Katana (SHIN SHIN TO) Age The 4th year of the Bunkyu era (1864) Swordsmith Oushu Aizu Jyu Fujiwara Michitoki (奥州会津住藤原道辰) Certificate NTHK Kanteisho Certificate for the blade Location Aizu Province (Today’s Fukushima prefecture) Blade Size Cutting Edge Length: 72.4 cm (28.5 inches) Curvature: 2.7 cm (1.06 inches) Antique Japanese Sword Katana Katana Signed by Fujiwara Michitoki with NTHK Kanteisho Tsuka and Menuki：Tsuka is the handle of the Japanese sword and Menuki is its decoration. A pair of Niwatori (鶏, rooster and hen) are the motifs of this Menuki. In ancient times, this bird was used for rituals to offer to gods. It is said this is why the chicken pattern was incorporated into family crests. As this bird tells the arrival of morning, people regard it as the Ake-no Tori (明けの鳥, bird of the dawn). Also, chickens have been treated as auspicious birds because they sing at first in the new year. In another theory, there is a wordplay: Yoikoto-wo “Tori”komu (良いことを取り込む, “take” good things). This Tori (取り) and Tori (鳥, bird) are associated based on the common pronunciation. Some people believe that this bird would bring a plentiful harvest or success in business. This Menuki design might have been chosen due to these ideas.