Akasaka 赤坂 Ji Sukashi iron tsuba from the early to mid Edo period. (江戸初期 - 江戸中期) period. The sukashi walls are clean and sharp. This mimi is Maru. The iron is well forged and rich. There is evidence of an outer skin at the top of the tsuba in the form of a tiny split. This outer layer or skin is common in the work of Ko Akasaka. Other than this, the iron is smooth and there is no tokketsu.

At the top of the tsuba on the Omote (see left hand side image), there is evidence of a kitae. Kitae are remnants from the folded 3 layer construction. Kitae are quite common in Ko-Akasaka works as they used the sandwich-like construction of the plate. These Kitae are mentioned as features of authenticity in old texts about Akasaka pieces.

The theme is classic Akasaka and depicts the swirling grasses of the Musashino 武蔵野 plains (also known as Musashi plains), with 2 wild geese (karigane かりがね) circling in the skies above. These grasses are more than likely Susuki (eulalia or Miscanthus sinensis) and are sometimes also known as obana or ‘tail flower'. These grasses were common to the Musashino plains and covered vast tracks of land. The Musashino plains are well documented for many great battles and are also depicted in tosogu with the skulls and bones of fallen warriors.

Probably made by Tadamune, the 4th generation or the third master Tadatora. This simple but dynamic design was produced by each of the first 4 Akasaka generations and it is thought that this design disappeared after the 4th after the 4th Master Tadamune (Tadatoki 1, 赤坂忠時) and was not produced again by later generations. In the book Tsuba no Bi, there is an example attributed to Tadatoki, but no generation is given and I wonder if this is meant to be the 4th master Tadatora who is also thought to be the first Tadaoki in some circles.