Hosokawa Katsumoto (1430 - 1473) was an important governor of the Shogun in the 15th century and a central figure in the Japanese Onin War. With more than 80,000 soldiers he fought against his father-in-law in the ancient capital Kyoto. After ten years of war, Kyoto was destroyed, while none of them could claim victory for themselves.
Hand-forged in the Hon-Samrei style, one of the most complex forging methods, the blade consists of three differently hardened zones. The blade is made from hardened 1095 carbon steel, the flanks from less hardened 1065 carbon steel, and the heart from softer low carbon steel. A traditional differential hardening as a result of the application of clay refines the blade and creates an extraordinarily beautiful Hamon line.