was a medieval Japanese blacksmith widely acclaimed as Japan's greatest swordsmith. He created swords and daggers, known in Japanese as ''

tachi A is a type of sabre-like traditionally made Japanese sword (''nihonto'') worn by the samurai class of feudal Japan. ''Tachi'' and '' uchigatana'' ("''katana''") generally differ in length, degree of curvature, and how they were worn when she ...

'' and ''

tantō A is a traditionally made Japanese knife () that was worn by the samurai class of feudal Japan. The dates to the Heian period, when it was mainly used as a weapon but evolved in design over the years to become more ornate. were used in tradit ...

'', in the ''Sōshū'' school. However, many of his forged ''tachi'' were made into ''

katana A is a Japanese sword characterized by a curved, single-edged blade with a circular or squared guard and long grip to accommodate two hands. Developed later than the ''tachi'', it was used by samurai in feudal Japan and worn with the edge fa ...

'' by cutting the tang (''nakago'') in later times ("suriage"). For this reason, his only existing works are ''katana'', ''tantō'', and ''

wakizashi The is one of the traditionally made Japanese swords ('' nihontō'') worn by the samurai in feudal Japan. Its name refers to the practice of wearing it inserted through one's ''obi'' or sash at one's side, whereas the larger '' tachi'' sword wa ...

''.相州伝の名工「正宗」.
Nagoya Japanese Sword Museum Touken World. No exact dates are known for Masamune's life. It is generally agreed that he made most of his swords between 1288 and 1328. Some stories list his family name as , but some experts believe this is a fabrication to enhance the standing of the

Tokugawa family The is a Japanese dynasty which produced the Tokugawa shoguns who ruled Japan from 1603 to 1868 during the Edo period. It was formerly a powerful ''daimyō'' family. They nominally descended from Emperor Seiwa (850–880) and were a branch of ...

. Masamune is believed to have worked in

Sagami Province was a Provinces of Japan, province of Japan located in what is today the central and western Kanagawa Prefecture.Louis-Frédéric, Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "''Kanagawa''" at . Sagami Province bordered the provinces of Izu Province, Izu ...

during the last part of the

Kamakura period The is a period of History of Japan, Japanese history that marks the governance by the Kamakura shogunate, officially established in 1192 in Kamakura, Kanagawa, Kamakura by the first ''shōgun'' Minamoto no Yoritomo after the conclusion of the G ...

(1288–1328), and it is thought that he was trained by swordsmiths from Bizen and Yamashiro provinces, such as Saburo Kunimune, Awataguchi Kunitsuna and Shintōgo Kunimitsu. He was the father of Hikoshiro Sadamune, also a famous Sōshū master. An award for swordsmiths called the Masamune Prize is awarded at the Japanese Sword Making Competition. Although not awarded every year, it is presented to a swordsmith who has created an exceptional work.

Style

The swords of Masamune possess a reputation for superior beauty and quality, remarkable in a period where the

steel Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon that demonstrates improved mechanical properties compared to the pure form of iron. Due to steel's high Young's modulus, elastic modulus, Yield (engineering), yield strength, Fracture, fracture strength a ...

necessary for swords was often impure. He is considered to have brought to perfection the art of . Masamune studied under Shintōgo Kunimitsu and made blades in ''suguha'' (straight temper line), but he made '' notare hamon'', where the finish on the leading edge of blade slowly undulates where it was

quenched In materials science, quenching is the rapid cooling of a workpiece in water, gas, oil, polymer, air, or other fluids to obtain certain material properties. A type of heat treating, quenching prevents undesired low-temperature processes, such a ...

. There are also some blades with ''ko-midare'' (small irregularities), a style which appears to have been copied from the Old Bizen and

Hōki Province was a former province in the area that is today the western half of Tottori Prefecture in the San'in region of Japan. Hōki was bordered by Inaba, Mimasaka, Izumo, Bitchū, and Bingo Provinces. Its abbreviated form name was . In terms of ...

styles. His works are well-characterized by striking ''chikei'' (dark lines following the grain pattern in the steel above the hamon), ''kinsuji'' (lightning shaped lines of nie), and ''nie'' (crystals of martensite embedded in a pearlite matrix). Swords created by Masamune often are referred to with the smith's name (as with other pieces of artwork) and often with a name for the individual sword as well. The "Honjo Masamune", a symbol of the

Tokugawa shogunate The Tokugawa shogunate, also known as the was the military government of Japan during the Edo period from 1603 to 1868. The Tokugawa shogunate was established by Tokugawa Ieyasu after victory at the Battle of Sekigahara, ending the civil wars ...

and passed down from

shōgun , officially , was the title of the military rulers of Japan during most of the period spanning from 1185 to 1868. Nominally appointed by the Emperor, shoguns were usually the de facto rulers of the country, except during parts of the Kamak ...

to shōgun, is perhaps the best known Masamune sword. Signed works of Masamune are rare. The examples "Fudo Masamune", "Kyōgoku Masamune", and "Daikoku Masamune" are accepted as his genuine works. Judging from his style, he was active from the late

to the

Nanboku-chō period The , also known as the Northern and Southern Courts period, was a period in Japanese history between 1336-1392 CE, during the formative years of the Ashikaga shogunate, Muromachi (Ashikaga) shogunate. Ideologically, the two courts fought for 50 ...

Swords

Many of his forged ''tachi'' were later made into ''katana'' by cutting the tang (''nakago''). For this reason, his only existing works are ''katana'', ''tantō'', and ''wakizashi''. Thus, cutting the tang of an old ''tachi'' and making it into a ''katana'' according to the popularity of the ''katana'' was called ''suriage'', which was common in Japanese history.

''Kyōhō Meibutsuchō''

The ''Kyōhō Meibutsuchō'' is a catalogue of famous Japanese swords commissioned by

Tokugawa Yoshimune was the eighth ''shōgun'' of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan, ruling from 1716 until his abdication in 1745. He was the son of Tokugawa Mitsusada, the grandson of Tokugawa Yorinobu, and the great-grandson of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Yoshimune is know ...

, the eighth

shogun , officially , was the title of the military aristocracy, rulers of Japan during most of the period spanning from 1185 to 1868. Nominally appointed by the Emperor of Japan, Emperor, shoguns were usually the de facto rulers of the country, exc ...

of the

. It was compiled by the Hon'ami clan, renowned sword appraisers and polishers, and documents the characteristics and provenance of each blade. The catalogue also includes detailed drawings of each sword’s shape and '' hamon'' (temper pattern), faithfully reproduced on paper. Although many of the most celebrated swords in Japanese history are included, not all famous blades appear in the listing. The original manuscript has not survived, but several historical copies exist. Among these are four versions that begin with the ''tantō'' Atsushi Tōshirō, and three that begin with the ''tantō'' Hirano Tōshirō. Swords listed in the ''Kyōhō Meibutsuchō'' are traditionally referred to as ''meibutsu'', meaning "celebrated item", and are often known by names that include this prefix, such as the Meibutsu Hyūga Masamune. All five of the Tenka-Goken (Five Great Swords under Heaven), which have historically often been regarded as the finest Japanese swords, are listed in the ''Kyōhō Meibutsuchō'' and are referred to with the prefix ''meibutsu''. The ''Kyōhō Meibutsuchō'' lists 248 famous swords. Among them, 80 had already been lost during the

Siege of Osaka A siege () . is a military blockade of a city, or fortress, with the intent of conquering by attrition, or by well-prepared assault. Siege warfare (also called siegecrafts or poliorcetics) is a form of constant, low-intensity conflict charact ...

and are included only as historical records. Masamune is represented by 59 swords, 18 of which had already been lost at the time the catalog was compiled. This accounts for an overwhelming one quarter of the entire list, making Masamune the most prominently featured swordsmith in the catalog. is represented by 34 swords, 18 of which had been lost. Sadamune is represented by 22 swords, 3 of which had been lost, and is represented by 22 swords, 11 of which had been lost. These four smiths are recorded in far greater numbers than others. As a result, Masamune, Yoshimitsu, and Yoshihiro came to be regarded as the Tenka-Sansaku (天下三作), meaning "Three Great Smiths under Heaven." Later, from the late Edo period to the

Taishō era The was a period in the history of Japan dating from 30 July 1912 to 25 December 1926, coinciding with the reign of Emperor Taishō. The new emperor was a sickly man, which prompted the shift in political power from the old oligarchic group ...

, Hon'ami Kōjo and several sword scholars compiled supplemental volumes to the original ''Kyōhō Meibutsuchō''. These supplements added 2 swords attributed to Masamune, 5 to Yoshimitsu, 2 to Sadamune, and 1 to Yoshihiro.

Designation of cultural properties by the Japanese government

As of August 2024, the

Agency for Cultural Affairs The is a special body of the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). It was set up in 1968 to promote Japanese arts and culture. The agency's budget for FY 2018 rose to ¥107.7 billion. Overview The age ...

of Japan has designated 122 Japanese swords as

National Treasures A national treasure is a structure, artifact, object or cultural work that is officially or popularly recognized as having particular value to the nation, or representing the ideals of the nation. The term has also been applied to individuals or ...

and 790 as Important Cultural Properties. Among those attributed to Masamune, 9 are National Treasures and 10 are Important Cultural Properties. These include 4 ''katana'' and 5 ''tantō'' among the former, and 6 ''katana'', 3 ''tantō'', and 1 ''wakizashi'' among the latter. The Honjō Masamune was designated a National Treasure under the former system established by a 1929 law, but its whereabouts became unknown in 1946. Since the Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties, which forms the basis for the current designations of National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties, was enacted in 1950, the Honjō Masamune is not designated under the current system and is not included in the official count of National Treasures. Under the current system, National Treasures designated under the former system are regarded as equivalent to Important Cultural Properties. Accordingly, they are not included in official statistics, but may still be considered part of that category. Several of Masamune's swords have been designated as Important Art Objects (''Jūyō Bijutsuhin''). This designation was established under a 1933 law enacted to prevent the export of culturally significant artworks from Japan. At the time, the classification of Important Cultural Property did not yet exist, so these objects were effectively regarded as "quasi-National Treasures." With the enactment of the Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties in 1950, the 1933 law was repealed, and its certification system was reviewed. Items deemed of lower value had their designation revoked, while those considered of higher value were elevated to the newly created Important Cultural Property status. Others retained their designation as Important Art Objects. The 1929 law, under which National Treasures had been designated, was also repealed, and all former National Treasures under that system were reclassified as Important Cultural Properties. As a result, under the current system, National Treasures from the prewar era are regarded as equivalent in value to Important Cultural Properties, and only the most outstanding among them were subsequently re-designated as National Treasures. Although no new Important Art Objects have been designated since the 1933 law was repealed, the classification remains valid and is still regarded as a rank below Important Cultural Property. Among the nine swords by Masamune that have been designated as National Treasures, the only one not listed in the ''Kyōhō Meibutsuchō'' and therefore not considered a ''Meibutsu'' is the Tsugaru Masamune.

National Treasure under the former system

Honjō Masamune (''katana'', ''meibutsu'')

The ''Honjō Masamune''http://internal.tbi.net/~max/ff9ref2.htm History of Masamune by Jim Kurrasch represented the Tokugawa shogunate during most of the

Edo period The , also known as the , is the period between 1600 or 1603 and 1868 in the history of Japan, when the country was under the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate and some 300 regional ''daimyo'', or feudal lords. Emerging from the chaos of the Sengok ...

and was passed down from one ''shōgun'' to another. It is one of the best known of the swords created by Masamune and is believed to be among the finest Japanese swords ever made. It was made a Japanese National Treasure (''Kokuhō'') in 1939.Masamune, The 13th-Century Japanese Swordsmith Who Was The Stuff Of Legends
/ref> Under the current system established by the 1950 Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties, items that had been designated as National Treasures under the prewar system prior to 1950 are regarded as equivalent to Important Cultural Properties. The name Honjō probably came about by the sword's connection to General Honjō Shigenaga (1540–1614) who gained the sword after a battle in 1561. Shigenaga was attacked by Umanosuke who already possessed a number of trophy heads. Umanosuke struck Shigenaga with the Honjō Masamune which split his helmet, but he survived and took the sword as a prize. The blade had a number of chips from the great battle but was still usable. It was kept by Shigenaga until he was sent to

Fushimi Castle , also known as or Fushimi-Momoyama Castle, is a Japanese castle located in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto. Fushimi Castle was constructed from 1592 to 1594 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi at the end of the Sengoku period as his retirement residen ...

around 1592. Shigenaga was later forced to sell the sword to

Toyotomi Hidetsugu was a during the Sengoku period of Japan. He was the nephew and retainer of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the unifier and ruler of Japan from 1590 to 1598. Despite being Hideyoshi's closest adult, male relative, Hidetsugu was accused of atrocities and at ...

, Toyotomi Hideyoshi's nephew and retainer. It was bought for 13 Mai, 13 ōban, which was 13 large gold coins. The blade was later valued in the Kyoho Meibutsu Cho at 1,000 Mai. It then went to Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Shimazu Yoshihiro, again to Hideyoshi,

Tokugawa Ieyasu Tokugawa Ieyasu (born Matsudaira Takechiyo; 31 January 1543 – 1 June 1616) was the founder and first ''shōgun'' of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan, which ruled from 1603 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. He was the third of the three "Gr ...

Tokugawa Yorinobu was a Japanese ''daimyō'' of the early Edo period. Born under the name Nagatomimaru (長福丸), he was the 10th son of Tokugawa Ieyasu, by his concubine Kageyama-dono. On December 8, 1603, Yorinobu received the fief of Mito, then rated at 2 ...

, and finally Tokugawa Ietsuna. It remained in the Kishū Tokugawa family, and this ownership continued after the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate (1868). The last known owner was Tokugawa Iemasa at the end of World War II. Under the United States occupation at the end of World War II, all production of nihontō with edges was banned except under police or government permit. The Americans required that all swords be surrendered to the Foreign Liquidation Commission. Tokugawa Iemasa turned in the Honjō Masamune and 13 other "prized heirloom" swords to a police station at Mejiro in December 1945.Kanban: Traditional Shop Signs of Japan
/ref> In January 1946, the Mejiro police gave the swords to a man identified as "Sgt. Coldy Bimore" (possibly a garbled phonetic spelling of the man's name) of the Foreign Liquidations Commission of AFWESPAC (Army Forces, Western Pacific). Although the NCO to whom it was delivered is identified, to date its fate and current location still remains unknown. The Honjō Masamune is the most important of the missing Japanese swords. Only vague theories exist as to the location of the sword.

National Treasures

Kanze Masamune (''katana'', ''meibutsu'')

The name "Kanze Masamune" originates from the fact that the ''katana'' was handed down through the Kanze clan, the hereditary heads of the Noh theatre tradition. The reason why the Kanze clan came to possess the ''katana'' is unknown. However, since they are descendants of Kan'ami and Zeami, who established Noh under the patronage of

Ashikaga Yoshimitsu was the third '' shōgun'' of the Ashikaga shogunate, ruling from 1368 to 1394 during the Muromachi period of Japan. Yoshimitsu was Ashikaga Yoshiakira's third son but the oldest son to survive, his childhood name being Haruō (). Yoshimitsu ...

, it is possible that the ''katana'' was bestowed upon the Kanze clan by Yoshimitsu. In the late 16th century, the seventh head of the Kanze clan, Kanze Sōsetsu, approached

, a powerful ''

daimyo were powerful Japanese magnates, feudal lords who, from the 10th century to the early Meiji period in the middle 19th century, ruled most of Japan from their vast hereditary land holdings. They were subordinate to the shogun and nominally to ...

'' at the time, and presented the ''katana'' to him. The ''katana'' was later given to the Honda clan as part of the bridal trousseau of

Senhime , or Lady Sen, was the eldest daughter of the ''shōgun'' Tokugawa Hidetada and later the wife of Toyotomi Hideyori. She was remarried to Honda Tadatoki after the death of her first husband. Following the death of her second husband, she late ...

, daughter of

Tokugawa Hidetada was the second ''shōgun'' of the Tokugawa dynasty, who ruled from 1605 until his abdication in 1623. He was the third son of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Early life (1579–1593) Tokugawa Hidetada was born to Tokugawa Ieyasu and the Lady Saigō on May ...

, the second

of the

, when she married Honda Tadatoki. After Tadatoki's death, the ''katana'' was returned to the Tokugawa shogunal family. Following the

Meiji Restoration The , referred to at the time as the , and also known as the Meiji Renovation, Revolution, Regeneration, Reform, or Renewal, was a political event that restored Imperial House of Japan, imperial rule to Japan in 1868 under Emperor Meiji. Althoug ...

, the last shogun,

Tokugawa Yoshinobu Kazoku, Prince was the 15th and last ''shōgun'' of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan. He was part of a movement which aimed to reform the aging shogunate, but was ultimately unsuccessful. He resigned his position as shogun in late 1867, while ai ...

, presented the sword to

Prince Arisugawa Taruhito was a Japanese career officer in the Imperial Japanese Army, who became the 9th head of the line of '' shinnōke'' cadet branches of the Imperial Family of Japan on September 9, 1871. Early life Prince Arisugawa Taruhito was born in Kyoto in ...

. It later became part of the collection of the

Tokyo National Museum The or TNM is an art museum in Ueno Park in the Taitō wards of Tokyo, ward of Tokyo, Japan. It is one of the four museums operated by the , is considered the oldest national museum and the largest art museum in Japan. The museum collects, prese ...

Nakatsukasa Masamune (''katana'', ''meibutsu'')

Nakatsukasa Masamune is a sword once owned by

Honda Tadakatsu , also called Honda Heihachirō (本多平八郎) was a Japanese samurai, general, and daimyo of the late Sengoku through early Edo periods, who served Tokugawa Ieyasu. Honda Tadakatsu was one of the Tokugawa Four Heavenly Kings (Shitennō) a ...

, a prominent general who served Tokugawa Ieyasu. The nickname of the ''katana'' derives from Honda's honorary court title, Nakatsukasa-taifu, and it is also known as Kuwana Masamune, named after the

Kuwana Domain 250px, Reconstructed portion of Kuwana Castle was a Japanese feudal domain under the Tokugawa shogunate of Edo period Japan, located in Ise Province. It was centered on Kuwana Castle in what is now the city of Kuwana, Mie Prefecture. It was ...

, where he served as the first ''daimyō''. Honda Tadakatsu acquired the ''katana'' through the mediation of Hon'ami Kōtoku, a renowned sword appraiser. The tang (''nakago'') bears an inlaid gold inscription (''kinzōgan'') of both the name Masamune and that of the Hon'ami clan, who certified the sword's authenticity. In 1606, the ''katana'' was presented to Tokugawa Ieyasu, and an additional gold inlay was added to the reverse side of the tang, noting that the sword had previously belonged to Honda Tadakatsu. The blade was subsequently inherited by

Tokugawa Yorifusa , also known as Mito Yorifusa, was a Japanese ''daimyō'' of the early Edo period. Biography Known in his childhood as Tsuruchiyomaru (鶴千代丸), he was the eleventh son of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first Tokugawa shogun with his concubine, Ka ...

, Ieyasu’s eleventh son, and later by Tokugawa Ietsuna, the fourth shōgun of the Tokugawa shogunate. In modern times, it was eventually placed in the collection of the Tokyo National Museum.

Tarōsaku Masamune (''katana'', ''meibutsu'')

Tarōsaku Masamune is a ''katana'' once owned by Mizuno Masashige, a samurai who served both

Oda Nobunaga was a Japanese ''daimyō'' and one of the leading figures of the Sengoku period, Sengoku and Azuchi-Momoyama periods. He was the and regarded as the first "Great Unifier" of Japan. He is sometimes referred as the "Demon Daimyō" and "Demo ...

and Tokugawa Ieyasu. The name of the ''katana'' derives from Mizuno’s common name, Tarōsaku. According to tradition, he used this sword during the Battle of Anegawa to cleave through the helmet (''

kabuto ' (兜, 冑) is a type of helmet first used by ancient Japanese warriors that, in later periods, became an important part of the traditional Japanese armour worn by the samurai class and their retainers in History of Japan#Medieval Japan (118 ...

'') and skull of an enemy commander. The ''katana'' was later presented to Tokugawa Ieyasu, who subsequently bestowed it upon the

Maeda clan The was a Japanese samurai clan who occupied most of the Hokuriku region of central Honshū from the end of the Sengoku period through the Meiji Restoration of 1868. The Maeda claimed descent from the Sugawara clan through Sugawara no Kiyotom ...

, rulers of the

Kaga Domain The , also known as the , was a domain of the Tokugawa Shogunate of Japan during the Edo period from 1583 to 1871.Maeda Ikutokukai The is a Japanese public interest corporation (公益法人) established on February 26, 1926, for the management and preservation of the cultural heritage of the Maeda clan, rulers of the Kaga Domain. It is located in Komaba, Meguro, Tokyo. The ...

Foundation, a public interest incorporated foundation.

Tsugaru Masamune (''katana'')

The name "Tsugaru Masamune" originates from the fact that the ''katana'' was passed down through generations of the

Tsugaru clan The was a Japanese samurai clan who ruled the northwestern half of what is now Aomori Prefecture in the Tōhoku region of Japan under the Edo period Tokugawa shogunate. The Tsugaru were ''daimyō'' of Hirosaki Domain and its semi-subsidiary, ...

. Its original owner was Jō Kagemochi, who served under

Takeda Shingen was daimyō, daimyo of Kai Province during the Sengoku period of Japan. Known as "the Tiger of Kai", he was one of the most powerful daimyo of the late Sengoku period, and credited with exceptional military prestige. Shingen was based in a p ...

, and the ''katana'' was later handed down to the Tsugaru clan. In the early Edo period, Hon'ami Kōtoku inscribed the tang with a gold-inlaid inscription (''kinzōgan'') indicating that the ''katana'' had once belonged to Jō Kagemochi. For this reason, the ''katana'' is also sometimes referred to as Jō Izumi no Kami Masamune, using Kagemochi's honorary court title. It is currently housed in the Tokyo National Museum.

Hyuga Masamune (''tantō'', ''meibutsu'')

Hyuga Masamune is considered one of the representative ''tantō'' forged by Masamune.It was originally owned by several generals who served under

Toyotomi Hideyoshi , otherwise known as and , was a Japanese samurai and ''daimyō'' (feudal lord) of the late Sengoku period, Sengoku and Azuchi-Momoyama periods and regarded as the second "Great Unifier" of Japan.Richard Holmes, The World Atlas of Warfare: ...

, and it changed hands among them as a gift during the Toyotomi administration. The known owners included Katada Hirozumi,

Ishida Mitsunari was a Japanese samurai and military commander of the late Sengoku period of Japan. He is probably best remembered as the commander of the Western army in the Battle of Sekigahara following the Azuchi–Momoyama period of the 16th century. He ...

, and Fukuhara Nagataka. At the time, the blade was referred to as Katada Masamune, after its earliest known owner. Following the Tokugawa victory over the Toyotomi forces at the

Battle of Sekigahara The Battle of Sekigahara (Shinjitai: ; Kyūjitai: , Hepburn romanization: ''Sekigahara no Tatakai'') was an important battle in Japan which occurred on October 21, 1600 (Keichō 5, 15th day of the 9th month) in what is now Gifu Prefecture, ...

, Mizuno Katsunari, a general on the Tokugawa side, seized the ''tantō'' from Fukuhara Nagataka, who had been defending Ōgaki Castle. Because of its association with the castle, the blade later became known as Ōgaki Masamune. It should not be confused with another ''katana'' also called the Ōgaki Masamune, which was owned by the Toda clan, the lords of the Ōgaki Domain. Mizuno Katsunari later transferred the blade to the Kishū Tokugawa family as collateral for a debt. In 1652,

presented the ''tantō'' to his son Tokugawa Mitsusada. Mizuno held the honorary court title Hyūga no Kami (Governor of Hyūga Province), and from this title the Kishū Tokugawa family named the blade Hyuga Masamune, passing it down through successive generations under that name. The current ''Japanese sword mountings, koshirae'' (mounting) of this ''tantō'' was made during the

. Approximately sixty years after the end of Tokugawa rule following the

, the ''tantō'' was put up for auction and purchased by the

Mitsui family The is one of the most powerful families of merchants and industrialists in Japan. The Mitsui, Mitsui enterprise (present-day Mitsui Group) was established in 1673 when Mitsui Takatoshi (1622–1694), the son of merchant parents, established Ec ...

for 2,678 yen. It was designated a National Treasure of Japan in 1941, and re-designated under the new Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties in 1952. Today, it is held by the Mitsui Memorial Museum.

Hōchō Masamune (''tantō'', ''meibutsu'')

The "Hōchō" Masamune refers to any one of three particular and unusual ''tantō''Site containing pictures of his blades and a portrait of Masamune
/ref> attributed to Masamune. These ''tantō'' have a wide body, unlike his normal slim and elegant work, making them appear quite similar to a Japanese cooking knife. One of the three blades has a ''gomabashi'' in cutout (''sukashi''). It was restored around 1919 and sold for approximately 10 ''hiki'' (a certain number of '' mon''); this was worth roughly 14¢ US at the time, meaning that the price was remarkably low. Of these three ''tantō'', the one once owned by Ankokuji Ekei is now in the Eisei Bunko Museum, the one formerly belonging to the

Naitō clan is a Japanese samurai kin group. The clan claims its descent from Fujiwara no Hidesato. The Naitō became ''daimyōs'' during the Edo period.Edmond Papinot, Papinot, Jacques Edmond Joseph. (1906). ''Dictionnaire d'histoire et de géographie du J ...

is in a private collection, and the remaining ''tantō'' is held by the

Tokugawa Art Museum The is a private art museum, located on the former '' Ōzone Shimoyashiki'' compound in Nagoya, central Japan. Its collection contains more than 12,000 items, including swords, armor, Noh costumes and masks, lacquer furniture, Chinese and Japane ...

. All three have been designated National Treasures.

Kuki Masamune (''tantō'', ''meibutsu'')

Kuki Masamune is a ''tantō'' once owned by Kuki Moritaka. During the Battle of Sekigahara, Moritaka sided with the Tokugawa forces, while his father,

Kuki Yoshitaka (1542 – November 17, 1600) was a naval commander during Japan's Sengoku Period, under Oda Nobunaga, and later, Toyotomi Hideyoshi. He was also the ninth headmaster of the Kuki family's school of martial arts, Kukishin-ryū and thus a very ski ...

, supported the Toyotomi side under Ishida Mitsunari. Moritaka presented the ''tantō'' to Tokugawa Ieyasu, and after Ieyasu's death, it was inherited by

of the Kishū Tokugawa family, and later by Matsudaira Yoritsune, lord of the Saijō Domain. It is currently housed in the

Hayashibara Museum of Art The is an art museum owned by the Hayashibara Group, and located at 2-7-15 Marunouchi, Kita-ku, Okayama, Japan. It is on the site of a former guesthouse beside the inner moat of Okayama Castle. Its 6,832 square meter interior was designed by Ku ...

Important Cultural Properties

Ishida Masamune (''katana'', ''meibutsu'')

The name "Ishida Masamune" originates from the fact that the ''katana'' was once owned by

. Due to damage on the blade believed to have been caused during combat, it is also known by the nickname Kirikomi Masamune. The word ''kirikomi'' refers to the act of charging into enemy lines with a sword. After Ishida Mitsunari was dismissed from his position as one of the Go-Bugyō (Five Commissioners) and placed under house arrest, he presented this ''katana'' to

Yūki Hideyasu was a Japanese samurai who lived during the Azuchi–Momoyama period, Azuchi–Momoyama and early Edo periods. He was the ''daimyō'' of Fukui Domain in Echizen Province, Echizen. Early life Hideyasu was born as in 1574, the second son of To ...

, the second son of Tokugawa Ieyasu, who was tasked with guarding Mitsunari’s residence at the time. The

Yūki clan is a Japanese samurai kin group.Edmond Papinot, Papinot, Jacques Edmond Joseph. (1906). ''Dictionnaire d’histoire et de géographie du Japon''; Papinot, (2003)"Yūki," ''Nobiliare du Japon'', pp. 71–72 retrieved 2013-5-6. History The Yūki c ...

later changed its name to Matsudaira, and in modern times, after passing through private ownership, the sword eventually came into the collection of the Tokyo National Museum.

Fudo Masamune (''tantō'', ''meibutsu'')

This is one of the few blades signed by Masamune that is not in question as to the signature. It is designated as an Important Cultural Property. It was bought by

in 1601 for 500 Kan and was passed to Shōgun Ieyasu and from him to

Maeda Toshiie was one of the leading generals of Oda Nobunaga following the Sengoku period of the 16th century extending to the Azuchi–Momoyama period. His preferred weapon was a yari and he was known as "Yari no Mataza" (槍の又左), Matazaemon (又左 ...

Maeda Toshitsune was an early-Edo period Japanese samurai, and the 2nd ''daimyō'' of Kaga Domain in the Hokuriku region of Japan, and the 3rd hereditary chieftain of the Maeda clan. Toshitsune was a brother of Maeda Toshinaga and a son of Maeda Toshiie. He ...

presented it again to the shōgun, possibly on his retirement. Later, the sword was handed down among the

Owari Tokugawa The is a branch of the Tokugawa clan, and it is the seniormost house of the '' Gosanke'' ("three honourable houses of the Tokugawa").Fudō Myō-ō, the Buddhist deity which gives this blade its name. The Fudo Masamune is one of the few surviving blades that is known for sure to have been made and signed by the swordsmith and from the early 1600s, it was in the possession of the Owari branch of the Tokugawa clan. It was made primarily for stabbing but with a sharp edge allowing it to be useful for slashing also. It is currently housed in the Tokyo National Museum.

Important Art Objects

Musashi Masamune (''katana'', ''meibutsu'')

A peculiar work of Masamune, once in the possession of the Tokugawa Shogunate through the Kii Domain and gifted to the main Tokugawa family line in Edo in its prime.https://markussesko.com/2013/02/27/the-musashi-masamune-one-blade-four-oshigata/ The Musashi Masamune - One blade, four oshigata It is designated as an Important Art Object. Upon the end of the Tokugawa Era marked by the

Bakumatsu were the final years of the Edo period when the Tokugawa shogunate Meiji Restoration, ended. Between 1853 and 1867, under foreign diplomatic and military pressure, Japan ended its isolationist foreign policy known as and changed from a Feudali ...

, the Musashi Masamune was presented as a gift by Tokugawa Iesato in honor of Yamaoka Tesshū's efforts to facilitate peaceful negotiation with Katsu Kaishū to

Saigō Takamori Saigō Takamori (; 23 January 1828 – 24 September 1877) was a Japanese samurai and politician who was one of the most influential figures in Japanese history. He played a key role in the Meiji Restoration, which overthrew the Tokugawa shogunate ...

, sparing Edo from war and needless destruction; however, Yamaoka was humbled upon being given such a masterpiece, and had passed it down to statesman

Iwakura Tomomi was a Japanese statesman during the Bakumatsu and Meiji period. He was one of the leading figures of the Meiji Restoration, which saw Japan's transition from feudalism to modernism. Born to a noble family, he was adopted by the influential Iw ...

. Soon after seeing it passed from hand to hand throughout the 20th Century, the Musashi Masamune finally made its way to the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai in the year 2000 by Motoo Otsuyasu. The Musashi Masamune is a tachi, measuring 74 cm (2 korai-shaku, 1 sun, 4.2 bun) and noted to have nearly all of the characteristics of Masamune's signature features; though it is debated that its ''o-kissaki'' is not that of his style, it is compared to blades made in his later career, which shows the transition of the Kamakura styles into the Nanbokucho era. It is rumored that, while the blade is named after

Musashi Province was a Provinces of Japan, province of Japan, which today comprises Tokyo, Tokyo Metropolis, most of Saitama Prefecture and part of Kanagawa Prefecture. It was sometimes called . The province encompassed Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Kawasaki and Yokohama. ...

, where Edo and current day Tokyo stands, its origin stems from being once in the possession of

Miyamoto Musashi , was a Japanese swordsman, strategist, artist, and writer who became renowned through stories of his unique double-bladed swordsmanship and undefeated record in his 62 duels. Miyamoto is considered a ''Kensei (honorary title), kensei'' (swo ...

, who is considered Japan's most famous swordsman. The sword is classified as a ''meibutsu''. In 2000, this sword was acquired by the Society for the Preservation of Japanese Art Swords with the assistance of Motoo Otsuyasu.Legendary Japanese swords
/ref>

Others

Kotegiri Masamune (''katana'', ''meibutsu'')

Kotegiri means "Kote cutter". In this case ''kote'' is a contraction of ''yugote'' (弓籠手), an archer's arm-guard. This name comes from when Asakura Ujikage cut an opposing samurai's ''yugote'' in the battle of Toji in Kyôto.

gained possession of this sword and had it shortened to its present length. In 1615, it passed down to the Maeda clan who in 1882 presented it as a gift to

Emperor Meiji , posthumously honored as , was the 122nd emperor of Japan according to the List of emperors of Japan, traditional order of succession, reigning from 1867 until his death in 1912. His reign is associated with the Meiji Restoration of 1868, which ...

, a known sword collector. It is currently housed in the Tokyo National Museum.

Masamune in Harry S. Truman Library (''katana'')

A Masamune was given to

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television *'' Præsident ...

Harry S. Truman Harry S. Truman (May 8, 1884December 26, 1972) was the 33rd president of the United States, serving from 1945 to 1953. As the 34th vice president in 1945, he assumed the presidency upon the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt that year. Subsequen ...

shortly after World War II. It is kept in the

Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum The Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum is the Presidential library system, presidential library and resting place of Harry S. Truman, Harry S Truman, the List of presidents of the United States, 33rd president of the United States ( ...

Legends of Masamune and Muramasa

A legend tells of a test where

Muramasa , commonly known as , was a famous swordsmith who founded the Muramasa school and lived during the Muromachi period (14th to 16th centuries) in Kuwana, Ise Province, Japan (current Kuwana, Mie).Fukunaga, 1993. vol. 5, pp. 166–167. In spite of ...

challenged his master, Masamune, to see who could make a finer sword. They both worked tirelessly, and when both swords were finished, they decided to test the results. The contest was for each to suspend the blades in a small creek with the cutting edge facing against the current. Muramasa's sword cut everything that passed its way; fish, leaves floating down the river, the very air which blew on it. Highly impressed with his pupil's work, Masamune lowered his sword into the current and waited patiently. Only leaves were cut. However, the fish swam right up to it, and the air hissed as it gently blew by the blade. After a while, Muramasa began to scoff at his master for his apparent lack of skill in the making of his sword. Smiling to himself, Masamune pulled up his sword, dried it, and sheathed it. All the while, Muramasa was heckling him for his sword's inability to cut anything. A monk, who had been watching the whole ordeal, walked over and bowed low to the two swordmasters. He then began to explain what he had seen. In another account of the story, both blades cut the leaves that went down on the river's current equally well, but the leaves would stick to the blade of Muramasa whereas they would slip on past Masamune's after being sliced. Alternatively, both leaves were cut, but those cut by Masamune's blade would reform as it traveled down the stream. Yet another version has leaves being sliced by Muramasa's blade while the leaves were repelled by Masamune's, and another again has leaves being sliced by Muramasa's blade and healed by Masamune's. In yet another story Muramasa and Masamune were summoned to make swords for the ''shōgun'' or emperor, and the finished swords were held in a waterfall. The result is the same as the other stories, and Masamune's swords are deemed holy swords. In one version of the story, Muramasa is killed for creating evil swords. While all known legends of the two ever having met are historically impossible, both smiths are widely regarded as symbols for their respective eras.

Students

Masamune is believed to have trained a great number of sword smiths; 15 are known, 10 of whom are considered to be the ''Juttetsu'' or "Ten Famous Students" or "10 Great Disciples of Masamune".

Great Juttetsu

Chogi

(備州長船住長義作—Bishu Osafune Ju Nagayoshi Saku) (備州國長船住長義—Bizen Kuni Osafune Ju Nagayoshi)
Although probably not a direct student of MasamuneThe Japanese Sword Society of the United States
/ref> because of the dates when he was forging, his works are greatly influenced by Masamune's work and the Soshu tradition as well as the work of the Soden Bizen swordsmiths. Though the

kanji are logographic Chinese characters, adapted from Chinese family of scripts, Chinese script, used in the writing of Japanese language, Japanese. They were made a major part of the Japanese writing system during the time of Old Japanese and are ...

characters are pronounced in Japanese as 'Nagayoshi', by convention the ''

on'yomi , or the Sino-Japanese vocabulary, Sino-Japanese reading, is the reading of a kanji based on the historical Chinese pronunciation of the character. A single kanji might have multiple ''on'yomi'' pronunciations, reflecting the Chinese pronuncia ...

'' (Sino-Japanese reading) pronunciation of 'Chogi' is used for this smith and a handful of others (less commonly for his student Kanenaga, pronounced in ''on'yomi'' as 'Kencho').

Kanemitsu

(備前國長船住兼光—Bizen Kuni Osafune Ju Kanemitsu) (備前長船住兼光—Bishu Osafune ju Kanemitsu) (備前國長船住左衛門尉藤原兼光—Bizen no Kuni Osafune ju Saemonjo Fujiwara Kanemitsu)
Considered to have created some of the sharpest swords ever known, he is one of a handful of smiths rated at ''Sai-jo O-wazamono'' (grandmaster of great sharpness) with famous swords named ''Kabutowari'' (Helmet Cutter), ''Ishikiri'' (Stone Cutter), and ''Teppokiri'' (Gun Cutter) as relayed in Fujishiro's writings. Kanemitsu produced swords used by renowned men and generals. He likely was not taught directly by Masamune, however, but was influenced by the Soshu, crafting swords in addition to serving himself as a leader in the Soden Bizen revolution.

Shizu Saburo Kaneuji

(兼氏—Kaneuji)
Lived in Yamato province before going to Mino to study under Masamune where his style radically changed. His swords are most like those of Masamune and quite often confused with his. The Mishina school can trace its history back to Kaneuji and Masamune.

Kinju

(金重)
Kinju, like Chogi, by convention is pronounced in ''on'yomi''. He is also known as Kaneshige using the Japanese pronunciation of his name. He and Kaneuji are founders of the Mino style. He was a monk at the Seisen-ji in Tsuruga and led to the creation of Echizen swordmaking like Kuniyuki, moving to Mino around the time of Ryakuo (1338–1342) creating the Seki tradition.

Kunishige

(長谷部国重—Hasebe Kunishige)
Created the Hasebe school producing swords in the style of the second period of Soshu and Yamashiro. His swords are considered by some to be equal to Akihiro and Hiromitsu. He created the ''Heshikiri Hasebe'' (The Forceful Cutter) listed in the Kyoho Meibutsu Cho, owned by Toyotomi Hideyoshi and then by

. It bears a gold appraisal inlay of Honami Kotoku called a Kinzogan (金象嵌). Today the sword is a family heirloom of the Kuroda Daimyō Ke. The sword takes its name from the story of Oda Nobunaga drawing it to cut through a table to kill Kannai, a tea master who betrayed him.

Kunitsugu

(来源国次—Rai Minamoto Kunitsugu)
Also goes by the name Kamakura Rai as he is the grandson of Rai Kuniyuki. The influence of the Soshu and Yamashiro traditions can be observed in his works.

Saemonzaburo

(左—Sa) (筑州左—Chikushu Sa) (筑前國住左—Chikuzen no Kuni ju Sa)
Believed to go by the name Yasuyoshi but signed his work using the first two letters of his given name. Considered by some to be one of the greatest of Masamune's students. As well as being a Soshu swordsmith he also created the Chikuzen tradition.

Saeki Norishige

(則重—Norishige, 佐伯—Saeki)
Historically considered one of the best of Masamune's students, he is numbered among the Juttetsu. However, current research indicates that he was a senior student to Masamune, junior to Yukimitsu, under the great teacher Shintōgo Kunimitsu. He, like Go, hailed from Etchu province and is well known as the only smith to have mastered the style of matsukawa-hada (pine tree bark pattern steel), making his work unique.

Go Yoshihiro

(郷(江)—Go, 義弘—Yoshihiro)
Very few works exist by this swordsmith because of his death at age 27. No known signed works exist. He is believed to have gone by the name of Go Yoshihiro or simply Go, the name of the town from which he came. As well as being a Soshu swordsmith he is a member of the Etchu tradition. He is considered to have the highest skill in forging swords among the Masamune Juttets

Naotsuna

(石州出羽直綱作—Sekishu Izuwa Naotsuna Saku) (直綱作—Naotsuna Saku)
Many theories exist that he may in fact have been a student of Saemonzaburo among others. His work is considered by many to have been influenced by Soshu(相州) even if not taught by Masamune directly, he is also influenced by the Soden Bizen(備前) and Iwami province (石州) style.

Other students

* Hiromitsu (相模國住人廣光—Sagami Kuni Junin Hiromitsu): Along with Akihiro brought about the second period of the Soshu style. * Hikoshiro Sadamune: A student and the son or adopted son of Masamune. Like his father he left no signed work but is considered peerless in the Soshu tradition after Masamune. Sadamune was slightly less skilled than his great father. * Akihiro (相州住秋廣—Soshu Ju Akihiro) (相模國住人秋廣—Sagami Kuni Junin Akihiro): A direct student of Masamune, along with Hiromitsu was responsible for refining the Soshu style to create the Soshu second period.

References

{{Authority control Nuttall, Zelia. "The Earliest Historical Relations between Mexico and Japan, from original documents preserved in Spain and Japan". (1906) https://archive.org/details/earliesthistoric00nuttrich Japanese swordsmiths 13th-century Japanese people