Mino Seki smith Asano Kanezane who is featured in both Sloughs book on pages 76-79 and in the book Military Swords of Japan 1868-1945 by Fuller and Gregory on pages 111-112. There is actually alot of interesting information written about this smith, and that is why he is well known here in the west.
The blade is hon zukuri with a hamon done in the Mino Seki style of gunome with togariba in places. Most likely this blade is a high grade Showato, probably made with steel other than tamahagane, but laminated. The blade is in polish and all the features can be seen. There are no flaws. Encased in a new shirasaya.
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