naginata mei

[Mantis dude]

Hi all,

 

Helping translate this mei for a friend. I have attached a pic of 3 shots of the sig (basically the same but some are less blurry than others, etc). He had trouble photographing it so this is the best I have. I think we have it translated to minomoto yoshishige (or yoshikei). I didn't find any mei in Hawley's like that. Wondering if anyone has any input on it? I was thinking it could be an undocumented smith or entry missing/wrong in Hawleys or possible a gimei for Hankei who also signed shigeyoshi but used different kanji and perhaps they didn't realize that? All help is appreciated. Thanks.

Ken

[mdiddy]

I can't get your pic to load, but I did find this on Danny M's site (http://www.nihontocraft.com/Mishina.html):

 

"YY1.5) Yoshinobu 吉信, 1673, Kozuke Zenhashi Minamoto Yoshinobu 上州前橋源吉信, student of shodai Yamato (no) Kami Yoshimichi. Early name Yoshishige 吉重. Gunome midare with sugu-yakidashi, nie and deep nioi."

 

It may be a lead...or may just result in more hand-wringing/head-shaking.

[reinhard]

The mei eventually reads: Minamoto (no) SHIGETORA

 

A ToKo by this name worked in Osaka during late 17th century. I couldn't find any reference material though.

 

reinhard

[Mantis dude]

Thanks guys for the responses.