Miyaguchi Yasuhiro

Miyaguchi Yasuhiro was a swordsmith active during the Shōwa era, serving as the founding head swordsmith of the Nihontō Tanren Kai (Japanese Sword Forging Association) established on the grounds of Yasukuni Shrine. He is regarded as one of the leading "Yasukuni swordsmiths." His birth name was Miyaguchi Shigeru.

Lineage and School

Born in Tokyo in 1897 as the son of Yonezawa Masatoshi, he was later adopted into the Miyaguchi family. After his father's death, he studied under the swordsmith Kasama Ikkansai Shigetsugu, a transmitter of the Sōshū tradition, and initially used the art-name "Toshihiro." In 1916 (Taishō 5), his teacher granted him the go "Ikkansai."

Career as a Yasukuni Swordsmith

In 1933 (Shōwa 8), when the Army Ministry established the Nihontō Tanren Kai at Yasukuni Shrine, he was appointed head swordsmith, and Army Minister Araki Sadao granted him the craftsman name "Yasuhiro." In 1936 (Shōwa 11), he transferred to the Ōkura Tanrenjo (Ōkura Forge) as head swordsmith, training many disciples across both workshops.

Style

Inheriting the Sōshū-den forging methods of his teacher Kasama Ikkansai Shigetsugu, he forged sturdy, functional military swords using tamahagane steel smelted in the Yasukuni tatara.

Reputation

Miyaguchi Yasuhiro is counted, alongside Kajiyama Yasunori and Ikeda Yasumitsu, as one of the three most representative Yasukuni swordsmiths, and is regarded as a central figure in the production of military and Yasukuni blades during the Shōwa era.