Mikazuki Munechika

The Mikazuki Munechika sword was made during the Heian era. It is curved from the nakago (tang) through the lower half of the blade, with almost no curve on the tip. This old Japanese sword was called Mikazuki Munechika because of the crescent moon-shaped pattern on its thin 80 cm blade.

This sword was one of the Tenka Goken (The Five Great Japanese Swords) during the Muromachi era. It became a designated national treasure in 1951, despite its slightly unclear history. The sword's first appearance in history is when it was held by Kita no Mandokoro (Kodai-in) -- the wife of Hideyoshi Toyotomi, Japan's second greatest unifier. After her death, it was bequeathed to Hidetada Tokugawa, the second Tokugawa Shogun, and then it was passed through generations of the Tokugawa family.

Sanjo Munechika, who made the sword, was a famous Eien period (987-989, in Heian era) craftsman who lived in Sanjo, Kyoto. He was also called Sanjo Kokaji. Due to this fame and expert craftsmanship, he became a character in a Noh play (a classical Japanese dance drama) called Kokaji (The Swordsmith), as a craftsman assisted by a white fox spirit to help him make swords.