Tameshigiri: Exploring the History of Yamada Asaemon

Yamada Asaemon was the title held by the heads of the Japanese Yamada family, who served the shogunate as sword inspectors and executioners during the Edo period.

As early as the 16th century, individuals were renowned for their tameshigiri technique, such as General Tani Moriyoshi (谷 衛 好) and his son Moritomo (衛 友). As explained by the Jesuit Luís Fróis in a treatise on the differences between Japan and Europe in 1585, the testing of sword sharpness was not performed on animals but on people. Usually, a certification was engraved on the tang to attest to it.

The profession of tameshigiri did not begin until Yamano Eikyū. He also participated in executions and is said to have beheaded over 6000 convicts as an executioner in Edo (present-day Tokyo). His son Kanjuro continued his father’s profession to also become a katana tester. After Kanjūrō’s death, the position passed to his son. Eventually, due to an eye problem, he proposed that his younger brother be named as an adopted son and successor, but his request was rejected, leading the family to resign from government service.

As a result, Yamano’s students took over their work. One of them was the Ronin Yamada Aseomon Sadatake (1657-1716). In 1716, he requested permission to pass on his knowledge to his son as a potential successor. The request was granted, and henceforth only the Yamada family held this position in Edo. For a Ronin, this was an extraordinary professional leap. However, they did not receive any fief.

After the fall of the Tokugawa in 1868, Yamada Asaemon (8th generation) and his brother joined the new Meiji government as executioners. However, by 1870, sword testing on corpses and organ extraction were prohibited. In 1880, hanging execution was introduced. Two years later, decapitation was abolished. In 1882, the last Yamada resigned from government service.