AS25614 Katana： Izumo Kami Fujiwara Yoshitake (1st Generation) (Tokubetsu Hozon Token)

Ordering number:AS25614

Katana in Shirasaya (Tokubetsu Hozon Token)

Signature: Izumo Kami Fujiwara Yoshitake (1st Generation)
出雲守藤原吉武(初代)

Sayagaki: Izumo no Kami Fujiwara Yoshitake
Blade length: 2 shaku 3 sun 9 bu (approx. 72.4 cm)
Written in January, Showa Kinoto-U Year (乙卯, 1975)
By Dr. Kunzan [with kaō/seal]

We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo Saku, Jyojyo Saku, Jyo Saku and Regular Saku.
This piece is ranked as Jyojyo Saku among the works of this smith.
Habaki: Double-layered habaki with gold plating
Era:The eraly edo period.
Blade Length: 72.4 cm (28.50 in)
Curvature: 3.0 cm (1.18 in)
Mekugi Hole: 2
Width at Base (Motohaba): 3.48 cm (1.37 in)
Width at Tip: 2.57 cm (1.01 in)
Thickness: 0.76 cm (0.30 in)
Sword Weight: 875 grams
Shape:A powerful shape with wide mihaba, thick kasane, deep curvature, and an extended kissaki.
Jigane:Well-forged ko-itame hada with a fine, dense grain pattern, producing an elegant surface.
Hamon:Nie-based, gunome-midare pattern with deep nioiguchi.
The boshi is large and stretches long into the tip.

Features:This is a very rare piece featuring a long and extended kissaki and deep curvature of 3 cm.
It is beautifully carved with a bohi (fuller) and soehi (companion groove) on both sides, believed to be original carvings.

Aoi Art’s Comment:This sword bears the signature of the first generation Izumo no Kami Fujiwara Yoshitake.
Although the second generation also used the character “守” (no kami), most of his works include additional identifying marks.
Most first-generation signatures include “Daijo” (大掾), but in later works, the title “Kami” (守) appears.
This piece features deep curvature, long kissaki, and beautifully executed bohi and soehi carvings.
It also includes a sayagaki by the famous sword scholar Dr. Kunzan, and it weighs 875 grams, giving it a commanding presence.
It is presumed to have been specially made, and we highly recommend it as a magnificent piece.
Dr. Kunzan is a renowned authority in Japanese swords and the author of Kantei Hibisho, a highly regarded reference book covering Koto, Shinto, Shinshinto, and modern swords.

NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token
Aoi Art Estimation Paper: Whole Oshigata