Katana by Yamato-no-kami Yasusada

Yamato-no-kami Yasusada was a master smith of the early Edo period based in Musashi Province (Edo, Kanda Shirogane-cho), whose forged swords were widely treasured. He is a representative figure of Edo New Swords and is also known as the maker of the beloved sword of Okita Toshizo of the Shinsengumi. This katana, approximately 70 centimeters in blade length, displays a dynamic ō-gunome-midare hamon in conscious emulation of the Sōshū tradition, with kinsuji and sunagashi visible throughout the tempered zone. The jigane employs high-quality iron, uniformly filled with fine ji-nie. Yasusada's swords excelled in practical application, and it is recorded that orders from samurai of the early Edo period never ceased. Now held in the special collection of the Token Museum in Tokyo, the sword is highly valued as material demonstrating the technical achievement of Edo swordsmanship during the Shintō period. Edo-period appraisal documents repeatedly record the highest grades for this blade, positioning it as a masterwork representative of the Shintō period.