Archived Nihonto.ca (Yuhindo.com): Hizen Masahiro

Hizen Masahiro

The Nidai Masahiro of Hizen was born in 1627 and is the son of the Shodai of the same name, and great grandson of Shodai Tadayoshi. Like his father, he began making swords under the mei Masanaga, then later changed to Masahiro, the name by which he is known today.

He received, in succession, three titles: Musashi no Daijo, Musashi no Kami and finally Kawachi no Kami in 1665. He died at the age of 73 in 1700. Fujishiro rates both Masahiro smiths as Jo saku, for superior skill in manufacture.

The Shodai Masahiro worked with Omi Daijo Tadahiro, the second smith of the Tadayoshi line and it is said that he was responsible for handling the forge of Shodai Tadayoshi after his passing until Omi Daijo was able to take over primary responsibilities at the age of 19. The two Masahiro smiths are better known for their work in midareba than the suguba which is similar to Rai work that the mainline Tadayoshi smiths mastered (though their style had variety too).

There are indeed works of suguba in the Masahiro line, and there are notable copies of old works and I have seen one which brings to mind instantly that it is a copy of Rai Kunimitsu. Others I have seen include those in the style of Yamato Shizu, and this sword which is in Shizu style.

The jigane of this sword bears chikei and is done in a slightly small itame. There are yubashiri throughout where the ji nie cluster that shine brightly in silver and black in the photographs. The hamon is a gunome and notare midare done in nie featuring the strong lines of kinsuji and sunagashi that are the signature of Shizu. The nie are very powerful and very attractive as can be seen in the photographs.

The mei is signed on the sashi ura, which is tachi style, and is a kantei point for katana made by the Hizen smiths. By the style of signature we can place the date between 1665 when he received this title, and 1700 when he died.

It is possible that the tip of the kissaki had been broken at one time and the yokote slightly moved back as can be told by the shape of the boshi (which remains intact), and there is one minor area of o-hada as seen in the pictures. The blade shows ububa, indicating that it has not been polished very many times, and the nakago is in excellent condition. The sword is very long at almost 71cm and otherwise fully intact. With its deep sori it shows itself to be a very impressive work and deseriving of its Tokubetsu Hozon rating.

Tanobe Sensei Sayagaki

1. 1. 1. 肥前國河内守正廣
         Hizen no Kuni Kawachi no Kami Masahiro
      2. 生中心長銘有之
         Ubu nakago nagamei ari kore
         The nakago is unaltered and bears a full signature.
      3. 二代正廣也
         Nidai Masahiro nari.
         This is the second generation Masahiro.
      4. 同工ノ一作風ヲ示ス佳品ニ候
         Doukou no ichi sakufu wo shimesu kahin ni sorou.
         It is an excellent item, and illustrates one of the styles of this smith.

I was recently informed by the owner that there is a koshirae for this sword. I am including a couple of snapshots that were sent to me. When the koshirae arrives, I will take photographs of it to add to the slideshow.