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Enomoto Tatsuyoshi

Among the many swordsmiths to have descended from the Gassan tradition, there continues today the Enomoto family of swordsmiths that first emerged with Enomoto Sadayoshi. Sadayoshi’s study with Gassan Sadakatsu, one of the 20 th century’s pinnacle smiths, fostered the talents that would become the legacy for his two sons.

Enomoto Tatsuyoshi is the older brother of Enomoto Sadahito, both of whom began studying swordsmithing with their father in their youth, paralleling the practices of Gassan family smiths. Tatsuyoshi received his license in 1975 and began to submit swords for the annual sword forging competition and receiving several respectable awards that are testimony to his skills.

The general choice of style for Enomoto works is Soshu. One might assume that Ayasugi hada would be dominant in their works, but the Gassan skills weren’t completely dependant on this feature and this point is clear in the Enomoto branch as it is within their repertoire, but not a hallmark of their works. Their competence and comfort in other traditions is apparent in the skillful recreation of Yamashiro works emulating Rai Kunimitsu, thus showing the flexibility to work in a quieter, more concentrated form of hada and hamon, and recently more choji hamon styles have been seen with a nod to the Bizen style of yakiba.

Enomoto family swords display the evidence of Gassan influence by shapes faithful to recreation of eras, skillful forging, and meticulously finished nakago. The nakago is never overlooked in Gassan or Enomoto school works, with the commitment that the nakago should display attentive care and a dignified finish in order to complete the sword as a work of art. The Enomoto style of mei is also immediately recognizable as an extension of Gassan structure with fluid, confident strokes exuding the pride they hold in their work and the tribute to former masters of their lineage.

With the passing of his father, Sadayoshi in 2000, Tatsuyoshi and his brother will now carry the torch to future generations. Their continued work and refinement of skills will surely bring more magnificent works to light in coming years.