It may have been used by silversmiths since the Muromachi period. But in the Momoyama period, a certain Umetada Myoju (1558–1631) emerged to become the founder of the manufacture of so-called "new swords," or shinto, and to rank with Kaneie and Nobuie as a great designer and maker of sword guards. Although he is said to have done metal carving for sword mounts, not a single sword guard that can safely be said to have been carved by him remains.
It may have been utilized by silversmiths since the Muromachi period. Nonetheless, during the Momoyama era, a prominent individual named Umetada Myoju (1558–1631) gained recognition as the originator of "new sword" production, and was acknowledged alongside Kaneie and Nobuie for his outstanding abilities in crafting sword guards. Although he is credited with creating metalwork for sword mounts, no sword guard that can be definitively attributed to him has been found.