Hida no Kami Ujifusa Katana
Hida no Kami Ujifusa blades are highly sought after in Japan because of his amazing life.
in Tenshō five (天正, 1577) he became [Samurai] page of Oda Nobutaka (織田信孝, 1558-1583), the third son of Nobunaga, and accompanied him to the [battle] front in his subjugation of Kii province. [Nobutaka stood against his former ally Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who is considered to be one of the great unifiers of Japan. He lost his command when he was surrounded at Gifu Castle by Hideyoshi ally, Nobukatsu. Under pressure from Hideyoshi and Nobukatsu, Nobutaka committed suicide.] After the seppuku of Nobutaka in Tenshō ten (1583), Ujifusa became rōnin [masterless Samurai].
Hida no Kami Ujifusa learned sword making from his father, Wakasa no Kami Ujifusa, a well respected smith of the Mino province. After he became rōnin , in Tenshō 16 (1588), Ujifusa began apprenticeship under his father to become a swordsmith.
According to transmission, after the death of the his father, Ujifusa completed his studies under the 1st gen. Nobutaka (信高). By recommendation of the Kanpaku regent Toyotomi Hidetsugu (豊臣秀次,1568-1595), the nephew of Hideyoshi, Ujifusa received, the honorary title “Hida no Kami” (飛騨守), on the eleventh day of the fifth month Tenshō 20 (1592).
Hida no Kami Ujifusa had unique insight into swordsmithing, because of his experience as a Samurai. His swords have a strong presence. He forged stout blades with broad mihaba, shallow sori and high shinogi. The jigane is a ko-itame, mixed with mokume, nagare and/or masame. The hamon ranges from a Sue-Seki hamon with subdued nioiguchi, to an ō-gunome-midare with togariba, or notare-gunome, mixed with chōji in ko-nie-deki with a broad nioiguchi. His hamon are sometimes reminiscent of the violent style of the famous (or infamous), Ise Muramasa.
Hida no Kami Ujifusa swords are ranked Wazamono, a high ranking in sharpness. Along with Hoki no Kami Nobutaka and Masatsune, Hida no Kami Ujifusa is considered to be one of the Owari San Saku, or Three Great Swordsmiths of the Owari Province. Hawley’s ranks Hida no Kami Ujifusa very high at 80+ points, while Fujishiro rates him as Jo Saku.
This sword is Authenticated by the NBTHK as Tokubetsu Hozon. Eventually, it should be submitted for Juyo Token status, because of it’s flawless condition and historical significance.
Nagasa: 68 cm
Motohaba: 3.3 cm
The blade comes in shirasaya with fine 2 piece gold foil habaki. The koshirae is an amalgamation of excellent quality fittings. The kozuka and kogai look to be Goto. The menuki are gold washed dragons. The fuchi kashira are Katabami (Oxalis) of the Hida clan made of silver shibuichi.
Price: $24,000