Help reading mei

[Tanner]

A friend picked this up for me at a market in Japan and was looking for help translating.  I wasn't sure if this was real or a knock off but further inspection makes me think it's authentic.  Not looking for a valuation, just info. Any hel0nwould be appreciated!

[Ray Singer]

I'm sorry to ask this but how certain are you that your friend acquired this in Japan? Based in the photos you provided, it is clear that this is not a Japanese sword. It is a type of commonly seen fake. This type of item could not have been in Japan, as you are not legally allowed to own or license swords in Japan if they are not traditionally made (nihonto). The article below will help identify these types of pieces in the future. 

 

https://www.jssus.org/nkp/fake_japanese_swords.html

 

Best regards, 

Ray 

 

 

[Brian]

Agree with Ray, and it is almost unheard of to find fakes like this in Japan, since you risk jail time. More likely this was pickup up outside of Japan.

[Bugyotsuji]

Xxxてですか　

That is part of a question in modern Japanese Hiragana writing, something that you would never find on a legit blade.