This is a very interesting signed katana in the Koto Mino tradition and of the late muromachi era. It is in an original polish.  The overall sugata of this sword is impressive and the hamon is loaded with activity.  The hamon contains plentiful nie and togare-ba.  The hada has a milky slick  looking finish and forged very well with some areas of O- hada mixed in.  This blade comes in mountings.  The furniture  are made of silver and in good condition. The fuchi kashira are modern and of waves with dragon menuki.

Many Chinese believed the dragon held, or at least chased, the sun, and many drawings depict this as a flaming red ball. However, over the years, this sun changed color from red to a silvery-pearl color, and gradually the ball came to be considered a flaming pearl, known as the night shining pearl. It is with this that the dragon is almost invariably associated in art.
The link between serpentine shaped dragons and the pearl is reflected in a legend that states that Chi Liang, the Marquis of Sui, who was a Minister of State, was out walking one day, and found a wounded snake to which he gave medicine and saved its life. Sometime later, he saw the snake with a brilliant pearl in its mouth. The snake said ‘I am the son of His Majesty the Dragon, and I am indebted to you for the preservation of my life, and I have brought this pearl to thank you for your kindness.’ The Minister accepted the pearl and, being a dutiful subject, presented it to his

The saya is of a grayish lacquer and was made for the sword with solid silver tsuba. The saya has minor damage.  The blade is signed and was papered to ‘ Noshu Seki No Ju Kane Kado” the blade is suriage with 2 holes and bohi on both sides of the blade.