Lot Essay
Tetsugendo Shoraku, first generation, was a student of Kuniharu and called himself Naoshige. He was noted for his skilful forging and application of sabi.
He first used the go Tetsugendo with the character "gen" from Minamoto, this being the abbreviation of Tetsuhei Genbei. Later he changed to Tetsugendo as signed on this fuchi. The name Shoraku was probably given at his teihatsu ceremony [removing hair] when he became nyudo. Although he is one of the three great Kyoto masters, together with Nagatsune and Mitsuoki, he carved metalwork for less than ten years.
He first used the go Tetsugendo with the character "gen" from Minamoto, this being the abbreviation of Tetsuhei Genbei. Later he changed to Tetsugendo as signed on this fuchi. The name Shoraku was probably given at his teihatsu ceremony [removing hair] when he became nyudo. Although he is one of the three great Kyoto masters, together with Nagatsune and Mitsuoki, he carved metalwork for less than ten years.