I would like to see better photos of the tang. Then I could verify the maker and date. To be made in 1941 it would have to have this date: 昭和十六年 -- Showa 16 year.
There were 5 wartime smiths named Kaneyoshi (perhaps more?):
松原 兼吉 (Matsubara Kaneyoshi) [Jo-Saku level smith: Upper Level]
小谷 包義 (Kotani Kaneyoshi) 1 [Jo-Saku level smith: Upper Level]
河合 兼義 (Kawai Kaneyoshi) 2 [Chu-Saku level smith: Medium Level]
岡田 兼義 (Okada Kaneyoshi) 4 [Chu-Saku level smith: Medium Level]
吉田 兼吉(Yoshida Kaneyoshi) 5
Regarding the numbers behind the smith's name:
by
Japanese Sword Index
6th Shinsaku Nihonto Denrankai (新作日本刀展覽會, 1941) were reported at Nihon Kendo Oyobi Token (日本劍道及刀劍) by Hagio Takahashi. From Special Honor Seats to the 5th seat (S: 特別名譽席(鍛刀總匠), 1: 國工, 2: 準國工, 3:優秀, 4:佳作, 5: 新進), about 250 smiths were given.
source
The levels of the competition were:
特別名譽席(鍛刀總匠) -- Special Honored Position
1: 國工 -- National Artisan
2: 準國工 -- Semi-national Artisan
3: 優秀 -- Superior
4: 佳作 -- Honorable Mention
5: 新進 -- Up-and-Coming
--Guy
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