Swords of exception Ritsuo Yanagita Swordsmith Born November 25, 1947 (Toushou name: Fukutsugu) • Freshman year in high school, decided to become a Sword smith and a Japanese Swords Judge, and began studying from Master Arai in Oyama • Apri1 19, 1967 went to Kanagawa ken to become a deshi of Oukubo sensei, a sword maker • January, 1968 became a deshi of Nagayama sword burnish in Ooiso machi • March 1971 graduated from Tokai University with the department of engineering, precision course • May 5, 1972 the sword smith name of Fukutsugu conferred by teacher • September 1972,received menkyo-kaiden (a expert license for making of Japanese swords) from the Agency for Cultural Affairs and opened Yanagita Research Institute (making and burnishing of Japanese art swords) • July 1975, received okuden ( license to appraise Japanese Swords in tradition ) of Honami • March 1976, chosen as an intangible cultural treasure holder in Ninomiya machi • A foundation Japanese Art Sword Protection Association competition of sword burnishing won award and achieved rate over the standard seven times • 1986-88 All Japan Sword Drawing Meet Champion and won prime Minister's award • November 1990, burnished the Emperor's sword, which is the symbol of Japan • July 1994, opened the Samurai Sword Museum • March 2000, Ritsuo Yanagita became a Honorary Doctor of Engineering e-mail: meitou@d2.dion.ne.jp