Blade for a Long Sword ("Katana")

刀

At a glance — Swords & Armour · Kamakura period, 13th century · held by Tokyo National Museum · designated Important Cultural Property of Japan · Osafune Mitsutada.

Fact Sheet

Designation: Important Cultural Property (重要文化財)
Category: Swords & Armour
Period: Kamakura period, 13th century
Date: 1201–1300
Creator: Osafune Mitsutada (長船光忠、備前光忠、光忠)
Held by: Tokyo National Museum
Location: Ueno, Tokyo
Catalogue ID: cobas-74868

Find more

Same period: Kamakura swords & armour →
Same creator: Osafune Mitsutada →
At this museum: All 1632 works here →

For centuries, the maker of this exceptional blade remained unknown. About 300 years ago, the professional sword appraiser Hon’ami Kōchū identified him as Mitsutada, a master swordsmith active four centuries earlier. Following this attribution, the names of both the appraiser and the swordsmith were inscribed on the tang in gold inlay.

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

Record & Sources

Designation: Important Cultural Property (重要文化財), Government of Japan
Catalogue ID: cobas-74868 (permanent)
Official record: Japan Search — jpsearch.go.jp/item/cobas-74868
Holder's collection: ColBase — Tokyo National Museum
Photograph: Tokyo National Museum, via ColBase — CC BY 4.0. CC BY 4.0 licence

Cite this page: “Blade for a Long Sword ("Katana")（刀）.” Treasures of Japan, catalogue no. cobas-74868. Tokyo National Museum. https://treasures.yamato-kenkou.com/treasures/blade-for-a-long-sword-katana-74868/ — entry last verified 1 November 2026.

Full record data (as published in the official catalogue record)

Genre: Arms & Armor
Category: Applied arts:Arms and armor:Blades:Katana
Cultural property designation: Important Cultural Property
員数: 1口
分類: 刀剣
種別: 工芸:武器・武具:刀剣:刀
銘文等: 金象嵌銘光忠／本阿(花押)

Also at the Tokyo National Museum More →

National Treasure