About the Blade
Swordsmith
Awataguchi Yoshimitsu (粟田口吉光)
Forge Date
1259 CE
Inscription
吉光
Yoshimitsu
Yoshimitsu
Current Sword Length
38.5cm
Current Blade Hamon (Historical)
?
Sheath
Current Location
Tokugawa Art Museum, Aichi prefecture
Public Viewing
Yes
July 14 - August 9, 2016
August 10 - August 23, 2016
April 4, 2017 - May 7, 2017
June 7, 2017 - July 2, 2017
July 14 - August 9, 2016
August 10 - August 23, 2016
April 4, 2017 - May 7, 2017
June 7, 2017 - July 2, 2017
Blade Appearance
History
- Originally a naginata, he was remade into a wakizashi. He was said to had originally belonged to Oda Nobukatsu, the second son of Oda Nobunaga. He was given to Toyotomi Hideyoshi afterwards. He was then handed down to Toyotomi Hideyori who had taken a great liking to the sword.The Toyotomi clan, however, was defeated by the Tokugawa which led to the fall of the whole clan.
- Toyotomi Hideyori, his master, was said to have committed suicide with the sword beside him. He was damaged by fire during the Siege of Osaka Castle before taken from the ruins of the castle by the Tokugawa clan, which then had Echizen Yasutsugu to repair him.
- He is now kept in the Tokugawa Art Museum in Nagoya, along with Monoyoshi Sadamune, Gotou Toushirou, and Yamanbagiri Chougi.
Miscellaneous
- His hairstyle and uncanny mannerisms can be compared to Shigure of Kantai Collection although they look alike and different in the form of Brother-Sisters alike according to some fans.
- It is said the shape of his sword resembles a catfish's tail, where catfish = namazu and tail = o. This is the reason he was named Namazuo.
- Namazuo's blade is roughly 20cm shorter than his brother Honebami's.