Help to identify my katana

[Catalin]

I recently bought a katana and I'm trying to figure out the details on the "tang". That's why I need your help, since you guys are experienced. The tang has markings on both sides. On one side, I identified some details that I tried to edit in one of the pictures. Could you please confirm if I'm mistaken and identify the whole signatures on both sides ? The blade is a "tori-mune" tipe. Thank you in advance for any suggestion. 

[SteveM]

昭和十五年 (Shōwa 15. The last character is "year").

 

The other side says 山本正雄 (Yamamoto Masao). Not a swordsmith name. Not typical writing for the name or the year, and the patina looks funny. I have some doubts about this being a Japanese sword.

[Bruce Pennington]

Can you slide the copper habaki off and show a photo of the machi (notches) alignment?  Chinese fakes often have off-set machi, but even aligned ones can be found on fakes.  If they are off-set, though, it would be clear evidence.

[Catalin]

Thank you both for your reply. 

@Bruce , I tried to remove the habaki off without to damage it but unfortunately with no success 🙁.  They are some other opinions ?  Of course I'm not sure it's a genuine katana but for sure it doesn't seem to be a modern replica. 

 

 

[Nobody]

Sorry to say that the blade is a Chinese fake. I am 99% sure.

 

[Catalin]

Your reply is much appreciated Moriyama, thank you. Can you please share the reasons you still gave 1 % chances to be genuine ? Thank you ! 

[Nobody]

Because I am not the God, I never say 100% or 0%.

[Catalin]

Thank you ! 👍

[Catalin]

1 hour ago, Bruce Pennington said:

Can you slide the copper habaki off and show a photo of the machi (notches) alignment?  Chinese fakes often have off-set machi, but even aligned ones can be found on fakes.  If they are off-set, though, it would be clear evidence.

  I managed to take off the habaki.

 

 

[Matsunoki]

Catalin, as I said on your other post, this is fake. The calligraphy is wrong, the geometry is wrong especially the nakago, the habaki is wrong…….

I really hope you didn’t pay a lot for it. Could you get your money back? It is basically worthless.

 

 

[Catalin]

Thank you again for your answer Colin. Even the katana is not genuine, believe or not.......I still like it (maybe because I never owed a genuine one 😁). The blade is well made (for sure high-grade steel) and incredible straight for a replica. Of course I didn't pay much and I'm not regretting for the money paid.

 

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PRECIOUS OPINIONS 😍