Yamatorige, National Treasure sword at Bizen Osafune Sword Museum in Setouchi, Japan
Yamatorige is a thirteenth-century tachi now displayed at the Bizen Osafune Sword Museum in Setouchi. The blade measures just under eighty centimeters and shows a typical curve of roughly three centimeters, while the width decreases slightly from the base toward the point.
Forged during the Kamakura period, this weapon later belonged to the Uesugi clan. In March nineteen fifty-two it received the official status of National Treasure.
The surface shows a pattern that resembles feathers of mountain birds, with golden lines running through the metal. These clove-shaped elements and golden traces are visible today in the museum and attract visitors interested in ancient forging techniques.
The sword is displayed in the permanent collection of the museum, allowing visitors to observe the fine workmanship and metal details at close range. The museum is located centrally in Setouchi and is easy to reach by public transport.
The city of Setouchi organized a public funding campaign to acquire this sword, and it thus became the first Japanese National Treasure purchased with the help of citizen contributions. This initiative made it possible to keep the object in the region.
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