Translation of a sayagaki

[BjornLundin]

Hi, I was posting on the nihonto section of a katana that I have.

 

http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/31280-sukesada-katana-hamon-question/?do=findComment&comment=320435

 

I was refered here for assistans for translation of tang and sayagaki.

 

I was told that it was made by sukesada.

 

Thank you for help!

 

-Bjorn

[SteveM]

在銘祐定　時代天文之頃

Zaimei: Sukesada   Jidai: c. Tenbu 

 

長サ弐尺壱寸五分有之

Nagasa: 2 shaku 1 sun 5 bun

 

淑晃

Yoshiaki ? (multiple readings possible)

[BjornLundin]

Wow thank you. Would this connect with the tang and what the origami says?

 

Most wondering what the origami says in the left section.

 

Thank you for all the help.

[Bugyotsuji]

Ah, you should have shown the paperwork first as it explains (almost) everything. 

 

PS Is this NTHK paperwork?

[BjornLundin]

Ohhh... Man now I am getting interested what it says. Why didnt I learn to read Japanese when I lived there...

 

What I understood, the origami is not from one of the prominent organisations. I believe it is from JHTKK. What that is or who I dont know.

 

-Bjorn

[SteveM]

The paper says

 

刀　祐定　　天正　　　備前

「備前長船祐定」古くは明徳頃から昭和名で続き

共に栄える。備前を代表する刀匠。

本作小板目によく鍛えた地鉄に乱刃を上手に焼いて

いる。生茎二字銘の一振。

 

The salient bits are 

"Katana Sukesada Tenshō (era)"

and

"Jitetsu is well-forged into ko-itame, and skillfully rendered in midare-ba style hamon. Original (ubu) nakago with two-letter name. "

 

Note the discrepancy between the paper, which says Tenshō-era (mid-1400s) and the sayagaki which says Tenbun-era (mid-1500s). 

I agree with the other thread that says the last polish has obscured the hamon. Obscured, but hopefully not destroyed. You would want an educated opinion to verify the sword before deciding to throw a couple of thousand Euros into a full polish and new shirasaya. I don't know if we can trust either the paper or the sayagaki. There are a lot of Sukesada smiths.  

[BjornLundin]

Great thank you  , from the seller he stated that it was the 3rd Sukesada (Toshiro Yokoyama) Tensho (1573-1592) that made the blade. So that is a third date. 

 

I want to thank everyone from both threads, I will enquire a polisher for advice of what can be done. I hate to leave something in a non to optimal state, that would really itch my skin everytime I will look at it. Dont know when I can afford it but let see. I guess this is what happens when you jump in the river and then have to learn to swim to get out of it. Hopefully enjoyable. 

 

If there is a nihonto study group in scandinavia, please let me know. 

[Bugyotsuji]

Steve, Tensho is around 1575, which might well fit, but as you say, some strange discrepancy.

[SteveM]

Oops, my mistake. Yes Tenshō (天正 1573-1592) and Tenbun/Tenmon 天文 (1532-1555) are the two dates mentioned. Sorry about that.