Japan is a country with a rich history of both violence and craftsmanship dating back to many centuries before much of the rest of the world.
In this tapestry of war and bloodshed, there have been many blades that have swapped hands over the course of generations and retained their deadly edge nevertheless.
In this article, we’ll be taking a look at some of the most famous of these weapons and where you can find them in the modern day. For those of you who are anime enthusiasts, keep your eyes peeled, because a good few of these should be recognizable to you..
Some of the most famous blades in Japanese history are grouped together in a collection of 5 known as the Tenka Goken. The following are the 5 blades in question.
#10 Dōjigiri Yasutsuna
The Dōjigiri Yasutsuna is a blade from the Edo period, i.e. the 17th to 19th centuries which was used on the bodies of criminals. The name of this weapon comes from a legend of a demon slayer in the Heian period, i.e. late 8th to 12 centuries.
When this demon slayer supposedly exterminated the demon known as Shutendoji, his blade was named the Dojigiri.
Though this blade is famous for cutting bodies into clean rings and slicing apart the pedestal underneath them as well, it was never used in actual battle.
Today, the blade rests in the Tokyo National Museum, being the object of much discussion whenever it is put on exhibition.
#9 Mikazuki Munechika
Forged at some point between the 10th and 12th centuries, the Mikazuki Munechika is a blade of pure beauty. Designed with an 80 centimeter blade, a relatively narrow width and a gradual curve, the blade is quite aptly named after the crescent moon.
Hailed as the most beautiful of the Tenka Goken, the Mikazuki Munechika was once passed down through the Tokugawa family in the 16th and 17th centuries. Today, the beauty rests at ease in the Tokyo National Museum, where it is exhibited every so often.
#8 Onimaru Kunitsuna
The Onimaru is, to the best of modern knowledge, the only blade out of the Tenka Goken to be in the possession of the Imperial Family. Receiving its name from a mysterious anecdote, the blade is said to have quite literally slain the demons tormenting the dreams of the 5th regent of the Kamakura Shogunate.
Though the blade is supposedly a true demon slayer, its status as property of the Imperial Family means that it is very rarely put on display for the public.
#7 Ōdenta Mitsuyo
Said to have incredible mystical powers, one of the most famous stories about the Odenta Mitsuyo comes from the late 16th century.
The story goes that Princess Gohime, daughter of the warlord at the time, Maeda Toshiie, was suffering from a mysterious and untreatable illness. According to the tale, when her father placed the blade by her bedside and prayed for her recovery, the princess was miraculously cured overnight.
To this day, the blade of miracles is safeguarded by the descendants of Maeda Toshiie as part of the collection of their foundation, the Maeda Ikutokukai. The blade is brought out to be exhibited several times a year at the Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art.
#6 Juzumaru Tsunetsugu
The 5th and final of the Tenka Goken, this blade is one that was actually never used in any demonstrations of power or deadliness, nor mystical powers.
The Juzumaru was simply a gift from a follower to Nichirin, the founder of the Nichirin Sect. Although the blade does not have any tales of violence or magic behind it, its deep connection to Buddhism as a whole makes it no less historically significant than any of the Tenka Goken.
Today, the Juzumaru rests not in a museum or exhibition, but in the Honkoji Temple of Hyogo prefecture.
Moving on from the Tenka Goken, we have some of the most historically significant blades in Japan’s centuries long existence.
#5 Koryū Kagemitsu
Forged at some point in the late Kamakura period, Koryu Kagemitsu is the prized creation of Kagemitsu.
A 3rd generation master of the Osafune school of swordsmiths who was set apart from his father by the sheer flamboyance of his style and the highly impressive finish of his blades’ metal surface. Koryu Kagemitsu is a truly beautiful Tachi, with the little dragon engraved on its Tang elevating it even further.
Today, the blade rests in the capable hands of the Tokyo National Museum, where it is occasionally brought out to be exhibited for the public.
#4 Hishizukuri Uchigatana
Though it may not possess the rich history many of the other blades mentioned here do, the Hishizukuri Uchigatana is perhaps the most historically significant of them all.
Fashioned from a Heian Era Longsword and made shorter to wear at the waist during peacetime, it is believed that this weapon was the prototype for modern katana swords as we know them, all the way back in the Edo period.
Today, the blade is the oldest “katana” in existence, having been dedicated to Kasuga Shrine sometime after its creation.
#3 Honjō Masamune
A creation of the famous medieval Japanese blacksmith often hailed as the best in history, the Honjo Masamune was forged by none other than Gorō Nyūdō Masamune. After he forged this blade, it was a representation of the Tokugawa Shogunate for the majority of the Edo period, being passed down from Shogun to Shogun over generations.
Recognized as one of the best swords ever created by Masamune, as well as perhaps one of the best Japanese swords ever made as a whole, the Honjo Masamune was given the status of Japanese National Treasure in 1939.
#2 Muramasa
The Muramasa blades are more a collection of blades than a single weapon. Forged by the highly talented swordsmith, Muramasa, the blades were favored by the shōgun Tokugawa Ieyasu and his vassals for many years.
Unfortunately, over time, their legacy was tarnished and turned into a dark mockery of their former glory when the blades were attributed to wickedness and bloodlust. This was in no small part due to the rumors that the father and grandfather of the shogun at the time were struck down by the none other than the Muramasa blade.
Once a highly renowned and acclaimed blade, the Muramasa were left to be remembered as wicked weapons of darkness. A belief that was only further strengthened due to entertainment media from the 18th century and onwards running with this narrative.
#1 Kusanagi
Unlike the other blades on this list, the fabled Kusanagi no Tsurugi is not a “real” blade as such. Even so however, its cultural and historical significance cannot be overstated, despite being a legend more than anything.
Associated with the Japanese Imperial Family, it is one of the three Imperial Regalia of the island nation alongside the Yata no Kagami and Yasakani no Magatama. The blade may well not be real, but it is by far the single most famous sword from the Land of the Rising Sun, said to have been discovered by the storm God Susanoo himself.
Perhaps most importantly, it is a symbol of the Emperor’s authority and considered to be a Sacred Treasure of the country.
