Can anyone read Japanese?

stekemest · 3rd January 2009, 10:15 AM

The province is not IMBA, but INABA, now part of TOTTORI prefecture in south western Japan. First three are TENKA-ICHI, first under the heavens. The use of that title was prohibited in 1682, but was still inoficially used until the 19th century. The character below the province means KASE(GU) which is "to work".The smith's name must either be the last two characters (OMO?YOSHI) or the characters below TENKA-ICHI (which I can't make out except -MURA).
There doesn't seem to be a date.
My Japanese isn't the best though.

Peter

stekemest · 3rd January 2009, 11:03 AM

By the way, the image itself has nothing to do with the place of manufacture. It is a standard theme showing a crane, pines and bamboo, all of which stand for "long life".
stm

Atlantia · 3rd January 2009, 04:40 PM

Miguel and Peter, Thank you so much!

Gentlemen, I can only say:

Dômo arigatô gozaimasu

Which I believe is the correct form when expressing gratitude to ones teachers.

I remember seeing a couple of others translated somewhere which might give us more of an idea of what the remaining characters might say. I'm off to look now!

Back later, thank you again chaps!

Regards
Gene

stekemest · 3rd January 2009, 04:48 PM

It must be a name: ??mura. Probably the one who made it ("??mura, the first under heavens, working in Inaba province").

Quote:

Which I believe is the correct form when expressing gratitude to ones teachers.

Yes it is.

Peter

Atlantia · 3rd January 2009, 11:31 PM

Hmmm, I'm not being much help here. I can see from others wher I can find a partial or full translation that the fact that this one starts with the 'Tenka-Ichi' prefix then the rest is probobly going to be makers name, clan name, the name of the place where it was made, and possibly the region.
LOL, a date wuould have been nice!
I did find one site with a mention of these square ones and it said 'The Kaku (square) type is unique in that they are seldom seen.'

Tantalisingly close!!! Very happy to have got so much info on my little mirror already.

Regards
Gene

stekemest · 4th January 2009, 12:11 AM

Well, it doesn't look too old to me. Probably late edo to meiji, 1800-1900. Unfortunately, I haven't had much to do with kagami, so I can't really date it...
stm

drdavid · 4th January 2009, 01:03 AM

I think the 4th and 5th radicals are Ki meaning tree/wood and Itsu/Otsu meaning second or latter. These are radicals 75 and 5 using the New Nelson Japanese/English character dictionary.

If you just take the initial 3 radicals 天下一 , this would also translate as the best on earth, then you have the ki radical 木 for wood or tree, I cannot figure where this fits into the scheme of things and then 乙村 which could translate as Otomura which is a town in Nara province, unfortunately nowhere near Inaba that I can see. I suspect a native japanese speaker could enlighten us pretty quickly
cheers
David

Atlantia · 4th January 2009, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stekemest

Well, it doesn't look too old to me. Probably late edo to meiji, 1800-1900. Unfortunately, I haven't had much to do with kagami, so I can't really date it...
stm

Well, some years ago I bought it at a car boot sale from a chap who was selling a collection of brass items hed collected over many years, I didn't even initially notice it as I was looking at some Hindu figures and when I did spot it I didn't have a clue what it was but liked the hue of the metal. Once I figured out it must be a mirror I thought it would probobly be a souvenier from during the occupation!
So really any older than that is a bonus! lol

Gene

3rd January 2009, 10:15 AM	#1
stekemest Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Heidelberg, Germany Posts: 183	The province is not IMBA, but INABA, now part of TOTTORI prefecture in south western Japan. First three are TENKA-ICHI, first under the heavens. The use of that title was prohibited in 1682, but was still inoficially used until the 19th century. The character below the province means KASE(GU) which is "to work".The smith's name must either be the last two characters (OMO?YOSHI) or the characters below TENKA-ICHI (which I can't make out except -MURA). There doesn't seem to be a date. My Japanese isn't the best though. Peter Attached Images Last edited by stekemest; 3rd January 2009 at 04:25 PM.

3rd January 2009, 11:03 AM	#2
stekemest Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Heidelberg, Germany Posts: 183	By the way, the image itself has nothing to do with the place of manufacture. It is a standard theme showing a crane, pines and bamboo, all of which stand for "long life". stm

3rd January 2009, 04:40 PM	#3
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Miguel and Peter, Thank you so much! Gentlemen, I can only say: Dômo arigatô gozaimasu Which I believe is the correct form when expressing gratitude to ones teachers. I remember seeing a couple of others translated somewhere which might give us more of an idea of what the remaining characters might say. I'm off to look now! Back later, thank you again chaps! Regards Gene

3rd January 2009, 11:31 PM	#5
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Hmmm, I'm not being much help here. I can see from others wher I can find a partial or full translation that the fact that this one starts with the 'Tenka-Ichi' prefix then the rest is probobly going to be makers name, clan name, the name of the place where it was made, and possibly the region. LOL, a date wuould have been nice! I did find one site with a mention of these square ones and it said 'The Kaku (square) type is unique in that they are seldom seen.' Tantalisingly close!!! Very happy to have got so much info on my little mirror already. Regards Gene

4th January 2009, 12:11 AM	#6
stekemest Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Heidelberg, Germany Posts: 183	Well, it doesn't look too old to me. Probably late edo to meiji, 1800-1900. Unfortunately, I haven't had much to do with kagami, so I can't really date it... stm

4th January 2009, 01:03 AM	#7
drdavid Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 372	I think the 4th and 5th radicals are Ki meaning tree/wood and Itsu/Otsu meaning second or latter. These are radicals 75 and 5 using the New Nelson Japanese/English character dictionary. If you just take the initial 3 radicals 天下一 , this would also translate as the best on earth, then you have the ki radical 木 for wood or tree, I cannot figure where this fits into the scheme of things and then 乙村 which could translate as Otomura which is a town in Nara province, unfortunately nowhere near Inaba that I can see. I suspect a native japanese speaker could enlighten us pretty quickly cheers David