Swordsmiths of Iyo Province.

[Hector]

As some may know, I recently won a tanto made in 1943 on auction. It is by a  completely unrecorded smith called Sadanobu who was working in Iyo,which is an old province name for an area in Shikoku.

 

Naturally, I started to research the swordmaking traditions in that area and came across a very interesting article from Showa 61 which was part of a group of essays on traditional arts and crafts in Ehime Prefecture (modern day Iyo province).

 

This is the link to the original piece in Japanese:

https://www.i-manabi.jp/system/regionals/regionals/ecode:2/56/view/7406
 

And this is a full translation in English, courtesy of my long suffering wife (with some cross referencing using AI).

I thought it may be helpful to members of the forum in their own research into Iyo blades.
 

Best,

Hector

 

 

 

The Swordsmiths of Iyo

 

Translated from 愛媛県史 芸術・文化財 (History of Ehime Prefecture: Arts and Cultural Properties), published 31 January 1986 (Shōwa 61), Chapter 4 “Crafts,” Section 3 “Crafts of the Early Modern Period,” Part 1 “The Swordsmiths of Iyo.”

Source: i-manabi.jp, Ehime no Kioku database

 

There is a lack of reliable material on swordsmiths in Iyo, and little research has been done on the subject — for smiths of the koto (old sword) period in Iyo in particular, it may be fair to say almost nothing survives at all. Whether this is because they worked in obscurity, overshadowed by the great smiths of the capital, or because the long peace simply left little need for provincial smiths, is unclear. But once the shogunate–domain system was established, each domain competed to train its own official swordsmiths, who came to produce work that rivaled that of the capital’s smiths. What follows is an account of the smiths of Iyo’s eight domains.

 

Swordsmiths of Matsuyama Domain

 

Nagakuni — Retained smith of Katō Yoshiaki, lord of Matsuyama Castle. Son of the smith Jōkei of Aki-Hiroshima, he trained under Higo-no-kami Teruhiro and served Lord Katō when he was transferred to Masaki (Matsumae) in Iyo in Bunroku 4 (1595), forging fine blades. He was given an exceptionally high stipend for a swordsmith — 15 koku and 5 retainers. When Katō was transferred to Aizu in Mutsu in Kan’ei 4 (1627), he went with him, changed his surname from Miyoshi (三好) to Miyoshi (三善), and became known as Aizu Tōshirō Nagakuni. He died on the 18th day of the 6th month of Kan’ei 8, aged 55. His blades draw on real combat experience from the Korean campaign and have an antique dignity of form. Signatures: “Yoshū Matsuyama-jū Nagakuni” / “Yoshū Onsen-gun Ishite-jū Miyoshi Tōshirō Nagakuni.”

 

Masanaga — Known as Miyoshi Riemon. After training under Umetada Myōju he returned to Matsuyama, then accompanied Katō Yoshiaki to Aizu in Kan’ei 4, changing his name to Masanaga. Signature: “Heianjō Masanaga” / “Ōshū Aizu-jū Masanaga.” Iyo-made work by him is rare.

 

Nagakiyo — Retained smith of Gamō Tadatomo, lord of Matsuyama Castle, known as Tōshirō Nagakiyo. Continued as retained smith after Matsudaira Sadayuki was transferred in from Kuwana, receiving 13 koku and 5 retainers. Died the 9th month of Manji 1 (1658).

 

Kiyonaga — Younger brother of Nagakiyo. Received 10 koku, 3 retainers. Appointed sword-smith at Odani within the castle. In the Shōhō era he accompanied Matsudaira Sadayuki to Nagasaki by shogunal order. Died Genroku 8. Signatures: “Yoshū Matsuyama-jū Kiyonaga” / “Kiyonaga saku.”

 

Kanenaga — Childhood name Tarōbei; this is the first-generation Izumi no Daijō Kuniteru. Became a 20-koku, 5-retainer yoriai page in Shōhō 1 (1644). Said to have been left undisturbed even when Sadanaga strictly enforced sumptuary edicts elsewhere. Took the title Izumi no Daijō Kuniteru and forged at Odani. Died Genroku 9, aged 70.

 

Terumasa — Adopted heir of Kuniteru under Matsudaira Sadanao. Received 10 koku, 3 retainers. Childhood name Gorōemon. Known as Miyoshi Tōshirō Terumasa; after Kuniteru’s death took the name Izumi no Daijō Kuniteru.

 

Kuniteru (elder) — Under Matsudaira Sadahide, in the 11th month of Kyōhō 4 (1719) was honored by shogunal order to present a sword he had forged — a great honor. Died 3rd month of Kanpō 2; buried at Raikōji, Yamagoe, Matsuyama.

 

Kuniteru (younger) — Adopted heir of the above; studied under Ōmi no Kami Hisamichi. Returned to Matsuyama in Kan’en 3 (1750), forged at Odani, received 9 koku, 3 retainers, and later became a yoriai page. Died 10th month of Kansei 2, aged 66.

 

Nagakatsu — Childhood name Torogorō; early signature “Nagatsugu.” Received 9 koku, 3 retainers. Died 3rd month of Kansei 4, aged only 38. Signatures: “Yoshū Matsuyama-jū Fujiwara Nagatsugu” / “Yoshū Matsuyama-jū Nagakatsu.”

 

Nagahiro — Born in Matsuyama; early signature “Masamichi.” Received 8 koku, 3 retainers in the 12th month of Bunka 7 (1810). Took in as apprentice and adopted son Kinzō, son of the farmer Iwaemon of Yodo village, Matsuyama. Signatures: “Banryūshi Nagahiro” / “Yoshū Matsuyama-jū Nagahiro.”

 

Nagayuki — Married in as Nagahiro’s son-in-law and heir in the 12th month of Tenpō 8; became a yoriai page in Tenpō 9. Trained four years under the swordsmith Toshiyuki of Inaba (Tottori) domain before returning to Matsuyama. Signatures: “Yoshū-han Nagayuki” / “Yoshū Matsuyama-jū Nagayuki.”

 

Nagamitsu — Born in Matsuyama; inherited the Miyoshi house and served domain lords Sadaaki and Sadanori. Gave up the family trade with the 1872 (Meiji 5) sword-abolition edict. Signatures: “Seiryūsai Nagamitsu saku” / “Miyoshi Nagamitsu saku no kore.” With him the hereditary line of official Matsuyama-domain smiths, the Miyoshi house, came to an end.

 

Beyond the Miyoshi line, other smiths appear in the records under names such as Yoshū Matsuyama-jū Fujiwara Kunizumi, Fujiwara Shimosaka, Tachibana Sukemasa, Masahira, Oda Sōkichi, Ishite-jū Nyūdō Sōtei, Matsuyama Onsen-jū Sōshō, Oda Sōgyō, Sōkō, and Fujiwara Sōshige.

According to the Matsuyama-machi Kagami of Tenna 2 (1682), smiths then living in Matsuyama included Miyoshi Izumi of Kamikonya-machi, Sōtei of Kawara-machi, Kajiya Shirōemon of Takehana-machi, and Shimosaka Tarōbei of Kajiya-machi. Among the ordinary craftsmen of the town there were 64 blacksmiths and 14 scabbard-makers.

 

Swordsmiths of Uwajima Domain

 

Kunimasa — Moved to Uwajima after the fall of the Tosa Chōsokabe clan. In the 3rd month of Keian 5 (1653) received from domain lord Date Munemune a stipend of 4 retainers and 11 hyō of rice. Received the title Suruga no Kami in Kanbun 4. Died 10th month of Hōei 2. Signature: “Yoshū Uwajima-jū Fujiwara Kunimasa.”

 

Kunimasa II — Succeeded his father in the 7th month of Genroku 10 (1697), known as Nishimoto Ichiemon Fujiwara Kunimasa. Signature: “2nd-generation Suruga no Kami Kunimasa”; one dated piece reads “an auspicious day, 10th month, Kyōhō 5 — a sacred sword dedicated to Atago-san Daigongen.”

 

Kunimasa III — Eldest son of Kunimasa II, succeeded as third generation. The line continued through an eighth generation (signed “Nan’yo Uwajima-jū Suruga no Kami, 8th-generation Fujiwara Kunimasa”), the last dated example from the 2nd month of Genji 2 (1865), after which the name Kunimasa as Uwajima-domain smith ends.

 

Kunifusa — Pupil of Takada Shigemasa of Bungo; early signature “Kunibayashi Fujiwara Iwami no Kami.” Presumed to have served the lords of Uwajima Castle — whether Toda or Tōdō — and continued in service to the Date house after Date Munemune became domain lord, through nine generations.

 

Yasunobu — First generation Watanabe Hida Daijō Yasusada, resident for generations at Yasukeya; second generation Yasukichi; from the third generation the name Yasunobu was used. By the tenth generation, around Bunka–Bunsei, the smith’s name Watanabe Morinobu disappears from record. Tang signatures on swords and wakizashi were in fine cursive script: “Yoshū Yasuya-dani Yasunobu.”

 

Swordsmiths of Ōzu Domain

 

Kunimichi — Resident at Mima in Yoshida territory; pupil of Yamashiro no Kami Kunimichi. Succeeded his teacher as official domain smith with a stipend of 4 retainers from around Kanbun 3 (1663) through the Enpō era. Died 6th day of the 2nd month, Shōtoku 3 (1713).

 

Kunitsugu — Second generation, Okamoto Jihei Kunitsugu, eldest son of Kunimichi, in service to the construction office with 4 retainers. Died 19th day, 6th month, Kyōhō 2 (1717).

 

Kunino — Third generation, Okamoto Jihei Kunino, eldest son of Kunitsugu, construction-office service, 4 retainers. Died 1st day, 11th month, An’ei 4 (1775).

 

Kunishige — Fourth generation, Okamoto Jinzaemon Kunishige, early name Tōsaburō, eldest son of Kunino, construction-office service, 4 retainers. Died Bunka 8.

 

Kunitoyo — Fifth generation, Okamoto Jihei Kunitoyo, adopted son of Kunino, early name Fusaemon. Succeeded the headship in Meiwa 8, 4 retainers. Permitted to wear swords in Tenmei 5; became a hereditary retainer in Kansei 12. Died 12th month, Bunka 7 (1810).

 

Takakuni — Sixth generation, Okamoto Jirōkurō Takakuni (also Toyojirō, Jisuke), early signature Kuniyoshi or Sukekuni. Eldest son of Kunitoyo; trained in Osaka from Kansei 5 under Sakazaka Suketaka. Succeeded the headship in Bunka 7; rank of osaki-kogashira with 2 retainers and 7.5 koku. Among surviving Ōzu-domain smith work, pieces by Takakuni and his son Kuniyoshi are the most numerous. Signature: “Yo Ōzu-han Okamoto Takakuni.”

 

Kuniyoshi — Seventh generation, Okamoto Makane Kuniyoshi. Succeeded the headship on his father Takakuni’s death in the 9th month of Kōka 2 (1845). His work was known in Edo as “Ōzu Masamune,” reputedly exceptional for its cutting quality. Died 3rd month, Kōka 5.

 

Kunimasu — Eighth generation, Okamoto Mohei-ji Kunimasu. The Meiji Restoration and abolition of the domains fell in his generation; he moved his residence to Gorō. Died 26th day, 5th month, Meiji 30 (1897), aged 67.

 

Swordsmiths of the Other Domains

 

Imabari Domain — Tōdō Takatora, transferred from lord of Uwajima Castle to lord of Imabari Castle with 200,000 koku, was further transferred to Ise in Keichō 13; Matsudaira Sadafusa later became castle lord with 30,000 koku in Kan’ei 12. The principal smith was Kunikore (surname Minamoto, later changed to Fujiwara), titled Sagami no Kami, with dated work from the Kanbun and Genroku eras. Also recorded: Kunimasa I (Bunka era), Kunimasa II (around Kaei), Kunimasa III (around Genji), and others such as Ochi Nobuhide, Nobukiyo, and Kunita, though details are unclear.

 

Saijō Domain — The only signed smith known for Saijō domain from surviving work is Toshikazu. This Yano Toshikazu, commonly called Heizaburō, went by the art-name Chōjusai. A pupil of Katō Hachirō Tsunayoshi, official smith of the Yonezawa-domain Uesugi lords, he was invited to Saijō domain in Kōka 2 and worked there as domain smith through to the end of the Edo period. Surviving work by Masatada is also recorded.

 

Yoshida Domain — Smiths of the Kyoto Sanjō (Mishina) lineage served in succession: Mishina Jirōzaemon Hisamichi around the Kansei era, a second-generation Hisamichi, Yoshida-jū Mishina Minamoto Masamichi, Mishina Minamoto Nagahisa, Yamashiro no Kami Minamoto Kunimichi, and Hanabusa Tokunosuke — the trade ending with this Tokunosuke in the Meiji era.

 

Komatsu Domain — Owing to close ties with Saijō domain, Yano Chōjusai Toshikazu of Saijō was retained here too, apparently active as smith to both domains. Iyo Komatsu-jū Sadataka is also recorded as a smith there.

 

Takahashi Sadatsugu — A swordsmith from Saijō and a designated Holder of an Important Intangible Cultural Property, born in Ōmachi, Saijō, in Meiji 35 (1902); real name Kin’ichi. In Taishō 7 he entered the school of the Osaka swordsmith Gassan Sadakazu and became a trainee designated by the Central Sword Association; in Taishō 12 he returned to his native Saijō to devote himself to the study of forging. After the war he dedicated art swords, including a sacred blade to Ise Shrine; in May of Shōwa 30 (1955) he was designated a Holder of Intangible Cultural Property, and his work was recognized among the finest of modern swordsmiths. He died 21 August, Shōwa 43 (1968), at his forge in Ishite, Matsuyama, aged 67.

 

[Bugyotsuji]

Hector, many thanks for this, an area that is often overlooked. I have an Iyo blade myself, so your (wife’s) efforts are much appreciated!

[Hector]

2 minutes ago, Bugyotsuji said:

Hector, many thanks for this, an area that is often overlooked. I have an Iyo blade myself, so your (wife’s) efforts are much appreciated!

Hi Piers!

 

Very glad that it's proved of interest!

 

As soon as I started looking, I realised that Iyo Province is very difficult to find any information on (as the article's writer himself states right at the beginning) - so I immediately felt this essay was something that should be shared on the NMB.

 

Best,

Hector

[Bugyotsuji]

Yes indeed!

I have had two or three Iyo guns too, but not much is known about them either. Interestingly the head shrine for Iyo is O-mishima's O-yamazumi Jinja, famous for its ancient arms and armor collection. Your blade is signed Mishima, so for a while I was thinking there might be some spiritual connection.

 

(Guessing it does not mention the artisans and swordsmiths of the Sanuki, Awa/Tokushima or Tosa/Kochi domains of Shikoku?)

[Hector]

1 hour ago, Bugyotsuji said:

Yes indeed!

I have had two or three Iyo guns too, but not much is known about them either. Interestingly the head shrine for Iyo is O-mishima's O-yamazumi Jinja, famous for its ancient arms and armor collection. Your blade is signed Mishima, so for a while I was thinking there might be some spiritual connection.

 

(Guessing it does not mention the artisans and swordsmiths of the Sanuki, Awa/Tokushima or Tosa/Kochi domains of Shikoku?)

 

Only Ehime I'm afraid, Piers. 

 

There is one other article in the series which might possibly yield some interesting results.

"Armor and swords of Oyamagi Shrine"

 

I'd have to see if my wife is up to more translation work!

 

 

 

 

PS: Just looked up the O-Yamazumi Jinja and read this fascinating detail.

 

"During the American occupation of Japan following World War II, some 10,000 pieces of weaponry and armor were relocated to the shrine under the pretext of being dedicated as sacred objects from the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy and Itsukushima Shrine by authorities who feared that they would be confiscated. The GHQ authorities were disturbed by the vast number of swords, and ordered the disposal of all items except those which had already been designated as National Treasures. The shrine authorities responded by secretly burying them and later, after the end of the occupation and the establishment of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, they returned the swords to the Japanese government."

 

Does anyone know anything else about this incredible act of defiance towards the American occupation forces?

Edited Tuesday at 08:47 AM by Hector

[eternal_newbie]

3 hours ago, Hector said:

And this is a full translation in English, courtesy of my long suffering wife (with some cross referencing using AI).

I thought it may be helpful to members of the forum in their own research into Iyo blades.

 

My thanks to the both of you. @Brian and/or @Scogg, I think this may be worthy of being converted to a downloadable article for future reference, given the relative obscurity of these smiths!

[Bugyotsuji]

The idea of burying them was adopted throughout Japan, often by shrines. Many came up rusted and useless after years underground.

 

Jan Pettersson relates that in Yonezawa some practitioners of ancient gunnery made garden fence posts using antique matchlock gun barrels to fool the occupation forces who came round looking for weapons to confiscate.

 

PS Please do not bother your wife any further. I am in the midst of a long translation myself and know exactly how she feels!

[Hector]

1 hour ago, eternal_newbie said:

 

My thanks to the both of you. @Brian and/or @Scogg, I think this may be worthy of being converted to a downloadable article for future reference, given the relative obscurity of these smiths!

Our pleasure, Rohan. 🙂

 

It's nice to contribute something to the board rather than simply ask for advice all the time!

[Jussi Ekholm]

Thank you for posting this research Hector.

[Hector]

On 8/20/2026 at 3:38 AM, Jussi Ekholm said:

Thank you for posting this research Hector.

My pleasure Jussi. It's the tiniest fraction when compared to all the amazing research you've contributed to the NMB!