this is part of my japanese collection, its a 1500 era blade, what most people don't know the Japanese were smart enough to know that the blade would last for hundreds of years, the fitting's would get damaged, wear out ect, so they constructed so that Saya (handle) the other parts could be replace as needed, very simple but effective

Very nice Koto period piece. Hard to tell from the pic, is that a silver Habaki?
Also it looks almost long enough to be a Wakizashi.