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Subject:interpretation of signature
Posted By: Dan Mon, Mar 16, 2015 IP: 24.253.116.69
I was wondering if someone could help me interpretation the picture attached. I have this really unique sword with a wooden sheath with mother of pearl. Thank you in advance.



Subject:Re: interpretation of signature
Posted By: Fujin Tue, Mar 17, 2015
Hi Dan, the kanji on your sword read -

長光道 - Nagamitsu michi

So I presume the maker is Ichihara Nagamitsu (1886 ~ 1960).

The kanji 道, is usually accompanied by the character 剣, reading 剣道 - kendō, which means 'Way of the sword'.

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Subject:Re: interpretation of signature
Posted By: Dan Wed, Mar 18, 2015
Thank you very much for the info. does this help with the dating by chance if that is possible.








Subject:Re: interpretation of signature
Posted By: Fujin Thu, Mar 19, 2015
"Ichihara Nagamitsu (B. 1886 ~ D.1960) worked during the Showa Era in the 1930's and 1940's. He was the Warden of Yokoyama Prison in Bizen province and made sword blades himself and also trained prisoners to make sword blades in support of the Japanese war effort. He participant in the first Army Shinsakuto Exhibition held in 1944, in which he entered under the name of Ichihara Nagamitsu. Nagamitsu resided in Okayama and is mentioned in the Tosho Zensho by Shimizu which lists him as a Raikugun Jumei Tosho (Army approved swordsmith) and as a member of the Raikugun Gunto Gijutsu Tenrankai. He was awarded the Kaicho-sho prize at a sword competition held by Riku-gun Gunto Sho-rei Kai before the war. His blades are known to done in the Bizen tradition."

from - http://www.samuraisword.com/nihonto_c/gendaito/Nagamitsu/index.htm

I can't tell the age from the photographs, but knowing a little about the maker can tell you roughly when the sword was made. In this case, 1930's - 1940's.

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