T221689(S828)
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Katana signed YUKIMITSU

Koto the mid-Muromachi period (Bun'mei era/circa1469-) Kaga
Length of cutting edge 70.0cm Curvature 2.5cm Width of base 30.9mm Width of Yokote 19.5mm Thickness of base 6.5mm

NBTHK(Hozon) certificate
Fujishiro Matsuo certificate
Tokuno Kazuo certificate

Blade construction: Shinogi-zukuri, Iori-mune. Wide in Mihaba which does not taper that much holding a very harmonious deep Sori leading to the elongated Ō-kissaki. Created in an archaic style of Tachi. The thickness of blade is a bit on thinner side, wide ratio of Hiraji to Shinogiji. The Shinogi-suji ridge is high in which volume is shaved off toward the back ridge. (click HERE for higher resolution image of the entire blade).
Forging(Hada): Steel shows darkish blue impression, hada is conspicuous large Itame-hada mixing with swirl mark of Mokume-hada ware. Ji-nie granule attaches on surface that emits sparkling reflection of Shirake-Utsuri. Some whitish dregs of non-steel material "KASU" and darkish thick lines of Nie so called "CHIKEI" appears from fine steel and some darkish isolated area so call Sumihada appears here and there.
Temper(Hamon): Hamon is rather on stronger side "Nie" hard metal granules based, Ō-midare of flamboyant boundary line rich in shape that consists of Gunome,Choji and Togari-ha or box-shape outline. Some temper splashes onto Hiraji so called Tobiyaki or coarse Nie irregularly splashes onto Hiraji. The quenching activities of frequent "Ashi" appears and short lines of "Sunagashi" or long lines of Nie "Kinsuji" run crossing Ashi. The interior of temper is filled with Nioi mist-like crystallize area. The entire quenching effect is rich in activities that comes from Nie. Some slight indication of isolated quenching area so call Muneyaki along Shinogi-ji area.
Temper of tip(Boshi): Temper of boshi forms irregular Midarekomi like whole area tempered "Ichjimai"then small circle turns back deeply.
Tang(Nakago): The tang is original UBU with slightly slanting left ( Katte sagari) filemarks. well-contoured back ridge with Ō-sujikai filemark. Uneven U-shape Kurijiri heel. One original big Mekugi-ana punch. The tang curves which is well harmonized to the waist point curve to generate Tachi-style.

In Nanbokucho the mid-14 th century in Kaga (now in Ishikawa pref.), the founder smith Fujishima Tomoshige 藤島友重 (1345-) is said a son or pupil of Rai KUNITOSHI 来国俊 in Yamashiro went to live in Kaga domain also the 2nd generation TOMOSHIGE (Eitoku era/1381- said a son of SANEKAGE 真景 who is a son of NORISHGE 則重) grew peaking up in the prime Nanbokuch to the mid-Muromachi period
According to the reference NihontoMeikan, the 1 st smith YUKIMITSU 行光 was a leading pupil of Fujishima Tomoshige 藤島友重 and was active in early Muromachi Koushou era (1455-). His workmanship is to create a traditional Yamashiro Tachi-style in shape to add flamboyant Bizen tradition in hamon like this example, well worth seeing in the deep past of 550 years to hold Samurai martial spirit during the medieval battle age.

The shape of this Katana bears Tachi in mind holding deep, graceful Sori curve and Hiraji-surface is wide in proportion to Shinogi-ji leading to elongated Ō-kissaki which reminds one of Nanbokucho period. The Entire forging and quenching workmanship shows typical features of Fujishima school and is certainly a good example as a historical materialis to hold very good condition also remaining an exellent taste of panina, actively sharp chisels of inscription and clear filemark in Nakago for the age of more than 550 years.
Silgle layer gold foiled habaki of hedge design, Preserved in Shirasaya plain wood mounting
Old polish/Condition scale: very good (using a scale of mint-excellent-very good-good-fair-poor)
reference data : Hon'ma Kunzan/Ishii Masakuni Nihonto Meikan, Yuzankaku, 1975