Nthk Paper Translation?

[Nihonto Chicken]

I received today the NTHK papers for the kai gunto blade I submitted at the San Francisco shinsa.  I'd been wondering about these, in my age addled memory function I thought perhaps I'd already gotten them and forgotten where I'd put them.  Looks like that realization will be put off for a time.    Anyway, now that I have them, what do they say?  I'm hopeless at kanji, despite my long time ownership of the flash cards.  I like to prevail if I could one someone's good nature  to tell me what the NTHK says I've got.  Pics below:

 

 

 

TIA for a translation life preserver!!! 

[Toryu2020]

Rick -

Your certificate is a Kantei sho - blade is unsigned but attributed to "Den Fujishima". This means that they think it the work of the Fujishima school but cannot pin it to a particular artist. You'll want to look at Fujishima artists working around Tensho for an idea of whom this might be.

-t

[Ray Singer]

Appears to have been attributed to the Fujishima school circa Tensho.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tensh%C5%8D_(Momoyama_period)

 

EDIT. Thom beat me to it. When I asked about the NTHK-NPO's usage of Den at the last Tampa shinsa I was told that all mumei swords they paper are given Den, even when given to a specific smith (different from the explanation that Benson wrote about after an interview with Tanobe-sensei).

[Prewar70]

What does the 4 seals mean v. say 6 seals?  I've seen varying numbers on papers.  Are more red seals better?

[Nihonto Chicken]

Hey, what took you guys so long?    Thank you for the enlightenment!  I can't seem to find the Fujishima school in my Connoisseur's text at first glance.  Can you tell me what are related schools and provinces?  Thanks again!    

[Ray Singer]

I believe that Fujishima appears under the Wakimono/Majiwarimono section. Jim Kurrasch had a great article on a Fujishima blade called 'So-den Bizen, or Hard to Kantei'. Probably my favorite piece he wrote.

[Ray Singer]

http://www.sho-shin.com/hoku7.htm

[Fuuten]

What does the 4 seals mean v. say 6 seals?  I've seen varying numbers on papers.  Are more red seals better?

I can think of two explanations. Either there were differing amount of judges at different shinsa or maybe there were more present but they didn't agree on the attribution. But honestly the reason in this case would be a guess.

[Bugyotsuji]

Speaking more from a general knowledge of seal pushing in Japan, each organization will have a minumum number of authenticators on their board, equal to, or above which number, the article will be considered as having fulfilled the written testimony to the right. Naturally the less written there, the more likely it will achieve unaninimity.

 

Thus it might not matter whether you have four or six seals there as they simply attest to agreement with the top dog who will be the final arbitrator. Disagreement will cause a serious problem with their ability to work as a team, so in the unlikely event that there is an argument, they will have some inner mechanism to resolve the issue, usually by a further process of blanding, ie removing the offending word or phrase, or in extreme cases allowing the board member to offer his resignation.

 

Sorry for the long-winded reply, but you can see why once one judge has affixed his stamp, the others will fall into line; the actual numbers of seals means close to nothing, and all board members present on the day will have done his or her duty.

[Bugyotsuji]

PS There are further clues in the paperwork, for example it suggests 加賀国 Kaga no Kuni on the left there.

[Nihonto Chicken]

Thanks, guys, for the updates.  I will try to follow up on the Kaga Fujishima/Wakimono clues.