Kantei
A tachi in its black and red mounting hanging from a leather hanger, above the bare, deeply curved blade resting on purple stands.

Swordsmith of Chiba · early Kamakura · mukansa

Matsuda Tsuguyasu (松田次泰)

A swordsmith of Chiba, mukansa and holder of a prefectural cultural property, who has spent more than thirty years recreating the sword of the early Kamakura period: his life, his work, his prizes, his videos and his sources

Matsuda Tsuguyasu (松田次泰, Matsuda Tsuguyasu) was born in Hokkaidō in 1948 and forges in the city of Chiba. He is an NBTHK mukansa and holder of the intangible cultural property of Chiba Prefecture “日本刀の鍛錬” (Nihontō no tanren), and he has devoted his work to recreating the sword of the early Kamakura period.

Rama, CC BY-SA 2.0 FR, via Wikimedia Commons

1948
Born in Hokkaidō
1981
His own forge
2009 or 2010
NBTHK mukansa
2014
Cultural property of Chiba
On this page
  1. Quick profile
  2. In short

Quick profile

Name
Matsuda Tsuguyasu; signs 次泰作 (Tsuguyasu saku) or 松田次泰作 (Matsuda Tsuguyasu saku) HD
Kanji and reading
松田次泰 (Matsuda Tsuguyasu) HD
Birth
1948, in Hokkaidō; on 27 July, in Kitami HD
Where he forges
In Funabashi from 1981 and in the city of Chiba since 2006 HD
Master
高橋次平 (Takahashi Tsuguhira), in Nagano, for seven years; from 1983 to 1988, forging and hardening with 吉原国家 (Yoshihara Kuniie) HD
School or tradition
The Miyairi school, through his master; he pursues the sword of the early Kamakura period and the Kobizen II
Licence
1980, from the Agency for Cultural Affairs (文化庁, Bunkachō) AT
Rank
NBTHK mukansa since 2009 or 2010; holder of the intangible cultural property of Chiba Prefecture AT

In short

What we know. Chiba City Hall tells of his training and his forge, and gives him as holder of the prefecture’s intangible cultural property. The NBTHK catalogues place him among the mukansa exhibiting in 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025 and 2026, and a tachi of his from 2007 was included in the 2019 exhibition 平成の名刀・名工展 (Heisei no Meitō Meikōten).

How we know it. His prizes from 1981 to 2006 and his way of working are told by interviews and a university study.

What we do not know. The breakdown of his eight special prizes, which is in each year’s issues of 『刀剣美術』 (Tōken Bijutsu), and whether he has work in a public museum in Japan.

Sections

  1. Takahashi Tsuguhira · Yoshihara Kuniie · Chiba Life and forging From the art school of Hokkaidō to the forge of Chiba, with two masters and ten years to master the early Kamakura sword.
  2. Kobizen · Kamakura · nie Work and style What he seeks in the sword of the early Kamakura period, his blades in the NBTHK catalogues and two tachi in photos.
  3. Eight special prizes · mukansa Prizes His prizes in the NBTHK competition for new work, the rank of mukansa and the recognition of Chiba.
  4. Talks · forging · radio Videos Four videos: a talk of his, a short film and a report on his forge, and a radio interview.
  5. Bibliography and credits Sources The sources consulted on 4 October 2026, with their link where possible, and the credit for each image.