On this page, I would like to capture information regarding a Japanese Sword that I purchased on eBay.  It is in an atypical World War II mount and, according to the seller, was captured from a Japanese Major.  The seller is the grand-son-in-law of the Australian who captured the sword.

It is signed Kanemoto.  Kanemoto is the signature of a line of swordsmiths that are very famous for the style of the hamon (temper line) that this sword displays.  The design is known as sanbon-sugi or three-cedar zigzag.  Notice the "misty" hamon.  This is known as nioi.

This style of hamon was copied in swords of lower quality produced in World War II arsenals.  This does not appear to be one of those swords.

According to Richard Fuller and Ron Gregory (on page 102 of "Military Swords of Japan 1868-1945"), in 1946 a Japanese officer (Kimio Omoto, Major General) wrote the following about his Kanemoto sword (according to the date and the age of the sword, the sword he was writing about is approximately the same age as mine):

"The sword I am presenting to you bears the name KANEMOTO, most famously called SEKI NO MAGOROKU which is well authorized by the historians of Japanese Swords.  This sword was made approximately 350 years ago, and is classified as the later 'old sword'.  KANEMOTO is the name of the maker of this sword and he lived in 'Mino', or the present 'Gifu' prefecture, in central or the most mountainous region in Japan, as one of the most famous sword-makers of that age.  It was an age just at the end of long and destructive days of war and conflict.

"The shape of this sword is an even bow-curve, and shows a good deal of lustre.  The pretty edge waves are generally called the 'sanbon sugi' (or a variation of three cryptomerias), and they are comparatively narrow in shape.  The sanbon sugi is a noteable feature of this sword.  And an 'old sword' in general, we say reminds us of the dark blue firmament at night of profound peace and silence.  I hope that you would appreciate the gracefulness and at the same time severity of the Japanese Samurai spirit seen through the sword.  To my regret, however, the scabbard of this sword is more or less delapidated, mostly due to the days of operations as a regiment commander at the Indian and Burmese fronts, but it will by no means lessen the value of the sword itself."

Pictures:

Please forgive the variable quality of the pictures.  My image capturing device (or its operator) leave much to be desired.

Signature (Mei) ... the signature means nothing unless the blade says it is correct. Also, no file marks (yasurime) are apparrent. They may have dissapeared with age.:

Tang (Nakago) ... notice the general shape.:

Temper Line (Hamon) ... This style of hamon is characteristic of the "later" generations of Kanemoto.  It was copied in World War II manufactured blades.  Notice the misty white line (nioi) in the last picture.  According to Nagayama, in "The Connoiseur's Book of Japanese Swords," this is characteristic of the Kanemoto school of blades.:

Hada (texture of the metal) ... appears to be wood with some burl (itame/mokune) :

Boshi ... temper line at point (kissaki) ... note the large turnback (o-maru):

Blade with Habaki:

Blade with World War II mount ... notice in the second picture that a traditional scabbard (saya) is wrapped in leather.:

Sword Guard (Tsuba) ... notice the gourd shaped cut outs.:

Handle (Tsuka) ... Notice the large nodules in the ray skin (same).  Also note the line along one side where the two ends of the same meet.  I was told that this is a koto style tsuka.:

Fuchi ... notice the leather padding inside where it fits to the handle.:

Kashira ... notice the same theme as the Fuchi.:

Handle Ornaments (Menuki) ... some kind of dragon design.:

Feedback:

Sunny Seyo of seto cutlery Japan
(No. 674 Inaguchi-Cho, Seki City, Gifu Pref., Japan)
was kind enough to run my pictures past the 27 generation KANEMOTO, commonly called KANEKO MAGOROKU for his opinion.  Here is what he wrote (can anybody translate for me?).

Translation ...

thanks to:

Cary Condell

Condell & Co., Ltd.
P.O. Box 590115
S.F. CA  94159

Tel. 415-751-3784

condell@ikkyudo.com
http://www.ikkyudo.com

The note concerning the Kanemoto was written
by the 27th gen. Kanemoto who called himself
Kaneko Magoroku, written in January of this year.
In brief, he is attributing the piece in question
to the 4th or 5th generation by the
meiburi (signing style) and hamon etc.
Late Koto (1570)-Early Shinto (1620).

More info from another very helpful person ...

By my reference book, the signature of "Kanemoto" seems genuine.  Most of forged KIRIMEI, engravings are weak and shallow, because if you hammer strong and deep, you lose patina.  Your Kanemoto seems to have very strong MEI, still having beautiful patina as well.

There have been so many sword smiths in Seki area who has made Sanbonsugi hamon swords, and most of them has same first character of KANE in their Kirimei, however always main line smith of this school in any generation named KANEMOTO.

According to the letter attached, which was written by Kanemoto the 23th, your sword seems to be made by either Kanemoto the 4th, 5th or 6th.  It is most likely late Koto era.

Another opinion:

Sword-smith worked in Seki of Mino province during Kanei era.  Real name is Enichiro Tashiro.He was considered as a Sue of  Magoroku Kanemoto, typically called Genichi Kanemoto.  His made most of his Hamon as "Sanbonsugi" which was  very similar to Magoroku Kanemoto.  Kirimei: Noshu Akasaka Tashiro Genichi Kanemoto, or Noshu jyu Fujiwara Kanemoto His full length Katana in excellent condition with 100% polished and all original Koshirae can be priced around $11000 at the respectable auction.

Note:

I had the pleasure of inspecting a "papered" Kanemoto sword the other day.  The hamon was not as uniform as mine but it was of the same texture (nioi).  In addition, the hada was very hard to distinguish ... almost as if it were not there.  All in all, mine has many of the same characteristics of the "papered" one that I was given the opportunity to inspect.