Antique Japanese Katana Sword signed Yoshimori

• Swordsmith (Mei): Yoshimori (善盛)
• Inscription: 霧島山麓於 善盛鍛之 - Forged by Yoshimori at the foot of Mt. Kirishima
• Period: Shōwa 42 (1967)
• Type: Gendaitō (Traditionally forged)
• Total Length (Koshirae): 104.3 cm
• Blade Length (Nagasa): 67.2 cm
• Curvature (Sori): 1.7 cm
• Mekugi-ana: 1
• Base Width (Motohaba): 31.5 mm
• Base Thickness (Motokasane): 8.0 mm
• Tip Width (Sakihaba): 19.8 mm
• Tip Thickness (Sakikasane): 4.8 mm
• Blade Weight: 758 g
• Habaki: Copper

This impressive Japanese gendaitō was traditionally forged in Shōwa 42 (1967) by the swordsmith Yoshimori (善盛), working in the foothills of Mount Kirishima. The tang is clearly signed and dated, confirming its authenticity as a hand-forged Japanese sword.

The blade measures 67.2 cm in nagasa with a graceful 1.7 cm sori, creating an elegant, well-balanced silhouette. With a strong motohaba of 31.5 mm tapering cleanly toward the kissaki, the sugata feels powerful yet refined, supported by a very manageable blade weight of 758 g.

In the photographs, the hamon presents as an active midare-style with a bright and clean nioiguchi, showing lively undulation along the ha. The blade surface displays a bold, characterful texture consistent with an ō-hadamono impression, and the overall finish highlights the steel’s activity beautifully under light.

The kissaki is neatly shaped with a crisp geometric line, and the transition into the tip is smooth and well-executed, reinforcing the sword’s overall sense of quality and careful workmanship.

Koshirae Details

The sword is mounted in a striking, well-coordinated black koshirae. The saya is finished in black lacquer and fitted with a light-colored sageo that adds an elegant contrast. The tsuka is wrapped in black ito over pronounced white samegawa nodes, creating strong visual depth and a firm grip.

The tsuba is an iron guard of sukashi design with a rounded, softly lobed outline. It is decorated with refined gold nunome-zōgan scrollwork and floral motifs (including chrysanthemum-style elements), giving the mounting a classic, high-grade appearance without being overly flashy.

The fuchi-kashira continue this theme, showing tasteful decorative work that pairs naturally with the tsuba’s gold-inlaid floral scroll aesthetic. Overall, the fittings feel cohesive and period-appropriate, emphasizing classical Japanese elegance.

A cleanly made copper habaki completes the mounting in proper traditional form.