A letter from Samurai Naoe Kanetsugu to Lieutenant Kiuemon Yamada
April 20 (Year unknown)
This is a letter regarding gun manufacturing, written by Naoe Kanetsugu (1560～1620), who supported the feudal lord Uegugi during Japan’s Sengoku (warring states) period and later played a key role in the Yonezawa clan coming to power. He indicated that 40 to 50 guns should be sent and asked the gunsmiths to support the apprentices they were headhunting from the area around Kyoto and Osaka. This is clear evidence that guns were manufactured under Kanetsugu’s command and that he hired craftsmen to reinforce the manufacturing system. Legend has it that after Kanetsugu moved to Yonezawa, a secret factory to manufacture guns was constructed and a gun shop town was established, in the castle town that was home to gunsmiths.