Wakizashi from Izu? Need help with translation

[John M]

Hi all!  My family has recently been gifted a wakizashi. I'm told it was an item surrendered between generals in WWII.  Obviously not a WWII-era item, though.  From what I can tell, the blade came from a maker in Izu, but the name is beyond my ability.  There are additional signatures on the tsuba and fuchi - the kanji are much more legible, but I don't know enough to come up with a reading.  Any help would be greatly appreciated by my family! Picture here, link with more.

 

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1McGWbk2YL36CXZ9FLVuApN2HOyXWNaiC

[Ooitame]

Not a translator, a better photo might assist. Also try removing the powder to the Chinle marks only. Someone will be along to assist.

[NewB]

I can make out as Kanemitsu 兼光 (maybe noshu seki?) Could be wrong..

 

As the upper comment, do NOT temper with the nakago too much while trying to clean up the powder (or whatever that white is).

 

Removing patina reduces the value of the blade by up to 50%!

 

J.

[John C]

My guess would be flour?

Seki ju Kanemitsu?

 

John C.

[John M]

Sorry about the powder - that was cornstarch, trying to bring out the contrast.  Cleaned off pic here.  

 

There are more and better pics in the link in the original post, including the other signatures.

 

And not to worry - I won't be scrubbing or polishing or doing anything to the tang.  It stays as is.

[John M]

Amazing - you guys are the best!  Thank you, I will get to work on better pictures.

[Nobody]

I would say 関住兼定 - Seki ju Kanesada.

[John M]

On 12/24/2022 at 3:05 PM, Darkcon said:

Looks like Seki Ju Kanemitsu, Mino province, Muromachi period (mid 1500's) Assuming the signature is authentic.

 

I am NOT an expert, nowhere near it so take my statement with a grain of salt. I hope others here will give you a considerably better response. 

 

Taking nice photos of the first character, the blade in full shot in vertical position, any details of the tempered part in several places, the tempered part of the tip and the thickness at the notch and adding them to the drive could help narrowing it down. Lots of light playing and patience..

 

Cheers

 

J.

Okay, requested pictures have been added to drive, link below.  Any thoughts are greatly appreciated. I'm still curious about the tsuba and fuchi as well.  Thank you all!!

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1McGWbk2YL36CXZ9FLVuApN2HOyXWNaiC

 

[DTM72]

Lots of info on Kanesada here. In my opinion, yours does not appear to be shodai (1st generation) and is NOT signed as the nidai (2nd generation "No-Sada"). 

http://www.sho-shin.com/kanesada.html . Also, without concrete evidence "surrender papers" it is impossible to say this sword or that sword or any sword was surrendered by a General, to a General. However, all Japanese swords were to be surrendered at the end of WWII during the US occupation. This was more than likely surrendered at the end of WWII to a person from the US, Australia, or England.

 

Yours could be the following based upon the signature with "Seki" and absence of any title such as "Izumi no Kami" or "Shinano no Kami" 

https://nihontoclub.com/smiths/KAN2024

https://nihontoclub.com/smiths/KAN2040

https://nihontoclub.com/smiths/KAN2048