Archived Nihonto.ca (Yuhindo.com): Omi DaijoYukimitsu

Omi Daijo Yukimitsu

This is a consigned sword.

It is a Maki Age Zaimei Katana (shortened but part of signature remains) by OMI DAIJO FUJIWARA YUKIMITSU of Etchu and Kaga provinces. He is listed by Hawley highly at 70 points (page 1024, YUK 249). Fujishiro rates him at Chu Jo saku on page 410 of the Shinto book, and this rating reflects above average skill, and it is also noted that he carries a rating of Wazamono for very sharp manufacture.

This Yukimitsu is the first Generation Yukimitsu and was a student of Kiyomitsu of Kaga. Active during Kanbun and Enpo period (1661-1681), Yukimitsu received the support of Toyama, Lord of Etchu. He studied under the famous Ishido school and Fujishiro suggests his teacher was the first generation Musashi Daijo Fujiwara Korekazu (1648-1673), so he must have resided in Edo as well before settling down in Toyama of Etchu Province.

The length of cutting edge from tip to notch is 24.13 inches and overall length is 31.34 inches. The width is 1.22 inches and thickness is 0.26 inch at the HAMACHI(the end of cutting edge). This sword has been shortened by about 3 inches and 4 characters out of 8 remains on the nakago.

His title Omi Daijo remains and Fujiwara Yukimitsu are gone. However, his signature is unique enough that in combination with the workmanship, this is sufficient to recognize the overall work as his.

The blade comes with a paper by Kotoken Kajiwara san, who states:

The shape of the blade is good, Jihada, temperline are all done well. The temperline is Chu Suguha [straight line with a medium height]. The tip is Komaru [rounded with a small return] and Jigane [metal texture] is Mokume hada [burl grain patterns]. Mune is Masame hada [straight line texture]. There are nijuba [double temperlines] here and there and a lot of koashi [small legs] along the temperline. You can understand this blade of being a Wazamono.