Samurai Sword needs translating

[metallica1985]

Hi everyone, im new here and im really getting into the Japanese culture and history. Ive recently started collecting samurai swords and I could do with a quick translation if possible.

So, is there anyone here who can read Japanese well? You would be doing me a massive favour.
Thanks very much.

The pictures or links to them should be below - if I have done it right (first time).

 

[Fantt]

I'm sorry. I can't read them, but I'm curious:

How much are you spending and is there any way to be sure that they're authentic? Also, where are you purchasing them?

 

[metallica1985]

Hi Fantt I am spending ﾂ｣3000 ($5,400) on it and I am pretty sure its authentic because of all the research I have done on the swords, and the price too - that is a high price on the British market. I am purchasing the sword from an antiques dealer in England.

 

[Mike Cash]

For that kind of dough, would it be unreasonable to expect that the dealer would have already had this done?

 

[NANGI]

Konnichiwa Metallica1985-san!

Left picture is "Mogarashi Nyuudou Souten Sei" in Japanese. "Mogarashi Nyuudou Souten" is person's name and "Sei" means make. It means "Made by Mogarashi Nyuudou Souten". He is famous maker of "TSUBA".

NANGI

 

[metallica1985]

For that kind of dough, would it be unreasonable to expect that the dealer would have already had this done?

I thought that too, but the dealer deals mostly with antique guns. He probably just did a valuation on it based on the quality and compared with other blades.

I will try to attatch more pictures.

The last 2 pictures here are the end of the kozuka. Does anybody understand them?

Thanks

 

[puKKa]

what type of sword is that? it's shorter than a normal katana and the holding is for one hand right? or is it just me who can't see the size proparly?? ^^

 

[metallica1985]

what type of sword is that? it's shorter than a normal katana and the holding is for one hand right? or is it just me who can't see the size proparly?? ^^

The sword is a Wakizashi and it has an overall length of 24 inches which I would say is shortish compared to an average size Wakizashi.

 

[puKKa]

that's what I thought, nice sword btw

what are the types of japanese swords? what are they called from small-knife-alike to long swords?

 

[Fantt]

Here's one site I found:

Yahoo | Mail, Weather, Search, Politics, News, Finance, Sports & Videos

 

[puKKa]

Fantt: the site dosn't work

 

[metallica1985]

The site also doesnt work with me.
Pukka: There are 3 types of samurai swords. Daito (or Katana) being the longest, Wakizashi being the medium length and Tanto being the shortest in length. The Tanto was usually carried around for hara-kiri (suicide) if the person was shamed in any way.

The tsuba here could be a lot more expensive than the price of the sword if it is authentic. The dealer should research the swords so he doesnt sell it to me for a bargain price, hehe - serves him right.

 

[playaa]

Definately an awesome looking sword there, but such a giant price! Though I wouldn't mind adding that to my collection.

Also this sword was one, mainly used by Ninja 's.

 

[Fantt]

Sorry about the site guys. I can get to it. Not sure what I did wrong there.

As for wakazashis, I believe that pretty much most samurai carried one along with his katana. I think they were pretty common weapons. But I'm no expert at all.

 

[puKKa]

thanks
so when will you buy the next sword? *want to see* ^^

 

[Ben W Bell]

Samurai did indeed carry two swords, the wakisashi and the katana. Together these formed the daisho which was the symbol of the samurai class. No one else was allowed to carry them (though towards the Tokugawa era the Ashigaru troops began to wear them as they were elevated into the Samurai class). I am a bit of a student of feudal japanese history.

 

[TwistedMac]

samurai ladies carried the tanto around in their drum on the back, or am i dead wrong here?

 

[puKKa]

I don't think your wrong Twisted since in Rurounin Kenshin: Trust & Betrayal Tomoe has a tanto in her drum on her back. Donﾃ､t trust anime since it's not always true but I think it sounds correct.

 

[Scrivener]

Well I will just take the third photo since it is easiest to read. To me it looks like:

王
雲
齊

This looks like a Chinese name: Last name "Wang" (king), first name "Yunqi" (cloud plus "to make even", more famous as the Qi dynasty though I guess)

 

[Ben W Bell]

samurai ladies carried the tanto around in their drum on the back, or am i dead wrong here?

You are correct, this was quite common both for self defense and their Tanto is what they would use to commit seppuku should the enemy have penetrated the castles defenses. (See the movie RAN for a good example of this).

 

[Mike Cash]

The site also doesnt work with me.
Pukka: There are 3 types of samurai swords. Daito (or Katana) being the longest, Wakizashi being the medium length and Tanto being the shortest in length. The Tanto was usually carried around for hara-kiri (suicide) if the person was shamed in any way.

That last sentence strikes me as odd somehow.

Anyway, that wasn't what I wanted to reply to. There's also the tachi (太刀)which was worn suspended with the blade downward, similar to European custom.

 

[PaulTB]

[...]

Hey Mike!

You need to upgrade your avatar - you're being out-cuted.

https://jref.com/members/point4m.860/

 

[Mike Cash]

I'll just start pettily throwing red points at him.

Anyway, his kitty doesn't have a bowtie, which is the epitome of cute on kitty cats.

 

[jampot]

wow. the wakizashi looks beautiful!! i want one!!!!