Fujiwara Nobuyoshi (1st gen) of his real name Takai Kinzaburō, is a swordsmith belonging to the famous Mishina school of Kyōto in Yamashiro province. Founded by Kanemichi of Seki in Mino province at the late Muromachi period (1467-1573), this school played an important role during the shintō period. From this tradition were born several leading smiths, such as Iga no Kami Kanemichi (2nd gen) and Tamba no Kami Yoshimichi, who is known to be the creator of the famous sudare-ba hamon. Their influences spread until the end of the Edo period.

According to several sources, Shodai Nobuyoshi worked at Kyōto and then at Ōsaka between the Shōhō and Kanbun era (1644-1672). He began his signed works with the clan name “Fujiwara” then “Minamoto”years later. It is also said that he practiced his art with his brother Echizen no Kami Nobuyoshi for a while. This smith is also known for his excellent mastery of the gunome and suguha tempering with a thick and brilliant nioiguchi. Many of his swords also include an imperial emblem “kiku-mon”.