Sword Forge At Inari Shrine Kyoto

[george trotter]

Hi all,

may I ask a question of members?

 

I have a very nice WWII RJT gendaito by Takashima Kunihide of Kyoto. Virtually nothing is known of him but his work is very good. He lived/worked in Fushimi, Kyoto. 

The sword I have (in good quality 'Alternative Standard' mounts), and two other mei of his I have seen, are all signed "Fushimi Ju Takashima Kunihide Saku". His work has papered. I don't have any evidence, but I have always suspected that he worked in the grounds of the Inari Shrine in Fushimi, Kyoto.

 

Well, the other night I noticed on Page 185 of Markus Sesko's 'Index of Japanese Swordsmiths N-Z' that another Showa RJT smith Suketoshi (Kanasaki) worked at the "Kyoto Fushimi Inari-Jinja Token Tanrenjo". This information is the first time I have seen definite proof of a forge being in the Inari Shrine grounds. I suspect that both smiths, and others, worked there at various times over the war years.

 

My query is, does anyone have any info on this forge?

When was it set up?

Who by?

Who ran it?

Who worked there?

When was it shut down etc?

 

Any help, info, pics etc would be most welcome.

Regards,

[george trotter]

Well, about a month has passed and almost 150 members have viewed this post...but no info has tumbled forth...well, that is the way things can be with nihonto.

My maker is virtually unknown and it appears that so is the Inari forge details.

Anyway, thanks for looking at my post and if any info comes in...please post it, even if it is

a couple of years from now.

Regards,

[vajo]

Hello George

 

This is the first time i read the post. It seems that s a very interesting task for long winter nights. So i will keep my eyes open to collect informations to help you.

 

Best

 

Chris

[nagamaki - Franco]

Hello George,

 

You might try contacting Chris Bowen to see what he might know.

[DRDave]

George,  The Inari Shrine is mentioned in The Yasukuni Swords by Tom Kishida on page 135 (click on the page icon at the top to see the full page).  

[vajo]

Tenryushi Toshimitsu(寿光). He was trained at Yasukuni Shrines Nihonto Taren Kai Foundation. Lineage, sakite for Yasumitsu/Yasunobu/Kazumitsu. Rikugun Jumei Tosho Chairman's award 1st Gunto Taren Kai 43. He was among smith's honored at the Prefecture level. By orders of the Imperial Military authority, he made 30 swords at the Fushimi Inari Shrine of Kyoto and donated the swords to the shrine. The Shrines Chief Priest, Suzuki Matsutaro, gave him the personal title of, "Inari Kokaji" or Inari's Swordsmith. (From the Yasukuni Book).

 

 

Suzuki Matsutaro (Dezember 1945)

[george trotter]

Thanks for these replies guys, (and for the email replies). Yes, I will contact the shrine and mention this Toshimitsu and see if he was a "one-off" or if there were others, including my guy Kunihide.

This will take some time, but I will let the board know what I find out.

Thanks again,

Regards,

[george trotter]

Well, almost 2 years have passed since this post began and I did try to contact the Fushimi Inari people but no luck...sorry I've taken so long to report back to members .

About all I can say is ... if anyone knows anyone in Kyoto or lives there themselves, maybe they could take the pics from this post and ask the management there personally?

I don't expect to ever find out about the forge at Fushimi Inari Shrine, or if Takashima Kunihide worked there...but it would be nice to know.

Thanks all, sorry this thread did not lead anywhere.

Regards,

[BIG]

Hi George, in Markus Lexikon der japanischen Schwertschmiede A-M page 257, there is a 

 

Kunihide, Showa, 1926-1989,  Kyoto - "Kunihide", Familienname " Takashima " , rikugun-yumei-tosho

 

Best

[george trotter]

Yes Peter that is him. He is RJT listed as living in Fushimi Ward Kyoto, which is quite a large ward, about the southern third of Kyoto city.

The thing I was trying to find out was, as I don't have his exact address,, did he live and work in his own forge say in Fushimi itself near Fushimi Station, or work at the Fushimi Inari Shrine Sword Forge which is about 4-5 km away towards Kyoto itself.

I just thought that as Inari Shrine had a sword forge, maybe he worked there (that would be great to know).

My attempts to ask Fushimi Inari Shrine who worked there in WWII just didn't get any answers.

Just though a "well connected" NMB member (like Markus?) might be able to find out...

 

Thanks guys,

 

Edit to add...I think Kunihide was only working in WWII. All 5 of his swords I have seen were all 1944 and all RJT star (one removed for NTHK papering).

Pretty sure he didn't work after WWII. He was a good smith, but maybe only trained - worked say 1935-1945, so not well known.

[Kiipu]

Possibly the Ministry of the Interior 内務省 police reports can pin down his exact location?

"Family or short blades as Gunto"

https://www.warrelics.eu/forum/f216/family-short-blades-gunto-688110-post1879455/#post1879455

[Kiipu]

I followed-up on this and there is no 國秀 Kunihide listed in 1937.  He could have been an apprentice though during this time frame.

 

Since I am here, I transcribed the characters and this is what I see.  Do you concur?

伏見住高島國秀作 = Fushimi jū Takashima Kunihide saku

[george trotter]

On 7/28/2021 at 3:29 AM, Kiipu said:

I followed-up on this and there is no 國秀 Kunihide listed in 1937.  He could have been an apprentice though during this time frame.

 

Since I am here, I transcribed the characters and this is what I see.  Do you concur?

伏見住高島國秀作 = Fushimi jū Takashima Kunihide saku

Hi Thomas, just saw your reply/question....yes, that is the correct reading of his mei. Date side says 19/8.

Very small numbers on nakago mune are 98...I have also seen same date/mei numbered 90 on nakago mune.

Thanks for your interest...

Regards,

[Kiipu]

George, I just ran into a similar sword with small numbers on the nakago mune.  It is marked as 七生刀鍛錬道場正勝 [Masakatsu] but I have not really looked into the meaning of this as I do not think it is military related.

Katana Nakamura Masakatsu

 

Edit: To clarify, I am referring to the sword's signature and lack of army markings and not to the small numbers.

Edited August 18, 2021 by Kiipu

[george trotter]

Yes interesting Thomas...one for Bruce?...these small nakago-mune numbers only? seem to be from Hyogo/Osaka/Kyoto area smiths and/or mounting shops.

[Bruce Pennington]

3 hours ago, george trotter said:

one for Bruce?

George,

I had these in the database already.  There are some earlier blades marked with "1" or "2" but these are always with arsenal inspector marks on the mune, so might be different in purpose.  They seem to stop in 1943 and the numbering you mention picks up:

 

1942, Mar	Norisada (RJT) – Fukuoka	Na Ho “1” on mune	Leen, NMB
1942, Apr	Masakazu (RJT) – Fukushima	1129; “1” on mune	George Trotter, RS, tsuba/seppa ニ1129
1942, Jun	Kanenori (RJT)	Na Ho 1 on mune
1943, Aug	Hiromasa (RJT) – Ehime	Yama Ho 2 on mune	Itomagoi, NMB RS
1944, Jun	Masakuni (RJT) – Osaka	75 on mune Star	Volker62, NMB  RS
1944, Jul	Tomonari (RJT) – Kobe Hyogo	24 on mune Star
1944, Aug	Kunihide (RJT) – Kyoto	90 on mune	Trotter Survey
1944, Aug	Kunihide (RJT) – Kyoto	98 on mune	Trotter Survey
1944, Aug	Kunihide (RJT) – Kyoto	99 on mune	Trotter Survey
1944, Oct	Masaharu (RJT)	6 on mune Star	RS mounts

[Volker62]

Hi George

 

I  had owned two swords made by  "Inari KoKaji Toshimitsu" from 30 swords made for the Inari Jinja in order of the Milirary.

 

One is numbered 23 I guess from 30,  signed "made for complete victory  of the war"

 

Other is a extra long Tachi,(around 80cm nagasa) made by Toshimitsu for Suzuki Matsutaro, who was the chief priest of the shrine, additional signature, "made for eternal piece"

 

I can try to get the Oshigata from its Nakago for you, I left both swords to my long time collector friend

 

and of course I'm interested in futher information

[george trotter]

Great info...

Bruce, I checked my file on Kunihide and I can say tang numbers 90, 98, 99 are ALL star stamp.

Also on this list is two more tang number swords:

Masakuni (Osaka?)  star 19/5 tang 78 Rinji mounts

Endo Tomonari Kobe  star  19/7  tang 24 Rinji mounts.

 

Volker, I have tried to contact/email the Inari Shrine in Kyoto about my smith Kunihide working there in WWII but have never succeeded. If you or your friend can get some more information on the Fushimi Inari forge in WWII, can you see if there is any mention of

(RJT smith) Fushimi ju Takashima Kunihide saku

working there in 1944-45? (tang mei photo above).

 

Great stuff,

Regards

[Bruce Pennington]

On 8/18/2021 at 8:33 AM, george trotter said:

Masakuni (Osaka?)  star 19/5 tang 78 Rinji mounts

Thanks George, didn't have that one.  My Jun '44 Masakuni has 75 on the mune.  Is your 78 on the mune too, or at the end of the nakago?  Any chance of photos for the files?

[george trotter]

Hi Bruce,

Yes 78 on munw. These are just from a list I noted down over the years...all nos on tang mune. No sorry, didn't keep any pics, just made note as they were Osaka/Hyogo/Kyoto area smiths/mountings/numbers.

Regards,

Geo.

[george trotter]

On 8/18/2021 at 10:16 PM, Volker62 said:

Hi George

 

I  had owned two swords made by  "Inari KoKaji Toshimitsu" from 30 swords made for the Inari Jinja in order of the Milirary.

 

One is numbered 23 I guess from 30,  signed "made for complete victory  of the war"

 

Other is a extra long Tachi,(around 80cm nagasa) made by Toshimitsu for Suzuki Matsutaro, who was the chief priest of the shrine, additional signature, "made for eternal piece"

 

I can try to get the Oshigata from its Nakago for you, I left both swords to my long time collector friend

 

and of course I'm interested in futher information

Volker san,

I just noticed this post...I know 2 years have passed since you posted these comments - but can I ask if you came back to NMB with this info/oshigata/pics?

I would like to know more about RJT smiths making swords at the Inari forge.

Regards,

George.