About the Blade
Swordsmith
Awataguchi Yoshimitsu (粟田口吉光)
Forge Date
1259 CE
Inscription
吉光
Yoshimitsu
Yoshimitsu
Current Sword Length
30.1 cm
Current Blade Hamon (Historical)
?
Sheath
Current Location
Museum of the Imperial Collections (Sannomaru Museum), Tokyo
Public Viewing
No
Blade Appearance
History
- Kimura Shigekore, a vassal of the Toyotomi family, once bought the tantou from the very rich merchant Hirano Dousetsu (or Michiyuki) and presented it later to Hideyoshi. Then it later went to Maeda Toshinaga, who later gave it to Tokugawa Hidetada. After that it returned to Maeda family when Maeda Toshitsune married Hidetada's daughter Tamahime.
- At the end of the Edo period, Maeda donated this sword to the imperial family and has been an Imperial Treasure ever since, alongside Ichigo Hitofuri, Tsurumaru Kuninaga and Uguisumaru.
Miscellaneous
- Hirano Toushirou shares a similar character design to Maeda Toushirou because they both served under the Maeda Clan. Maeda Toushirou was wielded by Maeda Toshimasa (前田利政) and Hirano was wielded by Maeda Toshinaga (前田利長), Toshimasa's elder brother.