OtherKotō (Old Swords)Wazamono

宇多国光

Uda Kunimitsu

Period

Nanbokuchō–Early Muromachi

School

Uda school

Active Years

応安〜応永（1368〜1430）頃

Tradition

Other

Rank

Wazamono

Description

Uda Kunimitsu was a swordsmith of the late Nanbokuchō to early Muromachi period (c. 1368–1430), working in Etchu Province (modern Toyama Prefecture) and regarded as the central figure of the Uda school — the distinctive regional sword-making tradition of the Hokuriku region. The Uda school takes its name from the Uda area of Etchu and is characterized by swordsmiths sharing the "Kuni" prefix in their names. Kunimitsu's blades display the characteristic "Uda-hada" — a flowing, complex itame jihada with a wild, rustic quality distinctly different from the refined ko-itame of Yamashiro or the precise bizen-utsuri blades of Bizen-den. His hamon features bold gunome-midare with open-footed elements, rough nie, and energetic kinsuji activity, creating a vigorous, unpretentious aesthetic that stands apart from the courtly refinement of the capital schools. The Uda school, while outside the canonical "Go-kaden" (Five Traditions), represents an important regional sword-making heritage that flourished through the Muromachi period. Their bold, individualistic style appeals to collectors who appreciate the regional vitality of provincial Japanese sword-making. DATEKATANA presents Uda Kunimitsu as the master voice of Etchu sword aesthetics — rustic, powerful, and distinctly regional.