《Characteristics》
Higo-Tsuba is a sword-guard that was produced mainly in the Kumamoto and Yatsushiro City areas of the Higo province (Higo was a Japanese province in the former administrative divisions which lasted until late 19c since 8c. It was situated in the area now known as Kumamoto prefecture, located in the Kyushu region of southern Japan).

The tsuba is an important metal fitting between the handle and the blade of a sword. It protects the wielder’s hands from the opponent’s sword. The Higo-Tsuba possesses a beautiful pattern on iron that arises naturally from repeated welding, and boasts an open-work design that makes use of damascening techniques. With these intricate features, the Higo-Tsuba sword-guard is not only widely popular in Japan but also of high artistic value.

There were four major metalworking schools in the Higo province, namely, Hayashi, Hirata, Nishigaki and Shimizu. These Higo metalworkers produced the various housings and fittings that facilitated the use and carrying around of a Japanese sword, from the tsuba to the fuchigashira (the decorative collar of the grip and pommel) and the menuki (ornaments on the handle)such as sword-guard, pommel and decorative sword hilt.

The founder of the Hayashi school was Matashichi HAYASHI, a gunsmith who came from Owari　Province (Owari was a former Japanese province. It was situated in the area now known as Aichi Prefecture, located in Chubu region, which is in the central part of Japan.) In the beginning, Matashichi worked for Kiyomasa KATO, who was the Feudal Lord of Higo from 1587 to 1611. After the Kato family was overthrown and had its territories forfeited by the Edo bakufu (the feudal Japanese government from 1600 to 1868), Matashichi worked for the Hosokawa family, which took over as the Feudal Lord of Higo from 1632 to 1871.

Matashichi was highly influenced by Owari Sukashi-Tsuba (Owari style sword-guard with decorative openwork). He also mastered the damascening technique of Katsuyoshi SHŌ AMI, who was a famous metalworker in Kyoto during the Meiji period and is well-known even today. With these influences and techniques, Matashichi created many masterpieces characterized by a brilliant tetsuiro (literally, the colour of iron, referring to an extremely dark shade of green), elaborate openwork and Nunome-zougan (a method of damascening, which involves engraving fine cuts on the base metal surface, usually iron, and driving gold or silver into the grooves. The method is so named as the grooves on the metal surface, extending both vertically and horizontally, resemble a fabric pattern. In Japanese, “nunome” refers to the pattern of fabrics. Nunome-zougan is also as Kyoto style damascening. )

With the Hosokawa family’s rule that begun in 1632, Hikozou HIRATA, the founder of the Hirata school, moved to the Yatsushiro area together with craftsmen who had been brought along by Sansai HOSOKAWA to Higo from Kokura city.　The most distinctive feature of Hirata sword-guards is the use of brass and copper as well as the presence of a decorative collar around the sword guard.

Kanshirou NISHIGAKI, the founder of Nishigaki school, was an apprentice of Hikozou and initially lived in Yatsushiro city. After starting his own business, Kanshirou moved to the craftsman’s town of Kumamoto, where he developed his trade. The Nishigaki school was known for its refined and elegant works created through skillful workmanship.

The founder of Shimizu school, Jinbei SHIMIZU, was Hizokou’s nephew. After Hizokou’s death, Jinbei inherited Hizokou’s residence in Yatsushirofukuro town. Thereafter, Jinbei and his successors identified themselves as “JINGO”. The sword-guards of the Shimizu school are usually made with brass. They are boldly designed and often bear motifs of birds of prey and dragons using the Suemon-zougan damascening technique　(Another damascening technique of separately engraving the crest by placing it on top of the decided pattern, before attaching it to the base metal of the sword-guard).

Aside from the 4 major schools above, there are also many other schools of Higo-Tsuba. It is believed that the different schools were influenced by each other and honed their skills amidst a culture of healthy competition. Consequently, we can see common subjects and techniques in their works that transcend the differing styles of each school.

During the Edo period, Higo sword guards were considered top brand-name products in the Samurai community, so much so that it was often said “For the best katana (Samurai swords), go to Bizen (Bizen was a former Japanese province. It was situated in the area now known as Okayama Prefecture); for the best tsuba, look to Higo. Higo-Tsuba is a world-class work of art from Yatsushiro-town and Kumamoto prefecture.

[Kumamoto prefecture-designated traditional craft]
Credits:Yatsushiro Municipal Museum　- Forest of the Future Museum-

Reviewed by Mavis.C.