Yoshiyuki 吉幸 was born in 1814 in the village of Osa 小佐, in Izumo 出雲 province, present-day Shimane 島根 province. His civil name was Shimizu Tōshirō (清水藤四郎). His father was Yamazaki Heiemon Yoshihiro 山崎平右衛門吉広, blacksmith from the village of Shimoyamasa mura 下山佐村, Nogi District, in present-day Shimane Province.
He then moved to the town of Yonago 米子 in Hoki 伯耆 Province, present-day Tottori Prefecture, to study with the blacksmith Shimizu Enzo Masayoshi 清水圓造正吉, originally from Hakushu 伯州 Province.
In 1844, at the age of 30, he was allowed to make sabres in Hoki but he also forged in his home province Izumo, neighboring that of Hoki. These productions date from 1853 untilthe end of the samurai era, caused by the passage to the Meiji era in 1868 and the Hatorei(prohibition of wearing a saber) in 1876.

During his career, he served the domain of Izumo as a samurai and blacksmith. At that time, Izumo was known for having a very high quality production of Tamahagane, which ensured Yoshiyuki a regular supply of very good steel.

The province of Shimane is today the only province in Japan to still have a traditional manufacturing of Tamahagane, the steel used to make Japanese swords. This furnace, Tatara, is located in Yokota 横田, Nita district, eastern Shimane prefecture.

This blade was forged in 1853, Yoshiyuki was 39 years old. Renowned blacksmith in his time, his swords are considered valuable and difficult to find today. He died in 1886.