Toshitsune (active c. 1210) is representative of swordsmithing from Bizen Province (present-day Okayama Prefecture). The temper line at the tip of this blade suggests that he followed the style of the mid-Heian period (794-1185) sword maker Masatsune.
The form of this long sword (J., tachi) blade, increasing in width, deeply curved at the waist and bearing a small tip, clearly reflects the characteristics of the period. The surface of the metal bears a dense wood-grain texture (J., itame-hada) combined with a burl grain (J., mokume). The temper line consists of small bumps (J., komidare) crossed by short streaks (J., ashi, literally, "legs") and dots (J., yô, literally, "leaves").