What does this mark mean? Higonokami knife handle writing

L

leathertoolz

Joined
Dec 21, 2014
Messages
7
Hello
Guys, I have been EDCing my Higinokami knife with Blue paper steel.

it's mid-sized one. it's scary scary sharp and I am loving it.

Does any one know what does the lettering in a red box I drew means?

I've seen other mark of other knife with ㄱ shape with different lettering.

does it mean maker? like "name作" on Japanese Kitchen knife?

please, I am so darn curious!

435_zpsayimopce.jpg
 
That kanji reads "koma". Which by itself means "Top" as in the kind that spins.
These knives are made by the company Nagaokoma Seisakusho　（永尾駒　製作所）
and generally called "Kane Koma".　（カネコマ）
"Kane" refers to the ㄱ mark. It is a fairly commonly used old traditional trademark symbol
and used by a number of manufacturers, not just in cutlery. I am guessing but I think the "Kane"
was a tool used by construction workers during the Edo period that was shaped like that.
Hence it became a symbol of craftsmen. But as I said, I am guessing at the origin.

Kenhash
 
Last edited:
KenHash said:
That kanji reads "koma". Which by itself means "Top" as in the kind that spins.
These knives are made made by the company Nagaokoma Seiksakusho and generally called "Kane Koma".
"Kane" refers to the ㄱ mark. It is a fairly commonly used old traditional trademark symbol
and used by a number of manufacturers, not just in cutlery. I am guessing but I think the "Kane"
was a tool used by construction workers during the Edo period that was shaped like that.
Hence it became a symbol of craftsmen. But as I said, I am guessing at the origin.

Kenhash
Click to expand...

Kenhash, Thank you so much for answering this. I thought some one in this huge forum might know about it.
I think you told me just right answer I was looking for.

I'm just curious, are you from the east part of the world? Possibly Japan?

your nickname sounds like eastern! : )



Thanks again, Kenhash!
 
Hi OP

駒 means foal (or young and strong horse) in chinese.
I'm not sure what that means in japanese since I'm chinese but usually the same character has the same meaning in these two languages (and we both know why).

永尾(nagao) is a surname in japan , just like Strider or Emerson in the US.

The original knife maker is named 永尾駒太郎.
太郎 means first-born-son.
So the guy's name means first-born-son of the nagao (永尾) family and being strong like a young horse .
 
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thinkpanda said:
Hi OP

駒 means foal (or young and strong horse) in chinese.
I'm not sure what that means in japanese since I'm chinese but usually the same character has the same meaning in these two languages (and we both know why).

永尾 is a surname in japan , just like Strider or Emerson in the US.
Click to expand...

Thank you very much for the info.
I appreciate it. so that letter is a sur name who makes higonokami?

What's does other writings on the handle say?
 
商標 : trade mark
登錄 : registered

肥後守 : place name in kyushu island of japan, that's where the knife was made

定 : made ,or you can take it as customized

I feel free to read these kanjis since these are just ... exactly traditional chinese characters.
 
thinkpanda said:
商標 : trade mark
登錄 : registered

肥後守 : place name in kyushu island of japan, that's where the knife was made

定 : made ,or you can take it as customized

I feel free to read these kanjis since these are just ... exactly traditional chinese characters.
Click to expand...


Thank you ThinkPanda!

You resolved my curiosity very clearly!

you really made my day.


Thank you!
 
leathertoolz said:
Thank you very much for the info.
I appreciate it. so that letter is a sur name who makes higonokami?

What's does other writings on the handle say?
Click to expand...

Not the surname but parts of the given name.
See my additional remarks in that post.

BTW 永尾駒太郎 is the original designer and maker of the knife style but not the actual maker of the one that you own.
 
thinkpanda said:
商標 : trade mark
肥後守 : place name in kyushu island of japan, that's where the knife was made
定 : made ,or you can take it as customized
I feel free to read these kanjis since these are just ... exactly traditional chinese characters.
Click to expand...

With all　due respect, one must be careful when appying Chinese definitions of Kanji to Japanese writing. While many characters
are the same, many are not. The reason mostly being that Kanji (漢字）entered Japan a very long time ago and it has evolved on
it's own, while in the meantime it has evolved in the Chinese language during that same time as well. In this example, the original
Chinese meaning of koma 駒 remaims in Japanese only as the name for Shougi pieces 将棋、and a pasture for horse grazing is called
a komaba 駒場。However. in daily Japanese language use, people would not associate koma with any horse, but a top(toy) or
a shougi piece.

As for 肥後守, while the land of Higo 肥後の国 is the old name for what is now Kumamoto Prefecture 熊本県 in Kyushu、
the name Higonokami meaning Lord (protector) of Higo refers to the type/style of knife.
The Higo no Kami originated from a local knife procured in Higo which had no locking system. Around 1986 the knife was redesigned by
Murakami 村上Tetsuji of Miki 三木 in Hyogo 兵庫県 Prefecture (nowhere near Higo/Kumamoto) who added the lever that you see today. A second knifemaker, and his name is significant to this thread may have also been involved in the modification and production, was Nagao 永尾 Shigeji. In 1899 a Knifemakers Guild was created in Miki, and the name "Higo no Kami" was trademarked in 1907.
But over he many decades the original members of the guild passed away and their families did not carry on, to the extent that the Nagao
family remained the only one of the original familes, under Nagao Motosuke 4th generation left still making the Higo no Kami knife.
So the OP has what I believe to be an actual Nagao "Kanekoma" made in Miki City, Hyougo Prefecture.
There are many "higo no kami" knives, some by reowned knifemakers, made and sold in Japan but only the Nagaokoma knives can be traced back historically to the original.

Didn't mean to get into Higo no Kami's like this as the OP never asked. But it was necessary to to explain why the 肥後守did not
represent where te knife was made.
 
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KenHash said:
With all　due respect, one must be careful when appying Chinese definitions of Kanji to Japanese writing. While many characters
are the same, many are not. The reason mostly being that Kanji (漢字）entered Japan a very long time ago and it has evolved on
it's own, while in the meantime it has evolved in the Chinese language during that same time as well.
Click to expand...

Thanks Kenhash. so, what he translated on this handle is right or wrong?

I am a bit confused..
 
The translation is correct Except:

Koma　駒 has a different meaning in Japanese and Chinese but that is not relevant to the knife inspcription.
The kane koma mark is simply a trademark for the company Nagaokoma Seisakusho.

The 肥後守 (higo no kami) refers to the type of knife (trademarked), not the place where it was made.
 
KenHash said:
The translation is correct Except:

Koma　駒 has a different meaning in Japanese and Chinese but that is not relevant to the knife inspcription.
The kane koma mark is simply a trademark for the company Nagaokoma Seisakusho.

The 肥後守 (higo no kami) refers to the type of knife (trademarked), not the place where it was made.
Click to expand...

oh I see now.


that totally makes sense! and thanks for the correction.

I would want to ask.

when it was put on the items workshop produce(other knives or items)

is the "Koma" usually used with a person's last name? or with first name?

Thanks
 
The current head of the Nagao family is Nagao Motosuke.
His grandfather was Nagao Komataro. In turn, Komataro's grandfather was the original Nagao Shigeji.
So Nagao Komataro is not the maker of your knife, as he is long dead.

I am not sure what your question is. The Kane Koma mark is the trademark for Nagaokoma Seisakuso. the company owned by
the Nagao family. It is not on the knife to represent the maker as an indivudual person.

The word/character koma can be found both in Japanese last names as well as first names.
See here for a complete list:
http://kanji.reader.bz/more/駒

This is different from that commonly seen on hand made swords, tantos and other bladed instruments.
There the format is usually (not always) Location + Residing in + Maker's name + Made by,
so that if John who lives in Idaho made the blade, the tang might read:
Idado 住　John 作　which would be read Idaho Juu John Saku.

Hope this answers what you are asking.
 
Last edited:
KenHash said:
The current head of the Nagao family is Nagao Motosuke.
His grandfather was Nagao Komataro. In turn, Komataro's grandfather was the original Nagao Shigeji.
So Nagao Komataro is not the maker of your knife, as he is long dead.

I am not sure what your question is. The Kane Koma mark is the trademark for Nagaokoma Seisakuso. the company owned by
the Nagao family. It is not on the knife to represent the maker as an indivudual person.

The world/character koma can be found both in Japanese last names as well as first names.
See here for a complete list:
http://kanji.reader.bz/more/駒

This is different from that commonly seen on hand made swords, tantos and other bladed instruments.
There the format is usually (not always) Location + Residing in + Maker's name + Made by,
so that if John who lives in Idaho made the blade, the tang might read:
Idado 住　John 作　which would be read Idaho Juu John Saku.

Hope this answers what you are asking.
Click to expand...

Yes. my question was if the "Koma" is used with Last name or first name.

and Yes! I was wondering about the 作 on the tang of the swords.

I think I know what's happening here.

small question started so many answers. : )

Thank you very much KenHash.
 
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