Katana Sword (gold-inlaid attribution to Mitsutada, with Hon'ami Kotoku's monogram)

Mitsutada's Finest Work, Said to Have Belonged to Nobunaga

The Katana Sword (gold-inlaid attribution to Mitsutada, with Hon'ami Kotoku's monogram) (刀〈金象嵌銘光忠／光徳花押〉) is a Kamakura-period katana by Mitsutada of Bizen Osafune in a private collection, its location not disclosed, which in 1951 was designated a National Treasure.

The Agency for Cultural Affairs records one blade 72.5 centimetres long with a curvature of 2.4 centimetres, first designated under the old system in 1940.

According to the Agency, Hon'ami Kotoku appraised it as the work of Mitsutada of Bizen Osafune, and the attribution is inlaid in gold on the tang.

The Blade

According to the Agency, it has a ridged blade with a roof-shaped back, a broad body and a short, stout point. The steel shows a fine, tight grain with small crystals and a brilliant, irregular reflection.

The temper line is a deep, large clove pattern mixed with tadpole-shaped cloves, with many legs and leaves and fine golden lines. The point pattern turns back shallowly, grooves run the length of both sides, and the tang has been greatly shortened. The blade is 72.5 centimetres long, with a curvature of 2.4 centimetres, 3.3 centimetres wide at the base and 2.5 centimetres at the tip, and a point 3.8 centimetres long.

What to Look For

The Agency describes it as grand and splendid despite the shortening, with an especially brilliant temper line among Mitsutada's works, and regards it as his finest.

The Agency relates that it is said to have been a favourite sword of Oda Nobunaga, given by him to Tokugawa Ieyasu, who passed it to Tokugawa Yorifusa of Mito.

Visiting the Katana Sword (gold-inlaid attribution to Mitsutada, with Hon'ami Kotoku's monogram)

It is privately owned, and no official information on viewing could be found.