This piece is an unsigned katana and was authenticated with Nio Kiyomasa by Sato Kanzan, a leading authority in the study of Japanese swords of the Shinto period.

This sword is extremely well preserved, with absolutely no flaws, dents, or spills on the blade. The hada is well packed itame with a beautiful suguha hamon with a tight nie. The boshi comes in straight and is returned in the shape of omaru. On the shirasaya is the result of an appraisal by Sato Kanzan. It reads, "Boshu ju Nioh Kiyomasa O-suriage mumei Jidai Kanbun Hacho Nishaku-nibu Ari Showa Kinoe-tora-doshi Shoshu Kichijitsu Kanzan. It means that this is an unsigned sword of O-suriage, the work of Kiyomasa of the Nioh school, who lived in Hoshu (present-day Yamaguchi Prefecture). The length of the blade is 2 shaku 2 bu, and was authenticated by Kanzan in the early fall of Showa 49 (1974). The Nioh school is a group of swordsmiths in Suo Province with Nioh Saburo Kiyotsuna as its de facto founder. It flourished from the middle of the Kamakura period to the end of the Muromachi period, and continued to prosper without ceasing until the Shinto period of the Edo era. Because there were many manors in Suo Province that belonged to Todaiji Temple in Yamato Province, the Nioh school had close contact with Yamato-den smiths, and the temperament of the Yamato-den is strongly reflected in their style of work.

This is your chance to own a family heirloom, as this wonderful masterpiece is on sale at an affordable price.

• Blade length: 62.1 cm
• Curvature: 0.8 cm
• Number of Mekugi hole: 2
• Sakihaba: 20.3 mm
• Sakikasane: 4.3 mm
• Motohaba: 28.3 mm
• Motokasane: 6.2 mm
• Signature: No signature
• Era: Shinto
• Structure: Shinogi-zukuri, Iori-mune
• Jitetsu: Itame
• Hamon: Suguha
• Boshi: Massugu Haitte Omaru ni Kaeru
• Weight(Blade only): 630 g
• Nakago: O-sugiage
  
• Koshirae: Shirasaya
• Original Registration No.: Tochigi 33519