Etchū
越中の刀工 (Etchū no tōkō)
The smiths of Etchū: Norishige and Gō Yoshihiro, two of the great names of the Sagami style, and the Uda school.
Style and characteristics
Strong nie and a very active jigane: Norishige is known for a large itame with chikei forming the so-called matsukawa-hada, and for a notare and gunome hamon with kinsuji; Gō Yoshihiro for a clean jigane and bright nie. The Uda school brought a soberer style from Yamato.
History
At the end of the Kamakura period Norishige worked in Etchū, at Gofuku, and Gō Yoshihiro, at Matsukura; tradition counts both among Masamune’s pupils. Yoshihiro died young and left almost no signed blades, hence the saying that no one has ever seen Gō or a ghost. In the Nanbokuchō period the Uda school arrived from Yamato and remained active for centuries.
Smiths of the school
- Norishige 則重