Papers

[sanjuro]

I have just purchased a sword. It is a sword I have long coveted, and now it is mine. It happened to come with papers. Up until now, I have always considered papers to be for the next buyer, but now I am particularly interested to know what these papers actually say. My Kanji is pathetic and what I can make out, is probably not correct, since usage changes meaning. The photograph is possibly not the best, but since the sword and its papers are still in transit, Its the only clear copy I have. I have as a precaution removed the number etc.

 

Your help is requested to provide a full translation please, and take me out of my misery in trying to stumble through it alone.

[outlier48]

Next to last line - Heisei ju hachi nen yon gatsu san nichi = April 3, 2006.

 

Charlie Brashear

[sanjuro]

Thanks Charlie.

 

That checks the date it was issued. Now all I need is the what, by who, how old, etc. etc.

 

All assistance is gratefully received. :D

[Bazza]

Well, this looks like a party I can join, and probably stating the obvious!!! Under the ICHI character it says "WAKIZASHI. MUMEI (SHIMADA)". That's my limit for today!!!

Regards,

BaZZa.

[sanjuro]

Bazza.

 

Thanks.... Another piece of the puzzle confirmed. The sword is actually a wakizashi, mumei. etc. Nagamaki naoshi.

(I hate that term for some reason).

[Bazza]

Ahhh, Keith, it's good for us all. I think the small column below SHIMADA reads "nagasa 1 shaku 4 sun 7 bu (about?)". The last character is a little blurry, but I guess it means "approximately", "close to", "about".

 

Regards,

BaZZa.

[Jacques]

Bazza.

 

Thanks.... Another piece of the puzzle confirmed. The sword is actually a wakizashi, mumei. etc. Nagamaki naoshi.

(I hate that term for some reason).

 

Just to precise, in case of a naginata/nagamaki naoshi, it should be quoted on the origami.

[sanjuro]

I thought a couple of images might be of interest...... (Try and stop a new dad from showing baby pictures).

[k morita]

"nagasa 1 shaku 4 sun 7 bu (about?)". The last character is a little blurry, but I guess it means "approximately", "close to", "about".

 

Regards,

BaZZa.

 

Hi,

The last character means half. 1/2 bu.

So, nagasa is 1 shaku 4 sun 7.5 bu.

 

 

 

sanjuro san,

kanteisho

[sanjuro]

Morita San and all

 

Thank you. I am grateful for the enthusiastic help and the excellent translated Kanteisho. My bewilderment is now dissipated. All I have to do now is wait for the sword to arrive....... nervous pacing...... chewing fingernails etc. etc.

[Henry Wilson]

This might be of use in the future:

 

http://www.nihontocraft.com/japanese_sword_papers.html

[Nobody]

This might be of use in the future:

 

http://www.nihontocraft.com/japanese_sword_papers.html

The site includes several misunderstandings in the translations which are unfortunately not minor, though there is a lot of valuable information.

Ref. viewtopic.php?f=15&t=5078&p=39868&hilit=calligraphy#p39868