Hizen no Kuni Tadamitsu

[Bullseyejack]

I hope you can tolerate a question or two from a total amateur looking for more info. I have had this sword since my grandfather's death in 1955. I have no idea where he obtained it. It has not been well treated. The mekugi is missing. Also, it appears he sharpened it (I know . . . sacrilege) but I can't do anything about that now. I'm guessing that he didn't care about it, and may have used it as a utility knife (another sacrilege). It is in a plain shirasaya that was apparently lacquered black many years ago.

 

I have been able to translate the nengo as Showa jyu hachi nen san gatsu ?? hi. (March 18, 1944) I can't translate the day. I've been told it means "one fine day."

 

From other posts on this site and elsewhere, I have a translation of part of the mei: Hizen no kuni Tadamitsu tsu kuru kore. (Tadamitsu of Hizen Province made this).

 

The yasuri-me look virtually identical to those on this post http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=1860&p=12688

 

I'm curious about the balance of the mei, and if anyone knows of this smith.

[Bugyotsuji]

Is it possible that Tadamitsu of Hizen was in "Ryo(jun), Higashi To", Manchuria, when he made this?

æ—…(é †)æ±éƒ½

[Grey Doffin]

Hello,

I'm sure someone better with Kanji than I will help you with the translation. I want to tell you to whittle a new mekugi. Without a mekugi, if the sword is jarred the blade can crash down inside the scabbard and shatter its point. The mekugi is very important to the sword. Chopsticks work fine for this.

Grey

[Bugyotsuji]

  Grey Doffin said:

Hello,

I'm sure someone better with Kanji than I will help you with the translation. I want to tell you to whittle a new mekugi. Without a mekugi, if the sword is jarred the blade can crash down inside the scabbard and shatter its point. The mekugi is very important to the sword. Chopsticks work fine for this.

Grey

 

Good thought. If you can get real bamboo chopsticks, even better. And if you can get smoked bamboo, you're laughing.

[Bullseyejack]

Oh, I had intended to replace the mekugi. Thanks for the advice on the chopstick. I didn't think of that. I have an oak peg in there for the time being.

[Nobody]

  Bugyotsuji said:

Is it possible that Tadamitsu of Hizen was in "Ryo(jun), Higashi To", Manchuria, when he made this?

æ—…(é †)æ±éƒ½

The first three kanji are æ–¼æ±éƒ½ (Oite Tôto). They mean “at Tokyoâ€.

[Bugyotsuji]

  Nobody said:

  Bugyotsuji said:

Is it possible that Tadamitsu of Hizen was in "Ryo(jun), Higashi To", Manchuria, when he made this?

æ—…(é †)æ±éƒ½

The first three kanji are æ–¼æ±éƒ½ (Oite Tôto). They mean “at Tokyoâ€.

 

:lol:

 

(Maybe one day I'll get something right! Reminder to self to keep mouth closed and fingers off the keypad.)

[Nobody]

  Bullseyejack said:

I have been able to translate the nengo as Showa jyu hachi nen san gatsu ?? hi. (March 18, 1944) I can't translate the day. I've been told it means "one fine day."

Your reading for the date is correct, but the corresponding year is not 1944 but 1943.

The date is a lucky day in March of 18th year of Showa (Mar., 1943).

[Bullseyejack]

  Quote

Your reading for the date is correct, but the corresponding year is not 1944 but 1943.

The date is a lucky day in March of 18th year of Showa (Mar., 1943)

Thank you for catching my stupid math error. Note to self . . . count the FIRST year also! I also appreciate the translation of "at Tokyo."

 

Could you elaborate on the pronunciation of the kanji for "lucky"?

 

Now to determine whether it is mass-produced junk or hand-made.

[Bugyotsuji]

  Bullseyejack said:

  Quote

 

Could you elaborate on the pronunciation of the kanji for "lucky"?.

 

Often a nenki finshes with å‰æ—¥, kichi-jitsu, which means one of the lucky or fortunate days which recur in the the calendar month.

 

If you pull a 'Dai-kichi' å¤§å‰ fortune stick at a shrine, you will be in for a lot of luck.