Masayoshi

[DirkO]

Hi,

 

I've come across this mei and I read the last two kanji as masayoshi. But due to the mekugi, I'm still guessing at the first 2 kanji. My guess would be Hosokawa, but the space reserved for the kanji "kawa" seems totally out of scope, which I find disturbing (gimei ?) Now I've hit a few books, and I can find two smiths who signed as Hosokawa and I have various reference mei for Bakkashi Hosokawa Masayoshi (Nihonto Koza - Kanzan Sato's Oshigata Dictionary). I'm pretty sure it's not him, due to the kanji "masa" and the yasurime being totally different.

So it could be the other one : MAS1402 - TK593.

 

My question is twofold : first of all : is my translation correct ? secondly, does anyone have a reference mei for the remaining Hosokawa Masayoshi ?

 

[Jacques]

Hi,

 

Your translation is correct and your thought about the kanji masa too.

[DirkO]

Merci beaucoup Jacques ! Just wanted to make sure ...

[Henry Wilson]

A characteristic of the Hosokawa school is that the hamon is slightly milky in appearance. That could help yo tell if the blade is gimei or not, however I don't think it is though as the signature looks quite strong and confidently cut.

[DirkO]

hmmm I also thought that the mei was engraved in a confident manner, but I'm not experienced enough to make that call, that's why I ask you guys. I still think the "kawa" kanji takes up an awfull lot of space compared to the other kanji....

 

Here's a better shot of the tanto :

Masayoshi

[Henry Wilson]

I personally think it is not gimei. It all looks good (siganture work manship) and the Hosokawa school is not the sort of school people would try to forge as it is not that well acclaimed. It is a nice looking tanto by the way.

 

Have you seen this link?

 

 

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=1584&p=10672&hilit=masachika+hosokawa#p10672

[DirkO]

Nice article ! It was very informative, I must say. But I'm still somewhat confused by the two Hosokawa Masayoshi in my Hawleys. The nidai seems to be better and is extensively documented in other books as well, whereas the 1st Hosokawa Masayoshi is hardly documented at all... (although hawley's still gives him a respectable 40points)

[Jacques]

Hi,

 

Many things are wrong (compared with shoshin Hosokawa Masayoshi) on this blade:

 

Nakago jiri is quite different, yasurime too, the kanji masa is not the same.

 

This blade shows an ordinary workmanship, and i don't find the characteristics of Masayoshi work.