Japanese Sword Marking

[pvluger]

Can anyone translate these markings from a late war katana?

Thanks!

[GHP]

三州住筒井清兼作
Sanshu ju Tsutsui Kiyokane saku

昭和十九年２月日
Showa 19th Year, 2nd Month, a Day
A Day in February, 1944

He was rated as "Mid-quality" Chu-saku and placed 3rd seat (優秀 - excellent quality) at the 6th Shinsaku Nihonto Denrankai (新作日本刀展覽會) in 1941.
source

Another of his swords is on Worthpoint and is described as

Kiyokane's real name is Tsutsui Seiichi was born in 1907 in Okazaki city, Aichi prefecture, studied under Kurihara Akihide, made swords as a Gendai sword smith, listed in John Slogh's book page 84 and rated 1.3 million yen smith. The blade is traditional hand forged, in old polish with original ububa , shows fine scratches but no rust, no stain and in good condition. The temper line is wavy gunome-choji temper pattern and has deep temper at the point. The forging grain is tight itame-hada and no forging flaws at all.

That is not to say yours definitely is a gendai sword ... but at least it is written that this particular smith made traditional blades (if I'm reading the description correctly!).

He is mentioned on p.230, 14th from the top, here; but this is in German. He lived in Nagakute, Aichi Prefecture, and worked for the Okazaki Domain.

Here's another of his swords.

Leon Kapp writes:

The regulations for sword manufacturing approval (swordsmith's license) were implemented by the government on September 1, 1953 (see later), and Tsutsui Kiyokane was the first smith to be licensed to make swords as art objects in November...

Cheers,
--Guy

[pvluger]

Wow! Great! Thank you so much.