Kato Akikane was the son of Kato Shigemitsu (fl. 1775). Father and son lived at Aizu in Iwashiro Province and were associated with the large Aizu Shoami school. The inscription, Ni oite Yorosen, means that Akikane made this tsuba at Yorosen (Yoro no Taki), the famous waterfall on Mount Tado in the district of Yoro (Mino Province). This is apparently the only dated example of his work.