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Important Cultural Property

Blade for a Long Sword (Tachi), Named Fukushima Kanemitsu

太刀 長船兼光(名物 福島兼光)
Blade for a Long Sword (Tachi), Named Fukushima Kanemitsu (太刀 長船兼光(名物 福島兼光))
PLATE IImage: Tokyo National Museum, via ColBase — CC BY 4.0
At a glance — Swords & Armour · Nanbokuchō period, 14th century · held by Tokyo National Museum · designated Important Cultural Property of Japan · Osafune Kanemitsu.

Fact Sheet

Designation
Important Cultural Property (重要文化財)
Date
1301–1400
Creator
Osafune Kanemitsu (長船兼光、備前国長船兼光、備前長船兼光)
Location
Ueno, Tokyo
Catalogue ID
cobas-77969

Find more

This blade is named after one of its previous owners, Fukushima Masanori (1561–1624), a renowned warlord who fought during Japan’s Warring States period. The blade’s surface is engraved with an image of a dragon coiled around a sword. This symbol represents Wisdom King Fudō, a powerful Buddhist god believed to protect the blade’s owner in battle.

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

Record & Sources

Cite this page: “Blade for a Long Sword (Tachi), Named Fukushima Kanemitsu(太刀 長船兼光(名物 福島兼光)).” Treasures of Japan, catalogue no. cobas-77969. Tokyo National Museum. https://treasures.yamato-kenkou.com/treasures/blade-for-a-long-sword-tachi-named-fukushima-kanemitsu/ — entry last verified 1 November 2026.
Full record data (as published in the official catalogue record)
  • Category: Applied arts:Arms and armor:Blades:Tachi
  • Genre: Arms & Armor
  • Cultural property designation: Important Cultural Property
  • 員数: 1口
  • 分類: 刀剣
  • 種別: 工芸:武器・武具:刀剣:太刀
  • 銘文等: 銘 備州長船住兼光/観応□年八月日

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