Can anyone read Japanese?

[Atlantia]

Really, No takers?

Even a partial translation or date ID would be helpful?

C'mon guys, help a brother out!

[migueldiaz]

My Japanese is a bit rusty. But let me give it a try. It says:

"He who tries to behold and admire his likeness in this looking glass will surely stumble. Even monkeys fall from trees."

Hey, I'm just joking! Don't know Japanese at all. But I did send the pic to a Japanese friend and somebody else (Japan-based) who may help out. Let's see if they will be able to respond in time.

[Atlantia]

Originally Posted by migueldiaz

My Japanese is a bit rusty. But let me give it a try. It says:

"He who tries to behold and admire his likeness in this looking glass will surely stumble. Even monkeys fall from trees."

Hey, I'm just joking! Don't know Japanese at all. But I did send the pic to a Japanese friend and somebody else (Japan-based) who may help out. Let's see if they will be able to respond in time.

Hi Miguel,

I laughed out loud at that translation, I would be happy if it said that!
Thank you very much for sending it to your friend I am really greatful for the help.

Happy new Year
Gene

[migueldiaz]

Originally Posted by Atlantia

I laughed out loud at that translation, I would be happy if it said that!

Happy New Year too, Gene!

Well if nobody can translate it for now, then feel free to use my 'tentative' translation if anybody would care to ask.

My Japanese friend can respond Monday at the earliest, since the one I have is his company email address. We'll see.

PS - Paging Hideyoshi ... sir are you still around? Maybe you can help. Thanks in advance!

[Atlantia]

Originally Posted by migueldiaz

Happy New Year too, Gene!

Well if nobody can translate it for now, then feel free to use my 'tentative' translation if anybody would care to ask.

My Japanese friend can respond Monday at the earliest, since the one I have is his company email address. We'll see.

PS - Paging Hideyoshi ... sir are you still around? Maybe you can help. Thanks in advance!

Thanks Miguel
I've had it a long time, so I am happy to wait a bit longer
I fear the translation will be much more mundane than your example sadly.
I think they normally go 'name...of the *** school... date'


Regards
Gene

[migueldiaz]

Hi Gene,

Until a Japanese or Chinese member of the forum can give us a direct response, we can make do with the feedback below I just got from a Filipino friend living in Canada, whose uncle is Japanese, and which same friend has several Taiwanese friends [whew!].

Would just like to qualify that given the several stages the info has to go through before it has gotten to me, some transmission errors might have been unwittingly introduced. But just the same, according to my good Filipino friend, and as culled from his multinational sources:

According to the Taiwanese, the first four characters are Chinese: 1. Heaven; 2. Below [or Under]; 3. Wood; and 4. Village.

The middle characters refer to the name of the village which they surmised to be “Imba.” The bird by the way is what they call “tsuru” [crane].

According to the Japanese [uncle], indeed the text is a combination of Japanese and ancient Chinese characters.

As for the last two characters in the bottom, it is supposed to be a combination of two words, which the Japanese said refers to "weight" and "justice", or perhaps "strong justice" then.

As for the rest of the Japanese characters, it's supposed to mean "Number one all over the world".

So stringing together the mixture of Japanese and Chinese text, we get something like -- "Number One All Over the World, Heaven Below/Under, Wood, Imbamura (Imba Vilage), Strong Justice".

I don't know myself what would be sense of that. But that's how ordinary contemporary Taiwanese and Japanese would translate the text.

[Where's my monkeys that falleth from the trees?! ]

Let's see if we can have some more inputs from other sources, from within the forum or otherwise.

[Atlantia]

Originally Posted by migueldiaz

Hi Gene,

Until a Japanese or Chinese member of the forum can give us a direct response, we can make do with the feedback below I just got from a Filipino friend living in Canada, whose uncle is Japanese, and which same friend has several Taiwanese friends [whew!].

Would just like to qualify that given the several stages the info has to go through before it has gotten to me, some transmission errors might have been unwittingly introduced. But just the same, according to my good Filipino friend, and as culled from his multinational sources:

According to the Taiwanese, the first four characters are Chinese: 1. Heaven; 2. Below [or Under]; 3. Wood; and 4. Village.

The middle characters refer to the name of the village which they surmised to be “Imba.” The bird by the way is what they call “tsuru” [crane].

According to the Japanese [uncle], indeed the text is a combination of Japanese and ancient Chinese characters.

As for the last two characters in the bottom, it is supposed to be a combination of two words, which the Japanese said refers to "weight" and "justice", or perhaps "strong justice" then.

As for the rest of the Japanese characters, it's supposed to mean "Number one all over the world".

So stringing together the mixture of Japanese and Chinese text, we get something like -- "Number One All Over the World, Heaven Below/Under, Wood, Imbamura (Imba Vilage), Strong Justice".

I don't know myself what would be sense of that. But that's how ordinary contemporary Taiwanese and Japanese would translate the text.

[Where's my monkeys that falleth from the trees?! ]

Let's see if we can have some more inputs from other sources, from within the forum or otherwise.

Ah, well thank you again!
These mirrors although Japanese are heavy in chinese influence. I think the Crane/bamboo/plum blossom etc are all symbols of prosperity and longevity in Chinese tradition, but I didn't realise the characters were a mixture! Thats really interesting.
I believe 'First under the heavens' was something put on the finest old mirrors (16thC) I think it was heavily copied onto later mirrors and don't for a second think mine will turn out to be a special one (if for no toher reason than its square and not the usual circular). I didn't think the inscription seemed very long, so I wasn't expecting anything more than the basic 'who, what, where, and when' inscription.
So the thought that it has a legend which claims it is 'number one in all the world, in heaven or below!' Tickles me a lot!!
There should be a clan name (for the maker) and region, so perhaps the character which represents 'wood' could be a clan name? then Imba Village, 'Strong Justice' is a bit of a puzzle?

I believe that as the sword was considered the essence of the Samurai, the bronze mirror was once considered the same of a Japanese lady and were handed down from generation to generation.

Many Thanks
Gene