Home / Events / The Lineage of Swordsmiths in Tomi - Passing on the Arts from Kiyomaro Minamoto, Masao Yamaura, Kanetora Yamaura to Norihiro Miyairi

Exhibition/event has ended.

The Lineage of Swordsmiths in Tomi - Passing on the Arts from Kiyomaro Minamoto, Masao Yamaura, Kanetora Yamaura to Norihiro Miyairi

Umeno Memorial Museum of Art

Finished

This year Tomi City celebrates its 20th anniversary with the special exhibition "The Lineage of Swordsmiths in Tomi" The exhibition focuses on the swordsmiths connected to Tomi City. These include the Yamaura brothers, Masao and Kiyomaro Minamoto (Tamaki Yamaura), who were active in the late Edo period and hailed from Shigeno in Tomi City; Masao’s son Kanetora Yamaura; and the present-day swordsmith Nobuhiro Miyairi, who has a forging site in Yaehara, Tomi City.

The Yamaura brothers were born to the village headman (goshi) of Akaiwa Village in Chiisagata District. Masao aspired to become a swordsmith in pursuit of practical swords. He apprenticed under Hideyo Hyoshinshi in Edo and Toshitaka Saburo Kawamura in Ueda and taught sword-making techniques to his younger brother, Kiyomaro, who was nine years his junior. Masao later became an official swordsmith for the Matsushiro Domain under Yukinori Sanada, while Kiyomaro gained fame in Yotsuya, Edo, earning the nickname "Yotsuya Masamune" and being recognized as one of the three great Edo swordsmiths.

Nobuhiro Miyairi studied under the Living National Treasure Masamine Sumitani and received the prestigious Masamune Award, the highest accolade in the sword world, in 2010. He continues to forge swords without adhering strictly to any particular school. His work includes making protective swords for the Takamadonomiya family and participating in projects to recreate famous swords such as the "Shokudaikiri Mitsutada." This special exhibition shines a spotlight on each of these swordsmiths, exploring their appeal and enduring popularity.

Schedule

Sep 14 (Sat) 2024-Nov 24 (Sun) 2024