Note for Markus Sesko

[george trotter]

Hi Markus (and all),

Reading your "Last of the Kanesada" I notice there is some confusion about what exact year 11 gen Kanesada changed his name from Kanemoto to Kanesada. Here is his mei as both Kanemoto and Izumi no Kami Kanesada and it is dated Keio 1st year 10 month 4 day (4th of Oct 1865).

I am not certain if I read it right but it seems to say that at the time of "Kyosen" (unrest in the capital?) he, Aizu ju Kanemoto, assumes/accepts the title/name of Izumi no Kami Kanesada.

On the other side he says he accepts the order of Okada Yasumitsu etc.

I saw this mei in a Dai Token Ichi catalog 2004 p.23. I am not sure if it is already seen by you or is of any value, but I (and I'm sure some members) would like to hear the facts  from you and maybe a full translation?

Hope I am not giving you too much work.

Regards,.

[george trotter]

I thought Markus would have seen this by now.

Maybe some member who knows him can mention it to him? I would like to read his comments...and/or...maybe a member has knowledge of this smith/group? if so please comment / finish the translation etc.

Regards,

[Markus]

Hi George, I've seen it but just returned from SF yesterday. Will get into Mr. Toyama's and my notes on Kanesada XI asap.

[Markus]

The blade in question is featured in Toyama/Kawashima's book that I had the honor of translating five years ago:

https://www.lulu.com/shop/search.ep?keyWords=kanesada&type=

First, the mei, which reads:

mei, omote: “Aizu-jū Kanemoto – Kyōsen no toki juryō – Izumi no Kami Kanesada gō” (會津住兼元・京戦之時受領・和泉守兼定号, “Kanemoto from Aizu who received the honorary title Izumi no Kami whilst staying in Kyōto in time of war – [Now] called Kanesada”)
mei, ura: “Okada Yasumitsu no tame Yasuhide no okuru ni saku – Kimibanzai – Keiō gan ushidoshi jūgatsu yokka – Hatsu ninodō tameshi Yasuhide” (為岡田安光安秀送作・君萬歳・慶應元丑年十月四日・初二ノ胴試安秀, “Sent on behalf of Okada Yasumitsu to Yasuhide – Long Life for the Sovereign – On the fourth day of the tenth month Keiō one [1865], year of the ox – First test by Yasuhide via a second body cut”)

In the description, Kawashima writes that the strength of the chiseling and the rust at the bottom of the chisel strokes suggests that certain parts of the mei were added at different times. He assumes that the initial mei was: "Aizu-jū Kanemoto - Okada Yasumitsu no tame Yasuhide no okuru ni saku – Kimibanzai." No date. We know that the smith went to Kyōto in Bunkyū three (1863) to receive his honorary title Izumi no Kami whereupon he changed his name from Kanemoto to Kanesada at some point in time. Kawashima thinks that the Kyōsen no toki part refers to the Hamaguri Gate Rebellion which took place the year after, i.e., in the seventh month of Bunkyū four (= Genji one, 1864), and when Kanemoto/Kanesada was still in the capital.

So, Kanemoto made the blade in Kyōto, likely in the second half of 1864, and had it forwarded to Okada Yasuhide, probably Yasumitsu's son, who later performed his first cutting test with it on the fourth day of the tenth month of Keiō one (1865). Kanemoto was already back in Aizu (he returned some time in Keiō one, 1865) at that time and so the Okadas' asked the smith to add the result of that cutting test, plus the info that he was now named Izumi no Kami Kanesada, to the tang.

[george trotter]

Hi Markus,

That is great information, thank you. A very interesting line and generation.

I could never have been able to determine from the photos alone that parts of the mei were added at a later time.

I will definitely add that book to my library.

Warm regards,