- TOP
- Long Sword (Katana) known as Meibutsu Shimazu Masamune
Overview
Long Sword (Katana) known as Meibutsu Shimazu Masamune
- Museum No.
- EK344
Showing 1-6 of 12
| Title | Long Sword (Katana) known as Meibutsu Shimazu Masamune |
|---|---|
| Designation | |
| Artist | |
| Category | Metalwork(E), Sword |
| Country | Japan |
| Period | Kamakura |
| Century | 14th |
| Year | |
| Quantity | |
| Materials | Gift of OKUDA Befumon |
| Dimensions | |
| Inscription by | |
| Signature/Seals Etc | |
| Donor |
This object may be one within a set or the title of a set. To see all objects in the set, perform a Category Search by the Museum Number below, entering numerals only before the hyphen.












Masamune (1264-c. 1343) is perhaps Japan’s most famous swordsmith, but few of his blades survive. The measurements and hamon (temper line) of this katana match records for a blade called “Shimazu Masamune” in the Kyōhō meibutsu chō ("Celebrated Meibutsu [Blades] of the Kyōhō Era), an Edo-period register of the most important swords in Japan. This sword recently resurfaced after being missing for 150 years.
Japan-Kamakura to Nambokucho