Mark with Japanese Mark: 正阿弥　信重 "Shouami | #458056

正阿弥　信重 "Shouami Nobushige". This mark is from a tsuba and was made by Nobushige, who worked as a sword engraver (soukenkinkou) in Mutsu Province (present-day Fukushima Prefecture). Soukenkinkou is the Japanese name for metalworkers who design accessories for bladed weapons. A tsuba is a sword guard designed to protect the hand from contact with the blade. It also balances the weight of the sword.