Japanese Sword Signature Help

Naga Sasra · 27th August 2009, 07:01 PM

This is a sword that belong to me, I have been trying to read the signature to no avail. Although I believe one side read's "Meiji 2nd year" but I am not certain and as for the other side it make no sense to me.
Please help

Thank You!

Rich · 27th August 2009, 11:19 PM

You are correct on the date. Sorry, but I can't make anything out of the
signature either :-(

Rich S

Naga Sasra · 28th August 2009, 12:23 AM

Thank you very much for your reply, it is appreciated.

Hopefully someone out there

can figure out the signature mei.

Erik

Rich · 31st August 2009, 02:27 PM

I hope you don't mind, but I took the liberty of posting the signature on a
Japanese Sword forum, not names, just the pic of the signature. It turns out not to be an actual signature but translates as:

"The Crown Prince is superior in all ways."

A patriotic slogan consistent with the Meiji period of the blade.
The "Crown Prince" would of course become the Emperor Showa of WW II.
Hope this helps.

Rich S

Naga Sasra · 31st August 2009, 11:48 PM

Rich S

Thank you so much for posting the "writing" in a Japanese Sword Forum, the good thing is that it is not a fake signature so I will now consider the blade as unsigned. It was really driving me up the wall, as I was trying to look at it as a signature.
As it turned out it is a patriotic slogan instead, no wonder I could not figure it out.

Thank you again for your effort.

Best,
Erik

Rich · 1st September 2009, 01:31 AM

Erik -

Glad to be of help. I was looking at it as a signature also and it was driving
me a bit nuts. So I decided to ask where I knew a native Japanese collector
would answer.

Patriotic slogans were not uncommon on swords of the Meiji and Showa
periods. I've a Meiji period kubikiri tanto with a patriotic mei. And a couple
Showa era swords with patriotic slogans in addition to the signature.
Should have dawned on me sooner. Guess my old brain has lost a few
too many neurons :-)

Rich

27th August 2009, 07:01 PM	#1
Naga Sasra Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Boca Raton, Florida, USA Posts: 108	Japanese Sword Signature Help This is a sword that belong to me, I have been trying to read the signature to no avail. Although I believe one side read's "Meiji 2nd year" but I am not certain and as for the other side it make no sense to me. Please help Thank You! Attached Images

31st August 2009, 02:27 PM	#4
Rich Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: comfortably at home, USA Posts: 432	I hope you don't mind, but I took the liberty of posting the signature on a Japanese Sword forum, not names, just the pic of the signature. It turns out not to be an actual signature but translates as: "The Crown Prince is superior in all ways." A patriotic slogan consistent with the Meiji period of the blade. The "Crown Prince" would of course become the Emperor Showa of WW II. Hope this helps. Rich S Last edited by Rich; 31st August 2009 at 03:13 PM.

27th August 2009, 11:19 PM	#2
Rich Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: comfortably at home, USA Posts: 432	You are correct on the date. Sorry, but I can't make anything out of the signature either :-( Rich S

28th August 2009, 12:23 AM	#3
Naga Sasra Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Boca Raton, Florida, USA Posts: 108	Thank you very much for your reply, it is appreciated. Hopefully someone out there can figure out the signature mei. Erik

31st August 2009, 11:48 PM	#5
Naga Sasra Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Boca Raton, Florida, USA Posts: 108	Rich S Thank you so much for posting the "writing" in a Japanese Sword Forum, the good thing is that it is not a fake signature so I will now consider the blade as unsigned. It was really driving me up the wall, as I was trying to look at it as a signature. As it turned out it is a patriotic slogan instead, no wonder I could not figure it out. Thank you again for your effort. Best, Erik

1st September 2009, 01:31 AM	#6
Rich Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: comfortably at home, USA Posts: 432	Erik - Glad to be of help. I was looking at it as a signature also and it was driving me a bit nuts. So I decided to ask where I knew a native Japanese collector would answer. Patriotic slogans were not uncommon on swords of the Meiji and Showa periods. I've a Meiji period kubikiri tanto with a patriotic mei. And a couple Showa era swords with patriotic slogans in addition to the signature. Should have dawned on me sooner. Guess my old brain has lost a few too many neurons :-) Rich