were holding the kogatana vertically, i.e. tip pointing upwards)

 

top row

喜撰法師 Kisen Hōshi

僧正遍昭 Sōjō Henjō

文屋康秀 Fun'ya no Yasuhide

 

bottom row

在原業平 Ariwara no Narihira

大友黒主 Ōtomo no Kuronushi

小野小町 Ono no Komachi

[Henry Wilson]

KTK catalogue 2014 has a write up by Saulius V. Ploplys on a koshirae that contains a kogatana with a blade inscribed with the legend of Rokkasen. He makes some very insightful comments and observations that are worth reading if anyone is interested in Anthony's kogatana.