While this katana is unsigned, the Society for the Preservation of Japanese Art Swords has certified it as a work by Mihara and issued a certificate of authenticity. The blade has been fully polished and is in excellent condition with no chips or cracks; however, there is a mark that appears to be a hammer strike approximately 3 centimeters from the base of the cutting edge on the sashiura side. The jigane features a well-tempered itame grain mixed with masame, and the yubashiri is clearly visible. The hamon is a very fine sugaha, and the niioikuchi is very soft. Although the nakago is unsigned, in 2018 the Society of Japanese Art Sword Preservation certified this katana as a work of the Mihara school and issued a preservation certificate recognizing it as a piece of high historical value. The Mihara school refers to a group of swordsmiths and their works that flourished in the Mihara and Onomichi areas of Bingo Province (present-day Hiroshima Prefecture) from the late Kamakura period through the Muromachi period. Characterized by exceptional sharpness that strongly retains the spirit of the Yamato tradition and a practical, combat-oriented style, these swords are classified into “Early Mihara,” “Middle Mihara,” and “Late Mihara” based on their period of production. Highly regarded for their practicality and razor-sharp edge, they feature a hamon in the Sugaha style that inherits the Yamato tradition, making them highly popular as practical tools for samurai. You can appreciate its elegance simply by viewing it in its white scabbard, or you can have it fitted with a Uchigatana koshirae for an additional fee (if you wish to have this option, please indicate so in the comments section; we will email you an options catalog at a later date). Enhance your collection today by adding this elegant and highly practical antique Japanese sword. - Blade length: 70.2 cm - Curvature: 1.7 cm - Number of Mekugi hole: 1 - Sakihaba: 17.6 mm - Sakikasane: 4.2 mm - Motohaba: 27.3 mm - Motokasane: 6.1 mm - Signature: No signature - Era: Koto - Structure: Shinogi-zukuri, Iori-mune - Jigane: Itame - Hamon: Hoso-suguha - Boshi: Massugu Haitte Omaru ni Kaeru - Weight: 630 g(blade only) - Nakago: Ubu - Koshirae: Shirasaya - Original Registration No.: Tokyo 153949