Masahira Fujiyasu sensei – Forging a Japanese katana
Tosho Masahira Fujiyasu Sensei, real name Masahiro Fujiyaku, was born on November 10, 1946 in the city of Kawamata, in the prefecture of Fukushima. Since 1966 he has been a student of Miyairi Yukihira and already in 1972 he was awarded the Doryokusho award at the eighth Shinsakutoten. From 1975 he became an independent forger and over the years obtained the title of living national treasure and the highest awards as a forger: 3 times Yushusho, six times Shoreisho, seven times Doryokusho. In 1984 he had the high honor of receiving the commission for the forging of the sacred sword for the Grand Temple of Ise during the sixty-first celebrations (an event that takes place once every twenty years). In 1986 he founded the group Genmon No Kai, which will hold numerous performances throughout the country until 1998. In 1990 he obtained the Kaichosho from NBTHK. In December 1993 he received the commission, together with the members of the Genmon No Kai, to forge the tachi for the Gokoku Temple in Nara and later for the Yasukuni temple and the great temple of Atsuta. There are currently 110 blades recognized as National Treasures, of which 70% date back to the Kamakura period (1180-1333). Recreating the beauty and strength emanating from these blades has been the aspiration of many smiths over the centuries.
During the long years of work and continuing to forge nihonto of superlative level, the master Fujiyasu is the first modern forger to have rediscovered the secrets of the creation of blades dating back to the pre-Muromachi period. It is not possible to deduce what type of forging and what were the techniques used by the ancient smiths to give a blade certain details from the sole observation. Nonetheless master Fujiyasu was able to produce his blades based on his studies and on the analysis of the most ancient blades by deducing the procedures used. "From time to time I wonder why i'm undertaking such an arduous task, and the answer lies in the strong desire to recover and save techniques that were otherwise lost. In the world of the Japanese sword it is well known that the loss of quality in forging is due to the lack of the need in today's world to create real swords capable of fulfilling their task. This is why the great swords awarded the title of national treasures date back to a period of time from the Heian to the Kamakura era. My mentor, Yukihira Miyairi, maintained throughout his life the belief that through dedication, savvy, mistakes and numerous attempts it is possible to recreate the characteristic splendor of ancient blades. " The swords of the master Masahira have the appearance of the ancient Kamakura blades, and maintain their beauty, strength and resistance. In 2009, with the presence of the Japanese national television, a test was carried out on the blades of the master Masahira, which succeeded in every attempt performed, without reporting any type of damage, to perfectly cut a steel tube 15mm wide and thick of 2mm. Through Sakura Matsuri antiques it is possible to request the forging of a nihonto to Master Masahira Fujiyasu Sensei. In addition to the type of blade (katana, wakizashi or a lot) it is possible to request to have a dedicated mei on the nakago. For information, times and costs, do not hesitate to contact us.
