Masayoshi was born in 1733. He was the son of the second generation Masayoshi (the character for "Yoshi" is different). Masayoshi's family name was Ichiji and he had three first names, Jiemon, Kakazo, and Shoei. Masayoshi was employed by the Satsuma clan and used the inscription, "Satsuma Kanko", in his signature in 1793. This means official smith of the Satsuma clan.

He received the title, "Hoki no Kami", at the same time as the other famous Satsuma smith, Motohira. From that time on, Masayoshi changed the character, "Yoshi", used in his name to another character with the same pronunciation. The last dated blades made by this smith were made in Bunka 14 (1817). He died in 1818 at the age of 86.

Masayoshi was one of the two master smiths of Satsuma in Shinshinto times. It is said that more than forty students studied under him. The school includes his son, Masakuni, and Yoshimoto. In this school the characters, "Yoshi"or "Masa" are commonly used by students as part of their smith names.

SUGATA:	Most of his blades have a wide mihaba, thick kasane, and an o-gissaki. Of course there are always exceptions. The sori will be graceful and will be everything from koshi-zori to saka-zori. Many blades with have hira-niku.
JITETSU:	The grain of the steel is a fine itame with an occasional area of mokume. There will be strong ji-nie and chikei. The shinogi-ji is usually masame.
HAMON:	The hamon, as a whole, with be of nie structure. Notare midare and gunome midare will be found in a wide yakihaba. In his early years, suguha hotsure can be found. Numerous hataraki such as sunagashi, nijuba, imozuru, etc. can be found.
BOSHI:	Generally ko-maru, hakikake, nie-kuzure, etc. A long kaeri will often be found.
NAKAGO:	The cutting edge side of the nakago bulges resembling funagata. The mune side of the nakago will, on occasion, show some slight rounding. The tip will be iriyamagata or kengyo generally. The yasurime is kiri.
HORIMONO:	Bo-hi (single grooves) are found. Other horimono is rarely seen on his works.
MEI:	Usually nagamei. As stated, after around 1790, he changed the second character in his name (Yoshi) to a different kanji with the same reading. This character can also be read "Yuki". A great many of his works are also dated and some give his age. Typical signatures are: SASSHU JU MASAYOSHI SATSUMA KANKO TAIRA MASAYOSHI HOKI NO KAMI TAIRA ASON MASAYUKI

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