# Japanese (?) language translation **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 1, 2007, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-language-translation/417691 "2007-09-01T01:56:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2007, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-language-translation/417691/1 "2007-09-01T01:56:39Z")
Recently, I bought a “limited edition” katana on eBay, and it came with a certificate. Not that the cert means much; it’s clearly a mass-produced item, although it is surprisingly well made for its price range. But, I digress. I’m curious as to what the cert actually says, but it’s all in what I’m pretty sure is Japanese. [Here](http://img382.imageshack.us/img382/6913/swordcertificatewp2.jpg) is the certificate itself and [here](http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/8640/swordcertificateenvelopdh9.jpg) is the envelope it came in. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2007, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-language-translation/417691/2 "2007-09-01T01:59:28Z")
Essentially it just says that “This is a proof that this sword was examined and proven to be a Well Made Japanese Katana.” ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2007, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-language-translation/417691/3 "2007-09-01T02:05:40Z")
[QUOTE=Sage Rat] Essentially it just says that “This is a proof that this sword was examined and proven to be a Well Made Japanese Katana.” [/QUOTE] Thanks, I appreciate the quick response! If you wouldn’t mind, though, can you (or anyone) show me what says what where? Maybe type on the picture in your favorite photo editor or something. Don’t go out of your way on my account, though, it’s just idle curiosity on my part. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2007, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-language-translation/417691/4 "2007-09-01T02:26:46Z")
The certificate, going from right to left reads: Furubushidou Furubushidou Certificate Length 40.81 inches 1, Japanese katana … Nakamura Kosuke Per the tests of this company we have shown this special sword to be of the highest quality. Heisei Year 19 Month 1 Day 28 Japan Furubushidou Sword Makers Item # 0032 ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2007, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-language-translation/417691/5 "2007-09-01T02:30:25Z")
[QUOTE=Sage Rat] The certificate, going from right to left reads: [/QUOTE] Perfect! Thank you very much. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2007, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-language-translation/417691/6 "2007-09-01T13:37:05Z")
One would think that if it is a gen-you-wine Japanese artifact, the certificate would have been stamped by the company’s [hanko](http://www.jun-gifts.com/personalizedgifts/hanko/hanko1/hanko1.htm) , the signature stamps used by corporations and individuals alike. Is that red blot on the lower right a thumbprint? Maybe it’s a hanko-substitute. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2007, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-language-translation/417691/7 "2007-09-01T13:48:24Z")
[QUOTE=DesertDog] Is that red blot on the lower right a thumbprint? [/QUOTE] Yes. Specifically, a right one. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2007, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-language-translation/417691/8 "2007-09-01T14:32:25Z")
[QUOTE=DesertDog] Maybe it’s a hanko-substitute. [/QUOTE] Yep. It’s not the standard way to mark your documents, but it’s accepted by most banks and government organizations. Probably safer than an actual hanko, since you’re pretty much guaranteed to be the only one using it.