Mutsu no Kami Tadayoshi

Profile

Mutsu no Kami Tadayoshi was the third master of the Tadayoshi (忠吉) line of Hizen, based in Saga. Born in 1637, he was the eldest son of Ōmi Daijō Tadahiro (近江大掾忠広), the second generation, and grandson of the founder. In 1660 he received the title Mutsu Daijō, and the following year Mutsu no Kami, which appears in his signature as 肥前國陸奥守忠吉 (Hizen no Kuni Mutsu no Kami Tadayoshi). His working life falls mainly in the Manji and Kanbun eras, alongside his father: school tradition holds that he forged many blades issued under Tadahiro's name, and blades signed by both men survive. For this reason, and because he died in 1686, before his father, blades under his own name are few. His work follows the Hizen manner: a very fine, tight konuka-hada (小糠肌) steel and a nie-based suguha, along with blades in gunome or chōji midare like those of the rest of the school. The line was carried on by his son as the fourth generation.