Wakizashi Mei identification

[Eugene Botha]

Hi, I am new to the forum and look forward to learning.

 

I have in my collection two Wakizashi. Apparently the one is inscribed Tonba No Kami Yoshimichi. I have been searching high and low but do not seem to match this description with the mei on the wakizashi.

 

The second one I am not sure of -

 

If you could please help identify the correct translation I would appreciate it greatly.

[Stephen]

Bishu Osa(fune)

[sanjuro]

Eugene.

 

The mei on the unknown blade has been lost due to shortening (suriage) Only part of the province name, which would have formed the upper part of the complete mei, remains.

 

Bizen tradition, nagamaki naoshi, possibly Sengoku Jidai, (Latter part of the Momoyama period). A number of these blades 14 to 19 inches long were produced at that time in Osafune, some were later shortened and remounted as Ko wakizashi or O tanto in the Edo period.

[David McDonald]

Dear Eugene

 

You might try looking at Tango (no) Kami Yoshimichi.

There are around 11 generations (Tamba no Kami Yoshimichi) from Yamashiro starting

in the mid 1600's. Hawley lists the 8th and 9th generation using the Tango no Kami.

8th gen 1818

9th gen 1828-48

丹Tan

後go

の(no)

守Kami

吉Yoshi

道michi

good luck

david mcdonald

http://www.montanairon.com/

[nagamaki - Franco]

Greetings,

 

Chasing after Tango no Kami Yoshimichi http://www.nihontocraft.com/Mishina.html

[Brian]

David,

Good to see you here, another well known website represented here.

 

Brian

[Jacques D.]

Hi,

 

I don't know a Yoshimichi who received the title of Tango no kami, both lineages (Yamashiro or Osaka) received Tanba no kami title (Shinto and shinshinto).

 

I suspect a strong gimei there.

[Brian]

http://www.sho-shin.com/titles.htm

Yep..don't see one either. And it definitely isn't Tanba. Is it Tango for sure?

 

Brian

[leo]

Dear Eugene,

 

Jaques is right, in the case of the Yoshimichis there is no Tango, but only Tanba, even though the Kanji looks alike.

Also all of them I have seen, up to the last generation, signed the Tan in a similar style as the 1st Yoshimichi like a billowing sail(Hokake Tanba). So gimei seems likely!

 

 

Regards, Martin

[Eugene Botha]

Konichiwa,

 

Thank you very much for all the help, I appreciate your willingness to share your expertise.

 

I am enjoying reading all the threads. I hope to join in more as time goes on.

 

Arigato Gozaimasu

 

Eugene

[Brian]

Eugene,

Good to see another South African on board. If you drop me a pm with your area, we'll see if we can take a look in person maybe, and give you a better idea.

There are a few of us sword enthusiasts around SA, and we have occasional meetings, as well as having a small South African Japanese Sword Society.

 

Brian

[David McDonald]

http://www.sho-shin.com/titles.htm

Yep..don't see one either. And it definitely isn't Tanba. Is it Tango for sure?

 

Brian

 

Dear Brian and all

 

Attached ( I hope is an image where I have posted the kanji by the image) the 'go' kanji looks ok and does match Hawley lists (8th gen YOS 403 & 9th gen YOS 404). I did not find a reference to the 8th or 9th generation in either Nihonto Meikan index or Toko Taikan. Even though Hawley's book does have mistakes he had lots of books to look at so I would guess there might be a 8th or 9th generation listed somewhere with Tango no Kami.

 

I am having the same problem also - kind of - I have a tachi signed Tamba no Kami Yoshimichi where the nakago looks very shinshinto/meiji/taisho/showa and was hoping to find a late generation that signed Tamba no Kami. (again I will post an image I hope)

 

Not sure if this helps with the wakizashi but seems to happen often with Japanese swords. I just finished researching a smith Ashu ju Fujiwara Nagatsugu (27 7/8 inch with 6 inch nakago) found a note in Hawley NAG 128 working around 1688 and in the Nihonto Koza a note that tere were not smiths working in Awa province.

 

Good luck in your search Eugene

 

later

david mcdonald