Leather-Wrapped Sword

The Leather-Wrapped Tachi at Ōyamazumi Shrine: A Sword and Mounting from the Dawn of Japanese Bladesmithing

Hidden among the unparalleled arms collection at Ōyamazumi Shrine on the island of Ōmishima sits a treasure that quietly bridges two of the most fascinating chapters in Japan's martial history. The Tachi inscribed "Aritsuna" with its yamagane-style leather-wrapped mounting (kawazutsumi-no-tachi) pairs an ancient sword from the cradle of Japanese bladesmithing with a sturdy battle-ready mounting from the age of mounted samurai. Designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan in 1929, this single sword tells a story that spans four centuries of warriors, faith, and craftsmanship.

What Is the Kawazutsumi-no-tachi?

The name "kawazutsumi-no-tachi" (literally, "leather-wrapped tachi") refers to a particular style of mounting in which both the hilt and the scabbard of a long curved sword are wrapped in leather and then coated with black lacquer. The mounting at Ōyamazumi Shrine is more specifically a "yamagane-zukuri" version, meaning that the metal fittings are crafted in yamagane—an unrefined copper-gold alloy that has a warm, mellow tone admired by Japanese sword connoisseurs.

Inside this rugged-looking mounting rests a tachi blade signed "Aritsuna." Aritsuna was a swordsmith of the Ko-Hōki school, an early lineage of bladesmiths active in Hōki Province (today's Tottori Prefecture) from the late Heian period (late 1000s) into the early Kamakura period (early 1200s). The Ko-Hōki school is regarded as one of the founding traditions of Japanese sword-making and includes the legendary Yasutsuna, maker of "Dōjikiri Yasutsuna," one of Japan's Five Great Swords.

Why It Was Designated an Important Cultural Property

This treasure was registered as a national Important Cultural Property on April 6, 1929. Three reasons make it especially valuable.

A Rare Surviving Blade from the Ko-Hōki School

Authentic signed blades from the late Heian to early Kamakura era are extremely scarce. The Ko-Hōki school's surviving works are prized for their large-pattern itame (wood-grain) forging, the dark streaks called ji-keisho running through the steel, and the bold, deeply curved silhouette that defined early Japanese tachi. The Aritsuna blade preserves these archaic features beautifully.

An Outstanding Example of Kawazutsumi Mounting

The leather-wrapped tachi mounting first appeared in the late Kamakura period and replaced the earlier all-black-lacquer style as samurai sought better protection for their swords against rain and rough use on horseback. The same mounting style was used for the famous "Onimaru Kunitsuna," one of Japan's Five Great Swords—so closely associated that this style is often called "Onimaru-goshirae." The yamagane fittings on the Ōyamazumi example reflect the refined taste of medieval warriors.

A Complete Pairing of Blade and Mounting

It is unusual for a sword to retain both its original mounting and a centuries-old blade together. Many famous swords have been re-fitted over the generations, and many mountings survive empty. The Aritsuna tachi presents both elements in harmony, allowing visitors to see how a real warrior would have carried a treasured blade.

Highlights and Things to Look For

The Ancient Curvature of the Blade

Compared to later swords, Ko-Hōki tachi have a distinct deep curve concentrated near the hilt rather than the middle of the blade. This was designed for slashing from horseback, and it gives the sword a powerful, bow-like silhouette. Pay attention to how the curve flows—it is the visual signature of early Japanese sword-making.

Yamagane Fittings with a Soft Glow

Yamagane is sometimes called "raw gold" because it is an unrefined natural copper-gold alloy. Unlike polished gold, it has a soft, dignified tone that medieval warriors preferred for actual battlefield use. Look closely at the fittings near the hilt and the suspension hangers along the scabbard.

Layers of Leather and Lacquer

The leather wrapping is not merely decoration but a serious piece of practical engineering. Layers of leather were stretched, wrapped, and finished with lacquer to make the scabbard nearly waterproof and resistant to scratches. This innovation freed warriors from the need to use a separate "shiri-zaya" leather rain cover that earlier knights wore in the field.

Context Within the Treasure Hall

The Aritsuna tachi is displayed in a treasure hall complex that holds about forty percent of all nationally designated armor and weapons in Japan. Seeing it surrounded by other masterpieces—armors of Minamoto no Yoritomo and Yoshitsune, the great sword of Ōmori Hikoshichi, ancient Heian armors—gives the piece its full historical weight.

About Ōyamazumi Shrine

Ōyamazumi Shrine is the headquarters of all Yamazumi and Mishima shrines across Japan. Tradition holds that it was founded over 2,600 years ago, and it has long been worshipped as the shrine of the gods of mountains, sea, and war. Across the centuries, emperors and warriors—from the Minamoto and Taira clans to the Kōno family of medieval Iyo Province—offered armor and swords here in prayer for victory and as thanks after triumph.

The shrine is located on Ōmishima, a beautiful island at the heart of the Shimanami Kaidō, the famous bridge route that connects the islands of the Seto Inland Sea between Honshu and Shikoku. The pristine main hall and worship hall are both designated Important Cultural Properties, and the shrine grounds include a sacred camphor tree said to be over two thousand years old.

Visiting and Surrounding Attractions

The Aritsuna tachi is housed in the Shiyōden and Kokuhōkan (National Treasure Hall) treasure complex on the shrine grounds. After paying respects at the main shrine, you can step into a single building that holds eight National Treasures and hundreds of other important cultural properties—an experience unrivalled anywhere else in Japan for those who love samurai culture.

Beyond the shrine, Ōmishima offers many things to enjoy. The Tokoro Museum and the Toyo Ito Museum of Architecture sit on the southern coast. Local restaurants serve fresh seafood from the Seto Inland Sea, and the island is famous for its bright, sweet citrus fruits. Renting a bicycle and crossing one or two of the Shimanami Kaidō bridges is a beloved way to spend an afternoon, with sweeping views of green islands floating in calm blue water.