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Important Cultural Property

Blade for a Glaive ("Naginata")

薙刀
Blade for a Glaive ("Naginata") (薙刀)
PLATE IImage: Tokyo National Museum, via ColBase — CC BY 4.0
At a glance — Swords & Armour · Kamakura period · held by Tokyo National Museum · designated Important Cultural Property of Japan · Osafune Kagemitsu.

Fact Sheet

Designation
Important Cultural Property (重要文化財)
Date
1322
Creator
Osafune Kagemitsu (長船景光、備前国長船住景光、備州長船住景光)
Location
Ueno, Tokyo
Catalogue ID
cobas-74832

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This blade, called a [naginata], was mounted on a wooden shaft, providing greater reach and leverage than a sword. Inscribed with the year 1322, it is one of the oldest surviving [naginata] with a known production date. The white line along the cutting edge is the result of a meticulous steel-hardening process.

— Museum description: Tokyo National Museum (CC BY 4.0), via ColBase / Japan Search.

Record & Sources

Cite this page: “Blade for a Glaive ("Naginata")（薙刀）.” Treasures of Japan, catalogue no. cobas-74832. Tokyo National Museum. https://treasures.yamato-kenkou.com/treasures/blade-for-a-glaive-naginata/ — entry last verified 1 November 2026.
Full record data (as published in the official catalogue record)
  • Genre: Arms & Armor
  • Cultural property designation: Important Cultural Property
  • Category: Applied arts:Arms and armor:Blades:Naginata
  • 員数: 1口
  • 分類: 刀剣
  • 種別: 工芸:武器・武具:刀剣:薙刀
  • 銘文等: 銘 備州長船住景光／元亨二年八月日

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