This a well documented rare katana, which first appeared for sale in 1957 at the JSA members only sale in Japan. It was listed as being made by Ito Kishinaga, a Rikugun Jumei Tosho who lived in Kobe, near the Minatogawa shrine. Ito Masakiyo was the name used when forging swords at the Minatogawa shrine under Navy contracts.
It is well documented that Yasukuni smiths, and now Minatogawa smiths worked privately outside their shrines, they would use a different mei Shichisei-to was a forge located very near the Minatogawa shrine in Kobe and had a conection to the Minatogawa smith who were allowed to work there on their free time to make special order swords. Both the nakago and silver habaki bear the Navy Kikusui mon and if you collect either historical navy swords of Minatogawa swords, this is would be a greeat addition to your collection.
The katana is in full Japanese polish with a gunome midare hamon with ashi. There is nie in the hamon, as well as in the ji of this blade. Nie deki swords from this war time period are rare, but swords with lots of ji nie are even harder to find during the wartime period.
Hada is itame. Like most Minatofawa Navy swords, this one is very wide with a long kissaki area.
Accompanying this sword is a NBTHK Hozon paper, and a full length oshigata in scroll form.
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