Woodymyster Posted January 29, 2015 Share #1 Posted January 29, 2015 I recently acquired a Japanese Sword with the surrender tag still tied to the tsuba. I am trying to get the tag translated but thought I should post it here as well. The Marine brought two back, I was able to purchase this one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ugafx4 Posted January 30, 2015 Share #2 Posted January 30, 2015 First time I have seen this, very cool, thank you for sharing! Please let us know when it is translated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blitzkrieg gsd Posted January 30, 2015 Share #3 Posted January 30, 2015 Can you show us pics of the rest of the sword? I'm very interested in these and would love to see the whole sword. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodymyster Posted January 30, 2015 Author Share #4 Posted January 30, 2015 Sorry for the bad pics, I dont get home till after dark. I will try this weekend for better ones. The blade looks amazing except for the last 4 inches where it looks like it was used to cut something. There are scratch marks and some small nicks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodymyster Posted January 30, 2015 Author Share #5 Posted January 30, 2015 Here is the pic before I carefully unfolded and secured the piece of linen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tokashikibob Posted January 30, 2015 Share #6 Posted January 30, 2015 Great find! The sword has a wonderful looking hamon, and since it has a black lacquered samurai era scabbard it is probably a older hand made blade. You can remove the handle and take a look at the nakago and check for a signature, date, and place. Did you get the Marine's info? That would really make this a great piece of history. Tie all the ends up! The tag has the soldiers name and home address as this was a surrendered piece and he'd would of liked it back if possible. The Iwo part is the hard part to believe because of the tag. The Marine was probably on occupation duty in late 45 / 46 in China or Japan and that's where he got to pick out of the pile. The rest got thrown into Tokyo bay. Semper Fi, Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodymyster Posted January 31, 2015 Author Share #7 Posted January 31, 2015 Great find! The sword has a wonderful looking hamon, and since it has a black lacquered samurai era scabbard it is probably a older hand made blade. You can remove the handle and take a look at the nakago and check for a signature, date, and place. Did you get the Marine's info? That would really make this a great piece of history. Tie all the ends up! The tag has the soldiers name and home address as this was a surrendered piece and he'd would of liked it back if possible. The Iwo part is the hard part to believe because of the tag. The Marine was probably on occupation duty in late 45 / 46 in China or Japan and that's where he got to pick out of the pile. The rest got thrown into Tokyo bay. Semper Fi, Bob Correct, I realize now that my title was somewhat misleading. I meant that he was an Iwo Jima Vet. He was transitioned into an Army Engineer unit after the surrender, and he was stationed near Nagasaki at one point. From others that have helped translate the sword, it is a name and address. The name seems to be missing too much however, the area is around lizuka near Fukuoka. The inscription on the tang is only three characters Masa tsuhe Maker I have the vet's name, and am in the process of starting to search for the military record in St. Louis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V42 Posted June 27, 2015 Share #8 Posted June 27, 2015 Great sword and with the surrender tag. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flyboy_trav Posted July 28, 2015 Share #9 Posted July 28, 2015 Very cool!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ViewfinderGyrene Posted March 18, 2017 Share #10 Posted March 18, 2017 Do you know the exact unit that the Marine served in? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluehawk Posted March 18, 2017 Share #11 Posted March 18, 2017 I am trying to get the tag translated but thought I should post it here as well... I'll try too... VERY interested in knowing what this translation will be! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodymyster Posted March 20, 2017 Author Share #12 Posted March 20, 2017 The tag has a name and an area of Japan (somewhere near a mountain). There is too much missing for the name part, but there was some agreement on the mountain. From others that have helped translate the sword, it is a name and address. The name seems to be missing too much however, the area is around lizuka near Fukuoka. As far as the Marine, he was in the 2nd Engineer BN, 2nd Marine Division during the end of the war and was assigned to Nagasaki. I know he was assigned after Iwo to the 2nd, but am still looking for his Iwo unit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ViewfinderGyrene Posted March 20, 2017 Share #13 Posted March 20, 2017 The tag has a name and an area of Japan (somewhere near a mountain). There is too much missing for the name part, but there was some agreement on the mountain. From others that have helped translate the sword, it is a name and address. The name seems to be missing too much however, the area is around lizuka near Fukuoka. As far as the Marine, he was in the 2nd Engineer BN, 2nd Marine Division during the end of the war and was assigned to Nagasaki. I know he was assigned after Iwo to the 2nd, but am still looking for his Iwo unit. I could find that for you. What's his full name? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodymyster Posted March 20, 2017 Author Share #14 Posted March 20, 2017 I could find that for you. What's his full name? I need to confirm when I get back home from travels, but I believe his full name is Russell James P h i l l i p s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ViewfinderGyrene Posted March 20, 2017 Share #15 Posted March 20, 2017 Found him, it says he was in the Rear Echelon of his Replacement Draft, so I'm wondering if he might have picked these up at Occupation? Did you get to speak with him and confirm he was at Iwo? Could've been he was at Okinawa, as portions of 2nd MarDiv landed there... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodymyster Posted March 20, 2017 Author Share #16 Posted March 20, 2017 I had the daughter right down his unit history and will try to pull it out when I get home. I know he was a late enlistment since he worked at one of the aerospace companies in Southern California during most of the war. He was defiantly in Nagasaki within a few months after the bomb fell and picked up the two swords during occupation times. I know the 2nd was not at Iwo and I believe he was transferred afterwards to the 2nd Engineering Battalion. He was a weird case as he was assigned to particular non combat units as he was used in regards to his past job experience as an engineer; however, he was never an officer. I will post the info from the daughter when I am available. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodymyster Posted March 21, 2017 Author Share #17 Posted March 21, 2017 Ok, the daughter wrote a short letter describing her father. He worked at the Inglewood (El Segundo) North American Avatian plant before the war began. He was part of the tool-up for the British purchase of what would be the P-51 before the US entered the war. She mentions he enlisted as he wanted to do more than what he was doing at NAA several years after the war began. She mentions he was moved around from assignments but was for sure in the 2nd Engineer BN, 2nd Marine Division FMF at the end of the war. He talked alot about being apart of the survey team that reported on the damage at Nagasaki. He would later return to NAA, then Rockwell, working on the space program and later being apart of the construction of the Space Shuttle program. I cant tell if he was part of the Iwo JIma Campaign or she was confused about the different island campaigns. But there is no doubt that he pick up the two swords after the war ended in Japan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katieony Posted March 21, 2017 Share #18 Posted March 21, 2017 A very nice bring back...thanks for posting! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
644td Posted March 21, 2017 Share #19 Posted March 21, 2017 Love to see the tang. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USCapturephotos Posted March 22, 2017 Share #20 Posted March 22, 2017 Thanks for sharing and glad you are getting info about the vet who brought it back. Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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