National Treasures & Important Cultural Properties
of National Institutes for Cultural Heritage, Japan

Umetada Myoju was a swordsmith who lived in the Nishijin area of Kyoto during the Momoyama and early Edo periods. He is known as the "father of the new-style sword (J., shinto)." He was also accomplished in metal carving, as is apparent from the decor on his sword guards and blades, which are superbly original in ways quite unlike anything from previous periods. This sword is relatively wide when viewed from the side, though not thick. The tapering tip of the sword is long, like an Osuriage sword. During those days the fashion of swords was changing from the long tachi to the shorter uchigatana, and this one was made during this transition period. The front has a design of Fudo Myoo (Skt., Acalanatha) and the reverse bears a dragon, both expertly carved in relief. An inscription reading, "This should not be given to others," perhaps indicates that Myoju was greatly satisfied with this sword and wished to leave it for his own descendants. There are few long swords among the remaining works by Myoju; those that can be definitively attributed to him are especially rare.