Noshu kanetoshi biography

Kanetoshi was one of the most famous swordsmiths from the early Showa period.
KANETOSHI (兼俊), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Gifu – “Kanetoshi” (兼俊), real name Murayama Kinokazu (村山喜之一), born August 3rd 1905, he worked as rikugun.
Welcome to the (Murayama) Kanetoshi fan club!

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This is a late war army officers sword from WWII. This sword is a hand forged blade. It has good hada that was well forged and a very active hamon that was water quenched in the tradition manner. This is a very good example of a sword made by the Rikugun Jumei sword smith Kanetoshi. Kanetoshi is listed as a Rikugun Jumei Tosho. Swords made from this group can have a star stamp on the blade as this one has. This blade comes in original mounts and is in mint condition.

Signature:

[Star Stamp] Nôshû-jû Kanetoshi (濃州住兼俊)
[Seki Stamp] Shôwa jûkunen rokugatsu (昭和十九年六月, “June 1944”)

KANETOSHI (兼俊), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Gifu – “Kanetoshi” (兼俊), real name Murayama Kinokazu (村山喜之一), born August 3rd 1905, he worked as rikugun-jumei-tōshō and died February 23rd 1978, jōkō no retsu (Akihide), Second Seat at the 6th Shinsaku Nihontō Denrankai (新作日本刀展覧会, 1941)

The hamon is an erratic blend of gorgeous choji midare with all sorts on inner activity to be found. The hada is mainly a tight well worked itame as seen in the pictures with misc. swirls of chikei and some O-had

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MURAYAMA KANETOSHI

A Gendaito Katana (Long Sword) with Mounts
Showa era (1926-1989), dated 1940
Shinogi-zukuri, forged in masame hada and itame hada in nioi and nie, the tempered edge ko-midare, the ubu tang with one hole, signed Noshu no ju Murayama Kanetoshi kore o tsukuru, Showa jugonen shichigatsu kichijitsu (Made by Murayama Kanetoshi, resident of Mino Province [present-day Gifu Prefecture] on a lucky day in July 1940) in a shirasaya (wood storage scabbard); the koshira-e (mounting) comprising a contemporary lacquer saya inlaid in shell with a tiger prowling among a bamboo grove on each side, the tsuka re-wrapped with leather and fitted with the yamagane (unrefined copper) menuki carved with cherry trees and saddled horses, the shakudo fuchi-gashira depicting cloves and karakusa ('Chinese grasses'), the shakudo mokko-form tsuba of the same design with two dragons around the rim; with two storage bags and three certificates. The sword overall: 86cm (33 7/8in) long; the blade: 66cm (26in) long. (7).

Footnotes

Accompanied by ce

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Tachi

Japanese tachi (Military fighting sword), which belonged to a Japanese Army Officer. The hilt of the tachi consists of two pieces of magnolia wood joined together longitudinally to form the grip. The wooden grip is covered with white ray-skin, and is bound with a piece of brown silk tape. The pommel (kabuto-gane) is decorated with a double ogee outline with a crest in the middle of the pommel (kabuto-gane) which consists of a cherry flower through the centre of which passes a sleeve for a metal loop (saru-te), which is decorated with cherry blossom and leaves. The metal mounts are made of brass and have been coloured brown and have traces of gilt.

The steel blade is slightly curved, single-edged with a gable-sectioned back. The blade is engraved with the words 'Mino Province (Kanetoshi)' and 'Noshu Kanetoshi Saku, Showa 18'. The arsenal number '4438' is painted in black on the tang. The white metal scabbard has been painted with olive green paint. Running from throat to tip on the scabbard is a narrow metal band, attached to which is a susp