Nihonto Club

Period: starts Taiei (1521-1528)
Nagasa: 61cm
Sori: 1.5cm
Tsukurikomi: shinogi-zukuri
Mei: 村正 (Muramasa)
Sayagaki: Kanzan: 伊勢国村正 (Ise Kuni Muramasa) and 優作之一也 (this is a masterpice)
Paper: 1. Origami Honami Koson: 千子村正 (Sengo Muramasa)
2. Origami Professor Isao Kashima: Ise Sengo Muramasa (伊勢千子村正) / Daiei (1521-1528)

Ise Sengo Muramasa (Muromachi period): Muramasa the 2nd generation is particularly highly acclaimed. However, all the smiths of the Muromachi lineage were excellent craftsmen, and distinguishing between them is difficult. Furthermore, the story—somewhat amusing from a modern perspective—about blades that brought misfortune to the Tokugawa family is surely familiar to every Nihonto enthusiast. Markus Sesko has included a very detailed account of this in his book Japanese Sword Legends.
Here is what I learned about Professor Isao Kashima: Kashima was a professor of Western art history at the University of Tokyo and an avid collector of Japanese swords. He owned a vast number of highly prized Nihonto that were sought after by the most influential collectors and appraisers. He played a pivotal role in the efforts to secure the return of the Akabane swords. Allegedly it was he and Kunzan who, in 1945, visited the American military headquarters to explain the artistic significance of the confiscated Japanese swords. This intervention led to the rescinding of the destruction order and the return of artistically significant Nihonto. His expertise regarding Nihonto was highly valued and in great demand.

[Special story: The blade bears an honorable scar that resembles the mark of a bullet hit. According to the family that offered the sword, it had been passed down through the generations. A family member reportedly carried it into battle against the Tokugawa Shogunate during the Boshin War. It was worn with great pride, embodying the legendary significance of a "Tokugawa destroyer." The katana is said to have been damaged during the fighting and subsequently patched up hastily so that it could continue to serve in the conflict. After the fighting ended, the blade was kept in that condition as a source of pride. Unfortunately, this story was not documented in writing, so it remains an unofficial account—but it captivated me nonetheless.]