O-SURIAGE ATTRIBUTED TO KO-UDA, INSCRIBED (KIRITSUKE MEI) BANZAN FUJU KUN ONJU, IPPATSU FUKEI WAGA INOCHI KARUSHI [TEN THOUSAND MOUNTAINS ARE NOT WEIGHTY, THE OBLIGATION TO THE LORD IS WEIGHTY, ONE HAIR IS NOT LIGHT, ONE'S LIFE IS LIGHT] AND DATED BUNKA TORA HARU SANGATSU JITSU [A DAY IN THE THIRD MONTH, SPRING 1803] AND SIGNED KATSUKUNI KORE (WO) KAKU [KATSUKUNI WROTE THIS], NANBOKUCHO PERIOD (14TH CENTURY)

Accompanied by a certificate of registration as a Hozon Token [sword worthy of preservation] no. 373430 issued by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai [Society for the Preservation of the Japan Art Sword] on 29th March 2006

The blade has the characteristic dark 'Hokkoku' [Northern Provinces] hada of Etchu work from the late Kamakura through the Nanbokucho periods. Although greatly cut-down the tang has been re-shaped to form an overall elegant sword. The Katsukuni who cut the inscription was possibly related to the smith Katsuichi of Kozuke province, a retainer of the ruling Takazaki clan at the time.