Yukihiro Katana

Hizen Yukihiro was born in 1617 and was named Kurobei. He is the younger brother by 11 years to Shodai Hizen Masahiro, and his grandfather by way of adoption of his father Yoshinobu, is Shodai Hizen Tadayoshi.

He is a smith of jo saku (superior) class, who was active in the Kenbun period (1661 - 1673) and the Enpo period (1673 - 1681).

In 1648 he received the title of Dewa Daijo in Keien 1 (1648).

And in Kanbun 3 (1663) he received the title Dewa no Kami.

His first work is known to have been made in 1639 at the age of 23. His first title, Dewa no Daijo, came at age 32 around the time when he began experimenting with oranda tetsu (Holland steel and Dutch manufacturing techniques) under the swordsmiths Hisatsugu and Tanenaga in Nagasaki.

This swordsmith signed in many interesting ways, rarely dating his swords. After achieving the Kami title, he sometimes utilizes the Ichi character. Though the reasons for this are speculated, there exists a piece signed Hizen Ichi-mon-ji, so it is thought that he studied and practiced some of the techniques related to this school, and perhaps signifies when they are used with the Ichi character.

He passed away in Tenna 3 (1683).