This katana is the work of Horikawa Kunimasa, a swordsmith active in the Edo period. Horikawa Kunimasa was a pupil of Horikawa Kunihiro in Yamashiro Province (present-day Kyoto) and made famous swords. Although few of Kunimasa's works are still in existence among the master swordsmiths of the Horikawa school, his swordsmithing techniques are extremely excellent and closely resemble the style of his master Kunihiro. His skill is so great that it has been speculated that Kunimasa may have been making swords on behalf of Kunihiro.

This sword has a magnificent appearance that is typical of the Shinto period. The well-packed itame hada is very active with hataraki such as yubashiri and chikei. It is decorated with notare hamon with some midare mixed in, and the blade shows aranire and ashi on the blade. The condition of the sword is very good considering its age, and there are no flaws of any kind. The blade is engraved with a groove in the shape of a marutome. On the slightly larger tip, the midare boshi is returned to the shape of a nakamaru. The Society for Preservation of Japanese Art Swords has authenticated this piece as a tokubetsu hozon as it is especially worthy of preservation for future generations and has issued a certificate for it.

The tsuba, menuki, and fuchikashira metal fittings used on the koshirae are also from that period, giving it the flavor of the samurai period. The name "Yasumasa" is engraved on the fuchigane. On the habaki is engraved the mark Aoi.

This is your chance to own an authentic masterpiece.

• Blade length: 73.3 cm
• Curvature: 1.5 cm
• Number of Mekugi hole: 2
• Sakihaba: 25.2 mm
• Sakikasane: 5.1 mm
• Motohaba: 32.9 mm
• Motokasane: 6.7 mm
• Signature: Kunimasa(front)
• Era: Shinto
• Structure: Shinogi-zukuri, Iori-mune
• Jitetsu: Itame
• Hamon: Notare
• Boshi: Midarete Haitte Nakamaru ni Kaeru
• Weight(blade only): 770 g
• Nakago: Ubu
  
• Koshirae: Uchigatana/Shirasaya
• Original Registration No.: Kyoto 60958