Yoshioka School

    The Yoshioka school of fittings makers were direct vassals of the Tokugawa Shogunate. The first generation Shigetsugu was summoned by Tokugawa Ieyasu and given a stipend of 100 koku (bales of rice) and was allowed 10 subordinates. Shigetsugu was also given the title Inaba no Suke which was carried on in succession by each master of the school. 

    Although the larger Goto family received a greater allowance they did not receive any official titles and it appears that the Yoshioka family members were of higher standing. All of their work went directly to the Tokugawa and as a result their work is not often seen. Most of the pieces are not signed and when they are Yoshioka Inaba no Suke is the most typical. Once in a great while the personal name of the master is seen signed. 

    Another interesting fact is that the Honami used the Umetada family to inscribe the gold inlaid inscriptions on swords which they appraised from the Momoyama to the Early Edo period. However swords appraised by the Honami from Genroku (1688) through Kyoho (1735) were inscribed by the Yoshioka family.

1st gen.    Shigetsugu    Kan-ei

2nd gen.    Shigeyoshi               

3rd gen.    Shigenaga                

4th gen.    Shigehiro   Genroku

5th gen    Ekiji                          

  6th gen.    Kiyotsugu                   

                   7th gen.    Terutsugu   1802-1849 held title

        8th gen.    Tsunetsugu                      

  9th gen.    Shigesada      

*Fine Swords and Sword Fittings in the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, Morihiro Ogawa