Hand-forged, 'modern'(c. 1935) Japanese sword or gendaito (現代刀) by the smith Ujifusa. The blade is in shin-gunto (新軍刀, New Army Sword) mounts with company officer-grade (blue and brown) tassel. In Black Sun, Red Moon: A Novel of Java, Lt Ota carries a similar sword to this one, while his friend, Lt Nagumo carries an older, feudal-era, katana blade, a ‘true' nihonto (日本刀). Photo: Copyright Geoff Smith. (Sword: Courtesy of VP Collection) iado, iaijutsu, toyama ryu