Tosa Masasuke

Profile

Of Masasuke (正甫) little is known beyond what his signature says, 土佐士源正甫造 (Tosa-shi Minamoto Masasuke zō), in which he presents himself as a samurai (士, shi) of Tosa and with the uji Minamoto (源). A blade with this signature is dated 明治二年二月日 (Meiji ninen nigatsu hi), in the second month of Meiji 2 (1869). The signature does not say whether one or several smiths used the name, and the reference works consulted do not record his teacher or his school.