Ichinomiya Nagatsune: A Kyoto Master of Metal and Spirit Ichinomiya Nagatsune, a name now whispered with reverence in the world of Japanese art, was born on the fifth day of the fourth month of Kyōhō six (1721) in Echizen province – a humble beginning for an artisan who would become one of Kyoto’s most celebrated metalworkers. His early life was marked by a unique apprenticeship: he was adopted into the household of a Kyoto kinko artist, immersing himself in the traditions of shaping and transforming metal from a young age. This formative experience laid the foundation for his exceptional ta…