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37 (item no. ujwa074)
AN UJIFUSA WAKIZASHI
signed, edo period
kanbun era (1661~1672)
Inscription: ����� (omote)
Swordsmith: HIDA NO KAMI UJIFUSA
Location: Suruga province (Yamanashi and Shizuoka prefecture)
Length (ubu): 53.6cm
Curvature: 1.2cm
Hamon: Naka-suguha and koashi
Included: Vintage koshirae, shirasaya (magnolia scabbard), silk carry bag,
sword stand, maintenance kit, printed care guide, DVD and exportation services.
¥560,000 (~$)
The Ujifusa family name has its origins in Mino province (Gifu prefecture). According
to Nihon Shinto Jiten by Fujishiro, there are three generations of Ujifusa smiths and this
fineo-wakizashi (extended wakizashi) is of the third.
The shape of the sword is in classic Kanbun Shinto form, which has a slightly wide base
and gradually tapers to the kissaki (tip). The body of the blade is in fact quite wide, a
characteristic accounted for in Ujifusa family blades.
Fuchigashira is shakudo nanako and its gold yo-bori engraving is in the splendid form of
rabbits and waves. The Japanese represent the white disk of the moon with a rabbit or a
hare pounding rice in a mortar. This symbol is based on a pun. In Japanese, mochi-zuki
means to pound rice for cakes, and mochi-zuki also means the full moon.
The powerful rolling waves depicted on the tsuba (guard) are reminiscent of Hokusai’s
“Great Wave off Kanagawa”, clawing its way to envelop the sword.
The extremely unique kawamaki-saya (leather scabbard) is designed in the shape of an
inro (a collectible pillbox carried by Samurai in feudal Japan).