FAMOUS TREASURES

 

1. Tonbokiri, the favored weapon of Honda Tadakatsu, was one of the “Three Spears of Japan”. Legend has it that a dragonfly once landed on the spear’s blade, but was cut into two. Thus, the weapon was named Tonbo-kiri (literal Japanese “dragonfly cutter”).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Baran, the helmet of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, has its design based on the iris plant. This helmet is still in the museum in Japan today.

 

3. Date Masamune’s legendary katana, the Yoroikiri (also known as the Sendai Blade) has a crescent moon motives on it, just like how Masamune’s signature war helmet has a crescent moon design. Legends has it that Masamune once slashed an enemy horseman in a battle. The katana cuts so well that it cuts all the way to the saddle.

 

4. The Takeda Clan’s legendary War Armor was passed down from generation to generation. Takeda Shingen worn this armor in various battles. The armory technique of the blacksmith was peerless, as the armor was extremely resilient to all kinds of impact. In an accident on 2008, the armor, which was in a museum, was moved to a new location. However, one of the staff accidently dropped both the armor and a western rifle on the ground. The rifle’s firing mechanism activated, and fired directly towards the armor. The armor, however, stopped the bullet’s impact completely, leaving it unscathed. Due to the sheer weight of the armor, the floor was cracked significantly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. The Book of Five Rings, written by the samurai Miyamoto Musashi, is still studied to this very day.

 

6. The Hachiman Spear, the personal spear of the legendary warrior Maeda Keiji Toshimasu, weighed 45 pounds. In official historical records, Maeda Keiji used this spear in battle one-handed.

 

7. Matsukaze, Maeda Keiji’s war horse, was twice the size of a regular warhorse. Fully black in color, the horse was wild and untameable. Only Maeda Keiji can tame it. After Maeda Keiji’s death, it refused to eat, eventually dying.

 

8. The Honjo Masamune, crafted by the legendary swordsmith Goro Nyudo Masamune, is considered to be the finest katana in history. However, its current location is unknown.