A rare style set completely unaltered from Edo period. We have sayagaki (writing on the sheath) by the late Dr.Hon Ami Koson, both on the tsunagi and shirasaya. He contributed greatly to the Japanese sword. It is dated Showa 28th (1953 AD) so it is indeed a very old one. Dr.Hon Ami Koson died two years after writing this so this would have been one of his last works. Quite incredible as he was born in 1879AD just after the end of the Samurai Era and saw post industrial Japan all the way to after WW2. More details of his life can be found by Markus Sesko’s write up about his life;
Dr.Hon Ami Koson also states that this is the work of Settsu Kunishige (circa 1670AD), and the NBTHK certificate also mentions this is Shinto work. Very wide and high hamon that has a nice turn back on the kissaki.
The koshirae is truly something we don’t see, Higo influence with this extravagant snake design that twists and turns around the saya. We highly recommend this piece.