A Ko-Uda School / Tametsugu Katana (古宇多)

A powerful and deeply characterful katana forged in Etchû province during the stormy Nambokucho period, circa 1368-1375 – now some 650 years ago. Etchû (modern Toyama prefecture) sits on the northern coast of Honshû, overlooking the Sea of Japan, and was home to a tradition of swordmaking that absorbed the strongest influences of the age. The NBTHK has reviewed this blade twice. The original Tokubetsu Kicho certificate (1969) attributed it to Etchû Tametsugu – son of Go Yoshihiro, himself considered the finest of the Juttetsu, the ten great students of Masamune. The later NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper (2014) broadens the attribution to the Ko-Uda School of Etchû, of which Kunimitsu, originally from the Uda district of Yamato province, is considered the founder.

Tametsugu was a superior smith with dozens of swords achieving NBTHK Jûyô Tôken certification. Having studied under both his father and Go Norishige, he produced blades alive with Sôshû tradition: abundant nie structures, sunagashi (brushed sand lines), chikei (dark lines in the jihada), and kinsuji (golden lines within the hamon) are all present in this sword in generous measure. The o-kissaki (large tip, measuring 4.3cm) is a hallmark of the Nambokucho period, and the bo-bi with soe-bi grooves taper to a pointed kaki-nagashi partway down the nakago. The nakago itself is o-suriage with four mekugi-ana – expected for a blade of this age and authority.

An attractive Edo-period handachi koshirae further complements the sword. The fittings include a splendid Heianjo-Zogan School tsuba in polished iron with brass inlay in a hyotan (gourd) motif – certified by NTHK-NPO and dating to the late Muromachi period, contemporary with Hideyoshi Toyotomi. The fuchi-kashira is a tachi kanagushi in rich shakudo nanako with an unusual carpenter’s-square design, also NTHK-NPO certified to the Late Edo period. Guardian Nio-son (Kongorikishi) figure the menuki. Five certificates of authenticity accompany the sword in total – a remarkable accumulation for any single piece.