About Us

Indoor

Back in the Shouou Era some 700 years ago, Regent Hojo called swordsmiths from across the country to the city of Kamakura, then the seat of the shogunate, to set the standards for Kamakura’s swordsmiths.

Goro Nyudo Masamune, the founder of the Soshu tradition, was the son of the swordsmith Yukimitsu, from Awadaguchi, Kyoto. He worked with the traditional standard sword-making styles of the time and improved upon them, leading to the start of the distinctive Soshu style.

Hiromasa, five generations after the original Masamune, worked for the Odawara Hojo clan. After being bestowed with the “tsuna” from the name of the second-generation Ujitsuna, he took the name Tsunahiro, later flourishing as the preferred swordsmith for the Tokugawa clan. This tradition of sword craftsmanship excellence continued into the twentieth century, using swordmaking techniques to make keener blades for everyday cutlery and tools, as well as the production of artistic works.

Since long ago, swords and cutlery have been said in Japan to “cut open the way forward,” and even today they are widely beloved as gifts or to commemorate special events.

Soshu Kamakura Ogigayatsu Swordsmith, Tsunahiro (Masamune XXIV)

Sword-
smith

Swordsmith

Tsunahiro Yamamura

  • The son of swordsmith Tsunahiro (Masamune XXIII), the previous master of Masamune Sword and Blade Workshop.
  • At the age of 23, he became the apprentice of a swordsmith with experience in swordmaking at Yasukuni Shrine.
  • He continued his training in Chigasaki, Kanagawa.
  • At the age of 29, he passed his swordsmith examination and received permission to produce swords, and became the successor to the name Tsunahiro at Masamune Sword and Blade Workshop.
  • He continues work there to this day.

History

Indoor

Some 700 years ago, Goro Nyudo Masamune founded the Soshu tradition.

Hiromasa, five generations after the original Masamune, worked for the Odawara Hojo clan. After being bestowed with the “tsuna” from the name of the second-generation Ujitsuna, he took the name Tsunahiro, which all of his successors have since kept.

During the Edo era, Tsunahiro was the sword maker for Tokugawa, a single step below the shogun himself.

Tsunahiro flourished as a swordsmith through the beginning of the Meiji era.

Following the abolition of swords in the Meiji era, Tsunahiro was deeply affected by the loss of his sword business.

Tsunahiro (Masamune XXII), two generations ago, learned how to make farming implements from an agricultural bladesmith — teaching him, in return, how to make swords — allowing him to expand his business.

At the time, his workshop was located closer to the mountain foothills than it is now; it has since moved to its current location, near the train station.

Tsunahiro (Masamune XXIII), the former holder of the name, gave Masamune Sword and Blade Workshop its current name.

His son, Tsunahiro (Masamune XXIV), continues his work to this day.

appearance

Info

Business Details

Business Name:
Masamune Sword and Blade Workshop
President:
Tsuyoshi Yamamura
Industry:
Production of Blades and Iron Artwork
Address:
13-29 Onari, Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Business Hours:
11:00 a.m. to 16:00 p.m.
Closed:
Open everyday
Please contact us through phone or email If you wish to visit at other times.
Access:
Three minutes’ walk from Kamakura Station on the JR Yokosuka Line
Telephone:
+81 (467)22-3962 (in Japanese only)
Fax:
+81 (467) 22-9364
Mail:
info@sword-masamune.com
online shop:
https://ec.sword-masamune.com/

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