katakana on nakago

[reinhard]

Recently I was asked for translating the signature of a mistreated and deteriorated katana in a (partly) mismatched koshirae..
The blade is definitely a genuine nihon-to.
Mei on the sashi-omote was easy: a 16 petal kiku-mon followed by the mei: Tamba-no-Kami Yoshimichi.
Probably second generation in Kyoto.
But: On the sashi-ura there are 2 rows of katakana.
I found katakana on nakago unprecedented:
Can anybody help me out here and tell me me, what they mean?

reinhard


 

Edited April 20, 2023 by reinhard
add pic

[Toryu2020]

interesting

[k morita]

Hi,

I imagined Konotegashiwa Kanenaga.

Are the temper line(Hamon) of Omote side very different from other side?

 

フタヲモテ　(二面)

フタツタウ　(ニ胴)

[Bugyotsuji]

So, the katakana points to a cutting test with 'two masks/faces' (?) and two bodies?

[Brian]

Morita san seems to be implying that the 2 faces/masks may mean 2 different hamon?

[Toryu2020]

Konotegashiwa is a famous piece where both sides of the sword are done in different style - like the Kashiwa leaf which is bright green on one side and white-ish on the other...

 

-t

[reinhard]

Thank you for your ideas and explanations.
Allusion to"konotegashiwa" is a very interesting suggestion that did not come to my mind.
Unfortunately the surface of the blade is in bad condition (rust and scratches) hence the hamon is partly obscured.

reinhard