This appears to be an authentic, signed Japanese Katana samurai sword which is signed Made by Kanesada, resident of Seki and Meiji 21 / 1888. The sword appears to be from / by or of the school of famed maker Aizu Kanesada from the Meiji Period (1868-1912) dated to Meiji 21 of circa 1881. This is signed on both sides of the tang. The sword is signed on both sides, the first side appears to read, “?????” which is “Seki-ju Kanesada saku” translating to “Made by Kanesada, resident of Seki”; the other side being signed ??????”which translates to, “Meiji 21 / 1888”. The sword exhibits the Kanesada Katana blade signed on both sides of the tang showing a bronze / copper Habaki collar, Seppa bronze spacers above and below the Tsuba with hand-engraved knurled ridged edge and next the large bronze Tsuba guard which is thick and highly decorated showing a howling wolf amongst a misty night sky possibly at a marsh with the bottom showing a duck or bird at the marsh as well, it shows a cutout for the tang as well as a rounded half circle and three knobbed club like cut outs. Next is the bronze Fuchi hilt collar capping the Tsuka wooden carved handle (the Fuchi being bronze with traditional Japanese raised artworks all around), the Tsuka is wrapped in Same-Kawa or Samegawa stingray rayskin with fabric Tsuka-Ito traditional style handle wrap which holds two Menuki ornaments of bronze inside the wrap on the rayskin ending with the bronze Kashira pommel with figure or dragon like raised artwork. The scabbard / sheath, traditionally called the Saya, is highly ornate being completely wrapped in Same-Kawa or Samegawa stingray rayskin with the Koiguchi mouth adorned with a solid bronze sleve showing an engraved design with five petal Japanese Chrysanthemum cut outs. The entire Saya shows two bronze strips running down the outside edges protecting the carved wooden sheath Saya sleave over the rayskin. At the center of the Saya is the Kurigata knob area which is another solid bronze sleave with punch engraved raised Japanese Chrysanthemum flowers and etched leaves. The bottom shows the Kojiri end cap which is a matched solid bronze sleeve with Japanese Chrysanthemum cut outs on both sides with engraved flourishes. The blade shows a traditional Japanses Katana Samauri Sword blade with classic Boshi curved edge and Kissaki point showing a raised Shinogi blade ridge running down the entire blade flowing from the tip to the Habaki. The blade shows a Hamon edge pattern wavy edge line, which is a classically a visible temper line. Just above the handle there is an engraved Japanese figure of a mythical creature, a dragon or other on both sides, possibly a later addition. The example is highly detailed with the adornments looking mostly original. The sword measures overall 41.75-inches long with the scabbard being 31 7/8-inches long, together they are 44.25-inches long. Tsuba is about 3 3/8-inches by 3-inches by ¼-inchs. The sword was looked over and translated, please examine the signature and images for your own representation of age, origin, originality, make and signature. While the translation places the sword with our noted maker, region and age, make your own representations.