Yosozaemon-no-jō Sukesada
与三左衛門尉祐定
Description
Lineage
Yosozaemon-no-jō Sukesada was a swordsmith of the Sukesada lineage that flourished in the Sue-Bizen (late-Bizen) tradition centered on Osafune in Bizen Province. He is recorded as the son of Hikobe-no-jō Sukesada, beginning work around the Bunki era (1501–1504) and reaching his peak during the Eishō (1504–1521) and Taiei (1521–1528) eras, with dated works confirmed up to around Tenmon 10 (1541).
Style
His work is based on gunome-chōji hamon interwoven with small midare and ko-jūmonji (small cross-shaped) elements, producing a lively, varied blade edge with a bright, clear nioi-guchi. The steel is described as finely forged ko-itame with fine ji-nie, characteristic of Sue-Bizen work that balances practical battlefield durability with refined appearance.
Notable Work and Designation
A katana signed "Bizen no Kuni jū Osafune Yosozaemon-no-jō Sukesada saku" is held by Takasaki City, Gunma Prefecture, as a city-designated cultural property. His works are ranked as ō-wazamono (great cutting-ability blades) in the wazamono classification system.
Reputation
Among the many smiths of the Sukesada lineage, he is regarded, together with his contemporary Gorōzaemon-no-jō Kiyomitsu, as one of the two great masters representing the highest rank (saijō-saku) of Sue-Bizen and late kotō swordsmithing. Records of his teachers or individual anecdotes are scarce, so only the corroborated facts are presented here.
Famous Works
- 刀 銘 備前国住長船与三左衛門尉祐定作（高崎市指定文化財）