Hideyoshi's Sa Tanto
The Tanto (inscribed Sa / Chikushu-ju) (短刀〈銘左／筑州住〉) is a dagger made in the Nanbokucho period (14th century) by the Chikuzen swordsmith Sa, held by the Fukuyama Museum of Art in Nishimachi, Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture, and designated a National Treasure on November 22, 1952. It bore the name Juraku and is now known as the Taiko Samonji. Its blade is 23.6 centimetres long, with a tang of 8.8 centimetres, according to the museum.
The museum explains that Sa was the son of Jitsua, lived at Okinohama in Chikuzen (today's Hakata Ward, Fukuoka), and signed with the character sa from his name Saemon Saburo. The dagger was first designated under earlier law in 1934.
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
Sa's daggers are prized for their shape, above all the line running from the upper blade to the point. The museum singles out the balance between the clear steel, close-grained with fine dark lines (chikei), and the bright white wavy temper line, and calls this piece the best expression of Sa's tanto.
Its history is well documented. The tanto appears in the sword drawings Hon'ami Kotoku made of Toyotomi Hideyoshi's collection, annotated with the name Juraku and a length, which shows it once carried that name. The museum believes the name Taiko Samonji was given in the Showa era.
What to Look For
On the blade, follow the curve from the upper section into the point, where the elegance of Sa's daggers shows most clearly. The contrast between the finely patterned steel and the clear, white wavy hamon is the other highlight.
Trace its owners too. According to the museum, Hideyoshi gave it to Tokugawa Ieyasu, it became a sword worn by Hidetada, and it later passed to the Inoue family of Hamamatsu. A late Edo-period mounting wrapped in gold brocade accompanies it.
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
- Why is this dagger called the Taiko Samonji?
- Because it belonged to Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the Taiko. Hon'ami Kotoku's drawings record its earlier name, Juraku; the name Taiko Samonji probably dates from the Showa era.
- When was it designated a National Treasure?
- On November 22, 1952.
- How big is the Sa tanto?
- The blade is 23.6 centimetres long and the tang 8.8 centimetres.
- Who was Sa?
- A Nanbokucho-period swordsmith of Okinohama in Chikuzen who signed with the character sa and was known above all for his daggers.
- When can I see the Sa tanto?
- It is shown in rotation at the Fukuyama Museum of Art; check the museum's display schedule.
Basic Information
| Name | Tanto (inscribed Sa / Chikushu-ju), known as Juraku or Taiko Samonji (短刀〈銘左／筑州住〉) |
|---|---|
| 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 1952/11/22 (Showa 27); earlier designation 1934/1/30 (Showa 9) |
| Quantity | 1 sword |
| Dimensions | Blade length 23.6 centimetres, tang length 8.8 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