About当店について

Working along with the fish market,
we are going to celebrate our 150th anniversary thanks to you all
November 2022
Yuka Ogawa



History
1872(meiji5)〜
- 1872(Meiji 5)
1872 To turn swordsmith to Deba knife smithery
“Minamoto no Masahisa” was a swordsmith for generations in Osaka and turned to the Deba knife smithery in 1872. At the same time his second son, Nakamura Tetsujiro, started up the business of the forged knife in Tokyo and was introduced as “the first Azuma Minamoto no Masahisa”. Then he opened the shop in Nihonbashi Honcho where the fish market was at that time and the factory (Masahisa Knife Manufacturer) in Kanda Konnyacho.- Meiji early 40’s
1907~ To introduce western style knife manufacturing process from overseas
Sumida Taro, an engineer, was sent to Europe and the United States to learn and obtain the western style knife manufacturing process. To add to the usual Japanese kitchen knife production, they started producing knives in the western style process by machine which we use at the present Masahisa Engineering to this day. This process originated the Gyuto knife in the Kanto region. Many of engineers who learned the process became independently able to produce Gyuto and greatly contributed to the rapid spread of Gyuto in Japan.
The Maguro bocho(Tuna knife) was developed to cut with keeping its length without cutting tune vertically. Thanks to the development the present style of filleting knife (O-bocho), a giant knife, a long knife (Naga bocho) over 1350mm long) was established. These knives predated the present Maguro bocho and filleting knife.
1912(Taisho1)〜
- 1912(Taisho1)
Our original banknote paper cutter, which was developed by using our knowledge and skills of the machine made knives was supplied to the Japanese Mint.
- 1918(Taisho7)
Ogawa Goro-zaemon (born in 1903 and died in 1970) started working and became the successor by the name of Azuma Minamoto no Masahisa as the second generation.
- 1923(Taisho12)
Both of the shop and the factory were destroyed by fire caused by the Grate Kanto Earthquake.
The shop was reconstructed at Nihonbashi Honcho as it was before and the factory was transferred to Takadanobaba.
1930(Showa5)〜
- 1930(Showa5)
With the relocation of the fish market to Tsukiji, we opened the Tsukiji shop, and after that it became our main shop
The machine made knife section was in charge of manufacturing giant tuna knives and at the same time delivered tuna specialty filleting knives to the most of customers related to Maguro (Tuna)business at the fish market.
In addition, we also made and delivered the “Showa Shinto(new sword)” under the designation of the Army during the World War Ⅱ- 1944(Showa19)
Our factory in Takadanobaba was burnt down by the World WarⅡ and moved to Kanamecho and then Shimo-ochiai.
- 1952(Showa27)
Ogawa Mitsuo (born in 1933 and died in 2011), the first son of Ogawa Goro-zaemon the second generation, started working and was trained as a successor. He was trained in both forging and sharpening knife under his seniors according to the policy through the ages as a knife forging craftsman to preserve the traditional sword smithery method.
- 1964(Showa39)
Ogawa Mitsuo, the third generation married and moved to Tsukiji and was introduced as “Asuma Minamoto no Masahisa” the third generation.
2001(Heisei21)〜
- 2009(Heisei21)
Ishikawa Yuki, an apprentice of the third generation, started working and trained under the third generation, at the same time he studied all the process of knife making under the first Azuma Minamoto no Masahisa’s apprentices for generations.
- 2011(Heisei23)
The third generation passed away after he designated his eldest daughter, Ogawa Yuka, as the fourth generation and Ishikawa Yuki as his successor.
- 2016(Heisei28)
2016 Reorganization
Ogawa Yuka became Representative Director and Ishikawa Yuki became Managing Director.
In order to participate in related businesses accompanying the wholesale market relocation, Azuma Minamoto no Masahisa was renamed and reorganized into Azuma Masahisa Shoten Co., Ltd.- 2018(Heisei30)
2018 Toyosu Market opened Ishikawa Yuki officially started working as the fifth generation of “Azuma Minamoto no Masahisa” in this year.
We entered the Tsukiji Commercial Cooperative of the Tokyo Central Wholesale Market. Along with the relocation of the market to Toyosu, we opened the Toyosu Market shop on the 4th floor of the Toyosu Market Fisheries Wholesale Ground Building “Uokawagishi Yokocho”.- 2022年(Reiwa4)
2022 Masahisa will celebrate the 150th anniversary of its founding as a swordsmith
We are grateful that we will be able to celebrate the 150th anniversary of its founding
because of your patronage over the years.
We look forward to your continuous support.
Main Store

Address | 4-13-7 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0045 [See Google Maps] |
---|---|
Tel/Fax | 03-3541-8619 |
Business hours | 5:30〜15:00 |
Regular holiday | Sundays, national holidays, market holidays (with exception) *Please refer the Business Days Calendar for details |
For customers coming by train
- 5 minutes walk from Tsukiji Station on the Hibiya Line
- About 10 minutes walk from Shintomicho Station on the Yurakucho Line
- About 5 minutes walk from Tsukiji Market Station on the Oedo Line
For customers coming by bus
- About 5 minutes walk from the Tsukiji Sanchome bus stop
- About 3 minutes walk from the Tsukiji 6-chome bus stop

Toyosu Market

Address | 6-5-1 Toyosu, Koto-ku, Tokyo Block 6 Fisheries Intermediate Wholesale Market Building 4F 68 135-0061 [See Google Maps] |
---|---|
Tel | 03-6633-0878 |
Business hours | 5:00〜12:00 |
Regular holiday | Sundays, national holidays, market holidays (with exception) *Please refer the Business Days Calendar for details |
For customers coming by train
- About 15 minutes on foot from Yurikamome Shijo-mae Station
For customers coming by bus
- About a 15-minute walk from the bus stop “Fishery Intermediate Wholesale Building”
- About a 20-minute walk from the Toyosu Market bus stop

Business day calendar
Please check the business days before visiting.
[Main Store] 5:30-15:00
[Toyosu Market] 5:00-12:00
■Closed day■Open only Main Store(9:00~14:00)、
Toyosu Market closed day