T310840(S6011)
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Katana signed Bizen-no-kami Fujiwara UJIFUSA

Shinto Early Edo Period (Gen'na 7 - Kan'ei 11 / 1621-34) Owari
Length of cutting edge 75.7cm Curvature 1.7cm Width of base 31.0mm Width of Yokote 21.7mm Thickness of base 7.5mm

NBTHK(Tokubetsu Hozon) certificate


Blade construction: Shinogi-zukuri with Iori mune. The blade is elongated, with a wide base, thick in Kasane (blade thickness), and moderate curvature, giving it a robust and substantial feel impression holding on hands (click HERE for close-up image of the entire blade).
Forging Pattern (hada): Itame-hada (wood grain pattern) with partial areas of flowing patterns. The steel surface is enriched with thick Ii-nie (steel particles) and vibrant chikei (lines of hardened steel), resulting in a resilient and robust forging.
Hamon (Blade Tempering Pattern): A wide, straight Suguha with slight ko-midare (small undulations), exhibiting subtle wavy elements. Small gunome (rounded patterns) are mixed in, with frequent Ashi (downward streaks) entering the hamon. The blade edge is marked by thick clusters of Ko-nie, with floating YOU (spots of tempered steel) in the quenching area, creating a bright appearance.
Boshi : The temper continues straight high Suguha that transits into a high almost whole quenching "Ichimai" and returns deeply into the Mune.
Tang (Nakago): Ubu (unaltered). The tang end is shaped in a Ha-agari Kurijiri style, with slanting left (katte-sagari) Yasurime. The blade notch (ha-machi) is deep, and the tang is gradually tapered and creates in a ship-bottom Funa-gata style. There is a single Mekugi-ana (peg hole). The front side bears a long, elegant signature reading “Bizen-no-Kami Fujiwara UJIFUSA”備前守藤原氏房 positioned near the back ridge of Mune below the Mekugi-ana.

The smith Bizen-no-Kami Ujifusa 備前守氏房 was the heir of the second-generation Hida-no-Kami Ujifusa 飛騨守氏房(note). Born in Kiyosu in 1595 (Bunroku 4), he was first known by the childhood name Isechiyo 伊勢千代 and later took the name Chōjirō 長次郎. On the 22nd day, in the 8th month 1621 (Gen'na 7) at the age of 27, he received the title of Bizen-no-Kami 備前守 and began signing blades as Bizen-no-Kami Fujiwara Ujifusa 備前守藤原氏房 or simply Bizen-no-Kami Ujifusa 備前守氏房. He exclusively served as a retained craftsman for Tokugawa Yoshinao 徳川義直, the lord of Owari.
In the 1st month in 1631 (Kan’ei 8), at the age of 37, he succeeded his father, Hida-no-Kami Ujifusa 飛騨守氏房, as the head of the family. By the spring of 1634 (Kan’ei 11), he retired at age 40 and adopted the signature Bizen-no-Kami Ujifusa Nyudō 備前守氏房入道. He passed on the family legacy to his son, Sankurō 三九郎, who became the 4th-generation Hida-no-Kami Ujifusa 飛騨守氏房.
Bizen-no-Kami Ujifusa 備前守氏房 passed away on October 25, 1666 (Kanbun 6) at the age of 72.

This sublime sword is a work of Bizen-no-Kami Ujifusa 備前守氏房, crafted during his matured years from 1631 to 1634 (Kan’ei 8 - 11). With an extended length of approximately 2 shaku 5 sun (75.7 cm), thick in Kasane, heavy on both hands and a well-harmonized curvature, it features a medium tip (chu-kissaki) and brimmed with both power and refinement. The structure aligns with the robust styles popular during the Kan’ei era.
The forging displays Itame-hada mixed with Masame-hada, with fine Ji-nie covering the surface. Chikei lines lengthwise and crosswise, revealing the robust character of the steel. The Hamon, with its bright and clear edge, is defined by thick clusters of Ko-nie and a dynamic presence of Ko-gunome and Ashi. The clear, frosty Nioi particles in the tempered area add an elegant, serene quality. The deeply tempered bōshi, returning in an Ichimai style, reflects inspiration from earlier masterpieces, particularly the Gō Yoshihiro 郷義弘.
The Nakago remains in excellent condition, with an excellent taste of patina. Its tapered shape caters to the slender grip preferences of Owari samurai. The robust signature, starting below the Mekugi-ana and boldly inscribed, demonstrates masterful chisel work. The character "原" (hara) in "Fujiwara" is notably styled with the fourth stroke extending into the second, such handwriting also observed in the works from the later period of his father, Hida-no-Kami Fujiwara Ujifusa 飛騨守藤原氏房.
This blade exemplifies the craftsmanship and artistic ambition of Bizen-no-Kami Ujifusa 備前守氏房 while fully matured of his career.
Silver foiled single layer Habaki collar, preserved in a Shirasaya plain wood mounting

(note) Hida-no-kami UJIFUSA 飛騨守氏房, real name of initially Kawamura Isechiyo 河村伊勢千代, later changed to Kawamura Heijur? 河村平十郎, was born in the 10th year of Eiroku(1567).
His father Wakasa-no-kami Ujifusa 若狭守氏房 won the praise from the daimyo Oda Nobunaga 織田信長 to exclusively belong to him. In the 5th year of Tensho (1577), Hida-no-kami Ujifusa 飛騨守氏房 moved to Azuchi castle town in Oumi province along with his father Wakasa-no-kami Ujifusa 若狭守氏房 to work exclusively as a page of Oda Nobutaka 織田信孝 who is the 3 rd son of Oda Nobunaga.
After the Incident at Honnō-ji (本能寺の変, Honnō-ji no Hen) referred to the forced suicide in the 21th day, the sixth month, the 10 th year of Tensho (1582) of Oda Nobunaga, UJIFUSAs parent and son returned to his home town Gifu with Oda Nobutaka's help then again came back to Kiyosu castle town under the support of Sakuma Masakatsu 佐久間正勝.
After his father Wakasa-no-kami Ujifusa passed away in the 11 th day, the 5 th month, 18 th year of Tensho (1590), he learned from his uncle Nobutaka 信高 of 1 st generation and officially enjoyed Hida-no-kami 飛騨守 title in the 11 th day, the 5 th month, 20 th year of Tensho (1592).
On after Nagoya castle relocation in 1610, he moved from Kiyosu to Kaji town, in Nagoya (now in 3 chome Marunouchi,Naka-ku) then was in retirement 1631 to yield his position as head of the Ujifusa to his eldest son - the 3 rd generation Bizen-no-kami Ujifusa 備前守氏房.
Hida-no-kami Ujifusa 飛騨守氏房 was passed away in the same year in 1631, was 65 years old.
reference : Iwata Atou, Owari Toko-fu, Nagoya citry Board of Education, 1984