Mark with Japanese Mark: 瑞霞堂　意向 "Zuikadou Ikou" | #458434

瑞霞堂　意向 "Zuikadou Ikou". This mark is from a tsuba and was made by Ikou, who worked as a sword engraver (soukenkinkou) in Hitachi Province (present-day Ibaraki 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.