Treasures of JapanA catalogue of Japan's designated cultural properties
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Important Cultural Property

Blade for a Long Sword ("Katana")

刀
Blade for a Long Sword ("Katana") (刀)
PLATE IImage: Tokyo National Museum, via ColBase — CC BY 4.0
At a glance — Swords & Armour · Edo period · held by Tokyo National Museum · designated Important Cultural Property of Japan.

Fact Sheet

Designation
Important Cultural Property (重要文化財)
Date
1606
Location
Ueno, Tokyo
Catalogue ID
cobas-77961

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Masahiro was a leading pupil of Horikawa Kunihiro (1531–1614), a pioneer who ushered in a new era of sword-making called [shintō] (“new swords”). Masahiro faithfully inherited his master’s techniques, as shown by this blade’s vivid surface texture and the glittering, wave-like tempering pattern along the cutting edge.

— Museum description: Tokyo National Museum (CC BY 4.0), via ColBase / Japan Search.

Record & Sources

Cite this page: “Blade for a Long Sword ("Katana")（刀）.” Treasures of Japan, catalogue no. cobas-77961. Tokyo National Museum. https://treasures.yamato-kenkou.com/treasures/blade-for-a-long-sword-katana-77961/ — entry last verified 1 November 2026.
Full record data (as published in the official catalogue record)
  • Genre: Arms & Armor
  • Category: Applied arts:Arms and armor:Blades:Katana
  • Cultural property designation: Important Cultural Property
  • 員数: 1口
  • 分類: 刀剣
  • 種別: 工芸:武器・武具:刀剣:刀
  • 法量: 刃長70.6 反り1.8
  • 銘文等: 銘 大隅掾藤原正弘／ 慶長十一年三月吉日

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National Treasure
Long Sword (Katana) (刀 金象嵌銘 城和泉守所持 正宗磨上 本阿（花押）)

Long Sword (Katana)

刀 金象嵌銘 城和泉守所持 正宗磨上 本阿（花押）
Swords & Armour · Nanbokuchō, 14th centuryTNM

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