‘Shanghai's tap water comes from the sea. ‘ Kogatana inscription.

[GreyVR]

Hello all. Last april I bought the most wonderful sword at Tozando in Kyoto. It's a Edo period Wakizashi, my first nihonto, and has a 'lived in' koshirae that I just love. 

That said, it came with a really beautiful kogatana which has an inscription on the blade. 

I asked chatgpt to read it, and it tells me that it reads "Shanghai's tapwater comes from the sea." 

You will all understand I have absolutely no doubt whatsoever of kogatana blade smiths being deeply concerned about water supplies in Chinese cities... ...but even so I thought to ask here. 

[Bugyotsuji]

上海 Shanghai does not seem to figure in there.
I’d definitely call ChatGPT’s bluff.

[mywei]

Photo is really grainy so can't make out much. Can see ".... Mune saku" 宗作

 

Not sure why a smith would go out of their way to throw shade at a city in another country

 

[GreyVR]

20 minutes ago, mywei said:

Photo is really grainy so can't make out much.

I fear it might not be the photo so much as the blade. Is this any better?

 
 

[SteveM]

My guess: 相州住貞宗作

 

Sōshū-jū Sadamune saku

 

Made by Sadamune of Sōshū 

 

(Not really made by Sadamune, mind you. Just an homage-type inscription).