Mark with Japanese mark: 慶応元乙丑年　八月日 "Keiou gen | #433545

慶応元乙丑年　八月日 "Keiou gen kinotoushi nen hachigatsuhi". This mark comes from a "tsuba", a sword guard designed to protect the hand from contact with the blade and an opposing sword. It was made by Yoshinori, who worked as a "soukenkinkou" in the Nara line of the Seki house. Soukenkinkou is the Japanese name for metalworkers who design accessories for bladed weapons.