Treasures of JapanA catalogue of Japan's designated cultural properties 2,690 works catalogued

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Important Cultural Property

Long Sword (Tachi), Inscribed "By Sahyōe no Jō Naotsugu, Living in Bitchū Province / 11th Month of 1335

太刀銘備中国住人左兵衛尉直次作／建武二年十一月

At a glance — Metalwork · Nanbokuchō period, 14th century · held by Kyoto National Museum · designated Important Cultural Property of Japan.

Fact Sheet

Designation: Important Cultural Property (重要文化財)
Category: Metalwork
Period: Nanbokuchō period, 14th century
Date: 1301–1400
Dimensions: Length91.4cm:Length70.7cm
Held by: Kyoto National Museum
Location: Higashiyama, Kyoto
Catalogue ID: cobas-168052

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Same period: Nanbokuchō metalwork →
At this museum: All 680 works here →

A tachi is a long classical sword, worn with the blade down slung by straps from the waist. This was made by a famous smith from the Aoe school in present day Kurashiki, Okayama. The blade is relatively broad and thin, reflecting the transitional period of Japanese history in which it was made.

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

Record & Sources

Designation: Important Cultural Property (重要文化財), Government of Japan
Catalogue ID: cobas-168052 (permanent)
Official record: Japan Search — jpsearch.go.jp/item/cobas-168052
Holder's collection: ColBase — Kyoto National Museum
Photograph: Kyoto National Museum, via ColBase — CC BY 4.0. CC BY 4.0 licence

Cite this page: “Long Sword (Tachi), Inscribed "By Sahyōe no Jō Naotsugu, Living in Bitchū Province / 11th Month of 1335（太刀銘備中国住人左兵衛尉直次作／建武二年十一月）.” Treasures of Japan, catalogue no. cobas-168052. Kyoto National Museum. https://treasures.yamato-kenkou.com/treasures/long-sword-tachi-inscribed-by-sahy-e-no-j-naotsugu-living-in-bitch-province-11th-month-of/ — entry last verified 1 November 2026.

Full record data (as published in the official catalogue record)

Category: Applied arts:Arms and armor:Blades:Tachi|Applied arts:By media:Metalwork|Applied arts:By region:Japan
Genre: Metalwork
Cultural property designation: Important Cultural Property
Size: Length91.4cm:Length70.7cm
員数: 1口
種別: 工芸:武器・武具:刀剣:太刀|工芸:素材別:金工|工芸:地域別:日本
分類: 金工
法量: 全長91.4cm:刃長70.7cm

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