A Dagger by the Father of Kamakura Swordsmithing
The Tanto (inscribed Kunimitsu, known as Aizu Shintogo) (短刀〈銘国光（名物会津新藤五）〉) is a dagger made in the Kamakura period (13th century) by Shintogo Kunimitsu, held by the Fukuyama Museum of Art in Nishimachi, Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture, and designated a National Treasure on June 9, 1951. The blade is 25.4 centimetres long, with a tang of 10.9 centimetres, according to the museum.
The museum describes Shintogo Kunimitsu as the effective founder of Kamakura swordsmithing; his pupils Yukimitsu and Masamune went on to develop the strongly crystalline Soshu style. Very few tachi by Kunimitsu survive, and almost all his works are daggers. It was first designated under earlier law in 1933.
The Komatsu Yasuhiro Collection, 14 Japanese swords, 7 of them National Treasures and 6 designated as an Important Cultural Property, was assembled by the late Komatsu Yasuhiro, founder of the Fukuyama-based company FP Corporation, and donated to Fukuyama City by Komatsu Keiko in November 2018, according to the museum.
Why It Is a National Treasure
According to the museum, this is a slightly large dagger for Kunimitsu. The steel shows a wood-grain pattern thickly covered in fine crystals, crossed in every direction by long, thick dark lines (chikei), giving it great strength. The temper line is a medium straight line: in the lower half its edge is deep, with crystals reaching well into the blade and fine sweeping lines throughout, while in the upper half the edge tightens a little.
It shows the powerful steel and crystalline activity of the smith regarded as the founder of the Soshu tradition, and its clearly recorded history as a named sword adds to its value.
What to Look For
Look for the long, thick chikei running across the steel, where Kunimitsu's strength shows most clearly. The straight temper line looks calm at first, but the depth of its edge changes between the lower and upper halves.
Trace the story of its name. According to the museum, Aizu Shintogo comes from Gamo Ujisato, lord of Aizu, who owned it. It then passed to Maeda Toshitsune and was presented to Tokugawa Tsunayoshi; an inscription on its scabbard shows that Tsunayoshi gave it in 1707 for the seventh-night celebration of Iechiyo, son of Tokugawa Ienobu.
Seeing the Sword
The Fukuyama Museum of Art shows the swords of the Komatsu Yasuhiro Collection in rotation through its collection displays and special exhibitions; they are not on permanent view, so check the museum's Komatsu Yasuhiro Collection display schedule before going.
The museum opens from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and closes on Mondays (or the following day when Monday is a holiday) and over the New Year. Collection displays cost ¥310 for adults and are free for high school students and younger. Photography is not allowed in the galleries. The museum is about 400 metres west of the north exit of JR Fukuyama Station, at 2-4-3 Nishimachi, Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture (084-932-2345).
Q&A
- Where does the name Aizu Shintogo come from?
- From Gamo Ujisato, lord of Aizu, who owned the dagger.
- When was it designated a National Treasure?
- On June 9, 1951.
- Who was Shintogo Kunimitsu?
- The effective founder of Kamakura swordsmithing and teacher of Yukimitsu and Masamune; most of his works are daggers.
- How big is Aizu Shintogo?
- The blade is 25.4 centimetres long and the tang 10.9 centimetres, slightly large for Kunimitsu.
- How did Aizu Shintogo pass down?
- From Gamo Ujisato to Maeda Toshitsune and then to Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, who gave it in 1707 to celebrate Iechiyo's birth.
Basic Information
| Name | Tanto (inscribed Kunimitsu, known as Aizu Shintogo) (短刀〈銘国光（名物会津新藤五）〉) |
|---|---|
| Location | 2-4-3 Nishimachi, Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture (Fukuyama Museum of Art) |
| Designation | National Treasure (Fine Arts and Crafts: Crafts) |
| Year Designated | National Treasure 1951/6/9 (Showa 26); earlier designation 1933/1/23 (Showa 8) |
| Quantity | 1 sword |
| Dimensions | Blade length 25.4 centimetres, tang length 10.9 centimetres |
| Owner | Fukuyama City |
| Public Access | Shown in rotation in the museum's collection displays and special exhibitions (not permanent) |
References
- About the Komatsu Yasuhiro Collection (Fukuyama Museum of Art)
- https://www.city.fukuyama.hiroshima.jp/site/fukuyama-museum/194068.html
- Komatsu Yasuhiro Collection display schedule (Fukuyama Museum of Art)
- https://www.city.fukuyama.hiroshima.jp/site/fukuyama-museum/201121.html
- Visitor information (Fukuyama Museum of Art)
- https://www.city.fukuyama.hiroshima.jp/site/fukuyama-museum/2912.html
Last verified: 2026.10.04