What does this Japanese inscription say?

Question

I have a Japanese sword brought back to the US after WWII and I recently discovered an inscription of Japanese kanji on the tang (beneath the handle). I'd love to know what it says if you can read the characters. Thank you and five stars for your help!

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/4989/014edithorizontaloptimi.jpg

http://img688.imageshack.us/img688/6414/014editvertical.jpg

Thank you!

bryan_q · Accepted Answer

Those are Chinese characters. Not Japanese Kanji! To me, Kanji = Wase Kanji, those made up by Japanese, but isn't originally Chinese character combos.

Probably someone's name: 柴山魚保 (2nd link)

柴 = log(s) [used for cooking fire of olden days]
山 = mountain(s)/hill(s)
魚 = fish(es)
保 = to preserve

Shansi · Answer

It looks like a Japanese name written in Kanji (basically Chinese characters adapted to Japanese). 

Anyway, if it is, I can only read the first two - the surname... Shibayama. I don't know how to read the first name as I've never met someone with a first name like that.

Sailor · Answer

That's not Japanese...it's Chinese.

People can mistaken them since Japanese adopted Chinese characters, in Japanese, the complex characters are 'kanji.'

Japanese and Chinese are different.

Trending News

What does this Japanese inscription say?

3 Answers