An excellent wakizashi by Fujiwara Masayuki from Takada school
with Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate mounted in Shirasaya.
Well forged blade with large bright active Hamon some small areas of Muneyaki.
Takada school of swordsmiths, which was active in the Bungo Province (present-day Ōita Prefecture) from the Nanboku-chō period (mid-14th century) through the end of the Edo period.
History and Characteristics
Founding and History: The school was founded by Takada Tomoyuki,
who is believed to have trained in the Bizen province before establishing his own school in Takada village.
The school was highly prolific, reportedly producing the third-largest quantity of swords across all periods,
after the Bizen and Mino schools.
Takada swords were highly regarded by samurai, particularly during the turbulent Sengoku (civil war) period, because they were known for being practical, durable, and being exceptionally sharp. They were favored by feudal lords in Kyushu, especially those serving the Ōtomo clan.
The name of the school’s swords changed over time based on the period.
Taira Takada (or Ko Takada) refers to swords made in the Kōtō (old sword) period,
Primarily during the Muromachi period, as many smiths used the surname Taira.
Fujiwara Takada refers to swords produced from the Shintō (new sword) period onward (early Edo period),
When the smiths began using the surname Fujiwara.
The blades feature a prominent grain pattern (mokume-hada or itame-hada) and a bright temper line (hamon) based on ko-nie,
often described as having a whitish hue.
