Hi show up a japanese sword...can anybody help me to figure out what the japanese sign mean?
oppinion/comments are welcome.....regards tommy

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YOUR SWORD IS A 1944 PATTERN IMPERIAL JAPANESE ARMY OFFICER'S SWORD. THE BLADE IS A FACTORY MADE NON TRADITIONAL KATANA. THE FACTORY WORKER WHO SIGNED IT USED THE NAME YOSHIHIDE. THE LONG WRITING IS THE DATE WHICH IS THE 20TH YEAR OF SHOWA, 5TH MONTH(MAY, 1945).

thanks once again im grateful/thankful for your reply.... regards and best tommy.

I find the very late war pieces interesting many pieces appear very crude.Although they are not of the superior craftsmanship of the hand forging masters I often wonder if the officers valued them as any less a symbol of their honor.I am sure There were many officers and NCOs who appreciated the beauty and incredible skill required to forge a true work of art,but because of the state of affairs in Japan at the time I often wonder if deep down inside they somehow felt slighted or under valued because of the last ditch quality of the swords provided to them.I am just thinking aloud and would like a few different perspectives and opinions on this subject.Thanks Geoff.

Geoff, your thoughts are interesting and I have wondered the same thing sometimes. However I did pick up a vet bring back sword like this one with machine made blade that had the orange and brown Colonel portepee attached. It showed proper wear and had obviously seen much action.
So even the big dogs carried these swords with machine made blades.