Mark with Japanese Mark: 越後国柏崎住　的斎戸田直和 "Echigo no | #459128

越後国柏崎住　的斎戸田直和 "Echigo no kuni Kashizaki ju Tekisai Toda Naokazu". This mark is from a tsuba and was made by Naokazu, who worked as a sword engraver (soukenkinkou) in Echigo Province (present-day Niigata Prefecture) for the Toda house. 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.