Sword (Katana)

刀金象嵌銘義弘本阿（花押）／本多美濃守所持

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: Length69.4cm:Curvature2cm
Held by: Kyoto National Museum
Location: Higashiyama, Kyoto
Catalogue ID: cobas-3288

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

This sword blade (J., katana) bears two inlaid gold inscriptions. On the obverse, it states that Hon'ami Kôtoku (1554-1619) shortened this blade, which was originally a long sword (tachi) blade made by Gô no Yoshihiro. The inscription on the reverse notes that it was called Kuwana Gô because it belonged to the feudal lord, Honda Mino no Kami (1575-1631), of Kuwana (in present day Mie Prefecture) and was considered a famous blade. Yoshihiro served in Matsukuragô, Ettchû Province (Toyama Prefecture), and was known as Gô. He was a famous sword maker whose work reflects the influence of Sôshû Masamune (1264-1343).

— 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-3288 (permanent)
Official record: Japan Search — jpsearch.go.jp/item/cobas-3288
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: “Sword (Katana)（刀金象嵌銘義弘本阿（花押）／本多美濃守所持）.” Treasures of Japan, catalogue no. cobas-3288. Kyoto National Museum. https://treasures.yamato-kenkou.com/treasures/sword-katana/ — entry last verified 1 November 2026.

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

Genre: Metalwork
Cultural property designation: Important Cultural Property
Size: Length69.4cm:Curvature2cm
Category: Applied arts:Arms and armor:Blades|Applied arts:By media:Metalwork|Applied arts:By region:Japan
員数: 1口
分類: 金工
種別: 工芸:武器・武具:刀剣|工芸:素材別:金工|工芸:地域別:日本
法量: 刃長69.4cm:反り2cm
銘文等: 指表金象嵌銘「本多美濃守所持」指裏金象嵌銘「義弘本阿弥光徳（花押）」名物桑名江

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