The katana, which is in an extremely excellent state of preservation and would be comparable to a museum display, has just arrived.

The sword is made by Suishinshi Masahide, who is also known as the father of shinshinto. The preservation condition of the sword is so excellent that it could almost be considered modern, with no flaws such as flaws or rust, and it is very sound. The jitetsu is a well-packed itame hada with a bright and brilliant surface. The hamon is a blend of gokunome and choji, with the choji slightly inverted. Within the ha, hataraki such as ashi and yo are very active. On the front of the nakago, the name “Kawabe  Gihachiro Fujiwara Masahide” is engraved and further signature with the stamp. On the back of it is engraved August date of Bunka 12, so this sword blade was created in August of 1815.

Suishinshi Masahide, whose real name is Kawabe Gihachiro, was born in the country of Dewa. When his father died when he was young, he moved to his mother's family in the town of Akayu and began making farming tools. In 1771, he apprenticed himself to Miyagawa Yoshihide and learned the swordsmithing techniques of the famed battle-tested Shitahara school. He then returned to the country of Dewa to serve the lord of Yamagata Castle, Akimoto Tsunetomo. It was during this time that he began to take the name Suishinshi.

Masahide devoted himself to the innovation of Japanese swordsmithing techniques, and advocated the Fukko (restoration) method of swordsmithing, which revolutionized the old method of swordsmithing. His advocacy attracted swordsmiths from all over the country, and he trained such masters as Taikei Naotane, Hosokawa Masayoshi, and Chounsai Tsunatoshi. Masahide is truly a giant in the history of Japanese swords.

Because of its state of preservation and great value, the Society for Preservation of Japanese Art Swords appraised this piece by Tokubetsu Hozon in August 2008 and recognized it as a sword that is specially worthy of preservation for future generations. It also issued a certificate of authenticity for it.

Masahide's work, whose name is surely familiar to all fans of Japanese swords, appeared in TOZANDO along with the certificate of authenticity. It is a gem that will remain as a legacy of Japanese swords for hundreds of years to come.

• Blade length: 65.6 cm
• Curvature: 1.6 cm
• Number of Mekugi hole: 1
• Sakihaba: 23.4 mm
• Sakikasane: 6.0 mm
• Motohaba: 32.9 mm
• Motokasane: 9.2 mm
• Signature: Kawabe Gihachiro Fujiwara Masahide(front)/Bunka Juninen Hachigatsu-bi(back)
• Era: Shinshinto
• Structure: Shinogi-zukuri, Iori-mune
• Jitetsu: Itame
• Hamon: Gunome Choji
• Boshi: Massugu Haittte Omaru ni Kaeru
• Weight(Blade only): 810 g
• Nakago: Ubu
  
• Koshirae: Shirasaya
• Original Registration No.: Osaka 6982

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