Period:

To middle Muromachi age.

Characteristics:

Amongst the armor makers was Munesuke in Kenkyu, who originated the Myochin school and became the founder of that family which existed until the last days of the Tokugawa. The oldest tsuba in existance are made by them, but most of them are later than the 7th Myochin. According to the Myochin family records Munesuke was the descendant of Takenouchi no Sukune, and the restorer of the family although, from the beginning, meanings were twisted with opinions and truth.

Amondst the armor makers were the Horai and Haruta. The Horai have a subordinate lineage with the Myochin, the Haruta do not. Their tsuba were very good. At the end of the Ashikaga period the Saotome School became one of the branches, their work, both in armor and tsuba, was greatly appreciated.

Period:

Middle Muromachi age to Momoyama age.

Characteristics:

After the Jo Judai there were three people: Takayoshi, the younger brother of Yoshinaga, the 14th master; Yoshimichi, the younger brother of Yoshiyasu, the 16th master; and Nobuiye, the 17th master who were known as the "Three Masters." They all worked during the Ashikaga period. With tsuba, many are signed Nobuiye, almost none by Yoshimichi, and few by Takayoshi. Many of Nobuiye's are different from those of the armor makers; the shape is generally mokko and they are thick, so that one can see a change in style in the work of katchushi-mono.

Nobuiye, the 17th master, was very well known as an armor maker as well as a tsuba maker; he established a school of tsuba makers.

Period:

Momoyama age.

Characteristics:

The katchushi of this period were the Myochin, Haruta, Horai (subordinate branch of Myochin), Saotome, and some insignificant schools, none of them were meisaku (distinguished workers). In general they gave up their armor makers style; some of them imitated Nobuiye but remained inferior to him. The Horai School worked in Kaga and their oldest work is dated Tensho (1585) and is signed Horai Munenaga. The examples are very thick ita tsuba with simple perforations.

Period:

Edo age.

Characteristics:

The manufacture of Myochin tsuba was increased in this period. The work of the 22nd generation, Munesuke, who lived during the Genroku era (1688-1704), exists in larger quantities than those of other people which, when compared with others, show large differences: they became very thick and small, roughly forged, with figures in high relief, and many of these have mokume ji in iron; some are signed. The other Myochin School workers scattered throughout the provinces also changed their style: all small and thick, some copies of Nobuiye's work or following the fashion of the day.