Hoki Yasutsuna: The founder of Japanese swords and legendary master craftsman

Hoki Yasutsuna, a swordsmith who played an active part in Hoki Country (now western Tottori Prefecture) in the middle of the Heian period, is a legendary master who has carved a name in the history of Japanese swords. The foot of Oyama was rich in iron sand, water, and charcoal, making it the perfect land for swordsmithing. In this area, Yasutsuna endured real battles and trained many famous swords with beauty.

One of Yasutsuna's masterpieces is the national treasure "Dojigiri Yasutsuna". It is one of the five swords in the world that Yorimitsu Minamotono is said to have defeated the demon of Mount Oe, Shuten Doji, and is currently owned by the Tokyo National Museum. The gentle blade pattern based on a straight blade and the fine beauty of ground iron attracts viewers even after a thousand years.

In Ohara, Hoki-cho, there is a monument to the Hoki Yasutsuna tradition, and you can feel its history.