M18844(S1994)

Katana signed Hida-no-kami Fijiwara UJI (FUSA)

Shinto Early Edo period (Keicho era/about 400 years ago) Owari
Length of cutting edge 69.7cm Curvature 1.5cm Width of base 31.8mm Width of Yokote 25.8mm Thickness of Shinogi-ridge 7.6mm Thickness of base 6.5mm

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Blade construction: Dignified Kanata of Shinogi-zukuri, Iori-mune. Wide in Mihaba and upper Fukura area in fully swelling out. There is less degree of tapering from base to point leading to an extended large Ō-Kissaki. The ratio of Hira-ji is on wider side to Shinogi-ji. Shinogi-suji is massively inflated and shaved off toward the back ridge of Mune. (click HERE for higher resolution image of the entire blade).
Forging(Hada): Fine Itame hada where covers with sparkling Ji-nie glitter and Masame appears on Shinogi-ji.
Temper(Hamon): Nie based, undulating Gunome, Togari-ha and box-like Hakoba. Coarse Nie granules attaches and upper the blade stronger the Nie. Upper Fukura area shows "Yubashiri" overflowed temper to form Niju-ha or hook-like scene to Hiraji surface and some Muneyaki appears on back ridge. In the interior of temper, thick Nie-ashi feet and floating YOU appears - entire temper shows plenty of rich Nie broad-minded activity and full of variety.
Temper of tip(Boshi): Boshi is undulating Midarekomi blazed up then small circle turns back deeply.
Tang(Nakago): Nakago is Suriage shortened by about 2-sun (6cm). 4 mekugi-ana peg holes. Original Nakago shows Ō-sujikai (greatly slanting left) filemarks. The imposing inscription chiselled in front is Hida no kami Fuji Wara Uji
(cut-off below) 飛騨守藤原氏(以下切).

The second generation UJIFUSA 氏房, real name of initially Kawamura Isechiyo 河村伊勢千代, later changed to Kawamura Heijurō 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, 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.

This brave Katana Hida-no-kami Ujifusa 飛騨守氏房 is judged as a work of his later period because of the signature analyzation - 4th stroke of character [HARA 原] goes through the 2nd stroke. He chisels a very good hand in a free and easy style like this example.
Such lively brave katana with extra long Kissaki had come into vogue during Momoyama period and assumes an air of dandyism of Samurai spirits.
Gold foiled copper habaki collar, Preserved in a Shira-Saya plain wood mounting with Sayagaki written by Dr. Sato Kanzan.
An old polish/Condition scale: very good - good (using a scale of mint-excellent-very good-good-fair-poor).