Goto Mitsutsugu was a metalworker of the early Edo period.
Background
Goto Mitsutsugu was born in 1571. His personal name was Shozaburo, and he was said to have borne the surname Yamazaki, though his origins are uncertain. He was a native of Kyoto. The founder of the Goto family, Yujo, was an expert in metal-carving who served Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa and later retired to devote his time to fashioning metal decorations and fixtures for swords. His descendents carried on his work and prospered.
Education
Mitsutsugu became a disciple of Tokujo, the fifth head of the house, specializing in metal-carving and the minting of coins.
Career
Around 1595, when Goto Tokujo was ordered by Toyotomi Hidcyoshi to leave Kyoto and go to the Kanto region, Mitsutsugu went in his place, proceeding to Edo, where Tokugawa Ieyasu had his castle. He was given a house at Hommachi Itchome, a site now occupied by the Bank of Japan, and put in charge of the Kinza, an office that handled the minting of gold coins. In addition to supervising the minting and appraisal of gold coins, he also assisted in the setting up of the Ginza, an office that did the same thing for silver coins.
The first Shozaburo, Mitsutsugu, also served Tokugawa Ieyasu as an advisor on questions of foreign trade.
Connections
The grandson of Toslnuji Nagai, the Lord of Kano (Gifu Prefecture). Toshiuji was driven out of his castle by one of his followers and became a farmer in 5mi (Shiga Prefecture).