\u00a0Musashi Taro Yasukuni \u6b66\u8535\u592a\u90ce\u5b89\u56fd was active during the Genroku-Kyoho era (1688-1736<\/strong>). <\/span>Yasukuni belonged to the Bushu Shitahara school, located in today\u2019s Hachioji city(southwest part of Tokyo). This school thrived from the end of the Muromachi period to the late Edo period (late 16C-Late 19C).<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0His birth name was Yamamoto Touta, while his smith name changed over time, starting from Hiroshige (\u5e83\u91cd) and then Musashi Taro Yasukuni (\u6b66\u8535\u592a\u90ce\u5b89\u56fd). He was born in Bushu Hachioji as the son of Touta Hiroshige. And, he moved to Edo city, becoming an apprentice of master Omura Kaboku (\u5927\u6751\u52a0\u535c), a famous swordsmith during the mid-Edo period.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0Kanboku was primarily working as a surgeon for Mito Tokugawa Mitsukuni, the Mito domain\u2019s feudal lord (Ibaraki prefecture today). Mitsukuni was a grandson of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder and the first Shogun of the Edo government.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0Yasukuni is famous for having forged a sword for the general Mitsukuni because he received an order from the domain in 1685. Furthermore, in 1721, the 8th Shogun Tokugawa Yoshimune ordered Yasukuni to participate in the sword-forging exhibition in Hamarikyu, the feudal lord\u2019s residence in Edo. Shogun Yoshimune invited renowned swordsmiths there to compete for their craftsmanship. These facts indicate Yasukuni was acknowledged as a top-tier swordsmith in the mid-Edo period. We believe this Katana was ordered by a high-class Samurai official based on its elegant look.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0Shitahara school, where Yasukuni belonged, had been the group of swordsmiths under the Hojo clan\u2019s auspicious, powerful feudal line during the late Muromachi period. Most of the Shitahara swordsmith\u2019s real sir name was Yamamoto. After the Toyotomi clan destroyed the Hojo clan in the Azuchi Momoyama period, Shitahara swordsmiths served the Tokugawa clan. They were known as Okakae Kaji, swordsmiths exclusively working for a specific feudal family. They kept forging for the Tokugawa clan until the end of the Edo period.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0He often signed his signature and Ma Jyugo Mai Kobuse Saku(\u771f\u5341\u4e94\u679a\u7532\u4f0f\u4f5c). Ma Jyugo Koubuse was a particular sword forging method\/technique his master and he applied when forging swords.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n We hope you enjoyed reading this post. If you are interested in checking his work, we happen to acquire an antique Katana<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/a>signed by him. More information is available by clicking the image below.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.samuraimuseum.jp\/shop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/musashi_OCMOJ_0927.jpg\")
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