Tachi Sword

This sword has a full-length curve with a midpoint that sits in the blade's center. The sword was produced around 800 years ago. It still retains its original shape overall, despite some minor changes due to years of sharpening. Sadatoshi was a swordsmith who lived on Ayanokoji Street in Kyoto during the early-13th century. This sword is renowned as one of Sadatoshi's masterpieces. A sword's tempering pattern is the line that sits gleaming between the black and white sections of the blade. This sword's tempering pattern is quite intricate and detailed. Patterns like this are often seen in swords produced across Japan from the end of the 12th century to the early 13th century. Sadatoshi's swords also feature the kind of large tempering patterns that became popular later on, though this sword has a comparatively old style.

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