Description
The History of Tobizuka Seihashisho “飛庄製作所”
Yamagata’s forged-blade tradition dates back centuries. It is said to have begun during the Northern and Southern Courts period, when Shiba Kaneyori (ancestor of Mogami Yoshiaki), acting under orders from Ashikaga Takauji, entered Dewa Province and formed a blacksmith town under the protection of the local lord, supported by retained smiths. Over time, many renowned swords, craftsmen, and master smiths emerged from this region. The current head of the family is the 10th-generation successor to a distinguished blade-smith line founded in Bunka 1 (1804). In 1930 (Showa 5), Tobizuka Shojiro established Tobizuka Seihashisho and began manufacturing pruning shears and gardening shears. After relocating the factory three times, the workshop moved to its current facility in Hinoki-cho about forty years ago. The craft is now carried on by the fourth generation of shear artisans.
Products created through these time-honored methods, outstanding craftsmanship, and scientific inspection methods (with cooperation from the Yamagata Industrial Technology Center) are known for their distinctive sharpness and long-lasting cutting performance, and are highly regarded not only in Japan but also overseas.