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.

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)