mecox Posted April 10 Report Posted April 10 Steve, as noted by Conway and Bruce your sword is 肥前國住保廣作 "Hizen Kuni ju Yasuhiro saku" and dated Showa 17 (1942) January. Family name is Motomura but there is some confusion with sword names. Their context as WW2 swordsmiths is shown in a paper in NMB Downloads “Showa Period Swordsmiths of Fukuoka Prefecture Kyushu and the Kokura Arsenal”. YASUHIRO (保廣). Listed as from Fukumura, Nakagawa in Saga prefecture (old Hizen) with a post-war address: Saga-ken, Saga-gun, Kawafuku-cho, Oaza. Real name is Motomura Tamotsu (元村 保) (single “yasu” 保 can be read as “Tamotsu”). Born in Meiji 43 (1910) he produced through the war and also post-war. His blades have “Yasuhiro” as 保廣 but some references use simple form of 保広. In the 1937 national survey he is listed to have 2 deshi, capital 1000 Yen, and production of 3 blades per month. Before sword-making, he became a deshi making agricultural tools. Later trained under 3rd gen. Muto Hisahiro (武藤 久広) in southern Fukuoka. He submitted to exhibitions before and during the war: Showa 11 (1936): second Nippon-to Tenrankai exhibition sponsored by Ministry of Culture he received Ginpai (silver medal). Showa 13 (1938): third Tenrankai, received Kinpai (gold medal). [no exhibition in 1937]. In 4th, 5th, 6th Tenrankai (1939-1941): received “Suisen” (Recommendation Award). (6th Shinsakuto Exhibition in 1941: also listed as Dai Ni Seki “second seat”). Showa 17 (1942): received "Sori Daijin Sho” (Prime Ministers Award). In Showa 18 (1943) and Showa 19 (1944) the exhibitions were then run by the military as Rikugun Gunto Tenrankai. In 1943 and 1944: received Kaicho Sho (Chairmans Award). He became Rikugun Jumei Tōshō (maybe 1943), and in national 1942 Banzuke was ranked as Jōkō no Retsu (5/7). Post-war registered in Showa 29 (1954) November 1 (age 44). In Shinsaku Meito-ten Showa 42-45 (1967-1970) received Nyusen. Some references use simple "Hiro" 広 but his mei uses 廣 kanji. In 1941 exhibition and 1942 Banzuke listed as 元村 保廣 (Motomura Yasuhiro). Yasuhiro looks to have two sons working post-war and at same address. YASUHIDE (保秀) Post-war address: Saga-ken, Saga-gun, Kawafuku-cho, Oaza. Real name: Motomura Yasuhide. Post-war registraion: Showa 44 (1969) April 19. YUJI (勇次) Post-war address: Saga-ken, Saga-gun, Kawafuku-cho, Oaza. Real name: Motomura Yuji Post-war registration: Showa 44 (1969) December 12. Yasuhiro had an older brother who was very active in the war and a key smith in the Kokura Arsenal in northern Fukuoka. KANEMOTO (兼元) Address: Saga-ken, Saga-shi. Nagase-cho, 115. Real name Motomura Kensaku (元村兼作), born Meiji 40 (1907), he studied from 1924 under the 3rd gen. Mutō Hisahiro (武藤久広). He became Rikugun Jumei Tōshō, listed in 1942 Banzuke as late entry equal Jōkō no Retsu (5/7), in the1941 Shinsaku Nihontō Denrankai as 5th seat. Post-war he was registered in Showa 29 (1954) August 28 (age 47). “Hizen no Kuni Nagase-jū Kanemoto saku” (肥前国長瀬住兼元作). “Higo no Kuni Kanemoto” (肥前国兼元). Kanemoto had a son who was an active smith post-war and at same address. YASUNORI (保則) Address: Saga-ken, Saga-shi. Nagase-cho, 115 (later as Kawasuge-cho, Saga-shi). Real name Motomura Yasuhiro (元村 保広), born Showa 24 (1949). He studied under his father Motomura Kanemoto (元村 兼元). He registered in Showa 44 (1969) December 12 (age 20). Sensei of older Motomura. HISAHIRO 久広 3rd gen. Mutō Kizaburō 武藤 喜三郎 Lived in souhern Fukuoka. Real name Mutō Kizaburō, and third son of the 1st gen. Hisahiro; considered to have succeeded as 3rd gen. after his older brother (the 2nd gen.) had died young. He had at least one son, Muto Takekazu Hideyoshi Hisahiro (born 1891). He trained the wartime Motomura smiths. 1 5 1 Quote
Brian Posted April 10 Report Posted April 10 The level of input and research you put into your replies is really impressive Mal. We all greatly appreciate it. 2 1 Quote
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