Hat In Hand Again

[Grey Doffin]

Hi guys,

I need help with the ura mei on a wakizashi by Kato Tsunahide, which will be for sale someday.  I know the date is Bunka Shichi Nen Ni Gatsu Hi (Feb. of 1810) but the rest is beyond my abilities.  Help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,  Grey

[reeder]

Grey, search the forum, I think this one was already translated a few years back. I was looking for it as well when it was posted on eBay. Nice buy if we're talking about the same sword.

 

Here you are - http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/15860-kato-tsunahide/?fromsearch=1

[Grey Doffin]

Thanks Brandon,

The earler post yielded no definitive answer so I'm still hoping someone can fill in the gaps.

Grey

[SteveM]

As we say in Japanese

 

達筆過ぎて読めません

The calligraphy is so beautiful, nobody can read it 

 

This one defies all attempts to make sense out of it. The easy pickings on this one are no help at all.

右鍛 means nothing to me. 剱 (tsurugi, ken) appears twice, right after a kanji that resembles 相, but with 手偏 and an extra stroke in the right side. I have no idea what that first kanji could be, but I think we can eliminate the possibility that this is a reference to 相州 as was speculated in the earlier thread. There is what looks to be an orphaned 定 in there, but its use in this context eludes me. There are a couple of 之 kanjis in there, and a 友 and all of these bits point to some sort of kanbun phrase, one with enough clues to take a stab at a meaning... but, it ain't happening. 

And those were the easy bits. 

Even the name at the end looks unusual. It might be 浅井禾山 (Asai Kayama, Ineyama?) as mentioned in the other thread, but that feels like an unusual name to me. Asai is correct, but 禾山... it isn't out of the question, but together with other very stylized kanji on this tang, I'm guessing the name isn't as simple as it appears. 

The whole thing is an enigma. Perhaps Morita-san or Moriyama-san can untangle this knot. 

[Shugyosha]

Thanks Steve,

 

I had a look at this and made no progress, but thought that it was me. I'm feeling less discouraged now.   

 

Best,

John