So far Alan, I agree with you. I don't read Katakana or Hiragana, but if this were WWII, there would still be some patina (though lite) on the tang.
Even though WWII signatures are "choppy" like this, they still look wrong to me.
Also the "file marks" on the same tang don't look right.
Finally, even the later WWII katanas made from homogenous steel had a hamon on the edge (though oil tempered). Usually patina, rust, and scratches would obscure any hamon, I don't see any of these on this super clean blade.
For these reasons, I agree that this is a fake or reproduction so far.
Could you post more pictures of the blade edge itself? Did it come with mounts, and if so, would you post pictures of these as well?
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