Bought 5/01/2002  

This is a beautiful Katana by the koto smith Kaga Katsumitsu. Katsumitsu was a smith who worked in the late koto period around the 1550's to the 1570's. He is famous for making blades in the Bizen style. This katana is exemplary of his works in that it looks like a work of the finest Bizen artistry. This blade has been shortened and contains a kinpun mei (gold inlay) stating Katsumitsu.

The cutting edge of this blade is 27 9/16 inches. The hada is a vivid itame with pronounced areas of mokume. The hamon is a wild and vibrant midare with sharp peaks and valleys. The nioi guchi is bright and clear with areas of nie above and below the nioi guchi. The boshi is slightly stretched giving a feling of real strength.

This blade is in full and perfect polish with a new shirasaya containing a sayagaki by Tanobe Sensei and Hozon papers from the NBTHK. It has a double foil gold habaki.