Special Exhibitions

The Japanese sword, a product of artisanry that is representative of Japan, is believed to have originated around the 10th century in the middle of the Heian period (794-1185). Research into the origins and evolution of Japanese swords encompasses an accumulation of knowledge dating back to the Kamakura period (1185–1333), with treatises on swords recording the lineages, ranks, and styles of swordsmiths. Further, during the Azuchi-Momoyama period (1573 - 1600), there arose a custom of appreciating fine swords as “celebrated objects”, perhaps under the influence of the connoisseurship surrounding tea utensils. Gift exchanges of such famous swords would play a role in shaping the order of samurai society. Since modern times, as they have ceased to function as weapons due to the Haitōrei (Sword Abolishment Edict), swords have been reclassified as works of art, and sword research incorporating empirical historical methodology has thrived. Furthermore, from the perspectives of archaeology and cultural heritage, interdisciplinary research is being conducted in order to clarify the origins of Japanese swords and the reality of the techniques used to produce them.
And so, in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the death of Sugihara Shōzō, the first to discuss swords at the podium of Kokugakuin University, and known for his discovery of the famous sword Yamambagiri Kunihiro, we are holding an exhibition telling the story of sword research’s past and present. We hope this will be an opportunity to showcase the latest research findings, including physical and chemical analysis, as we take a look back at the long and uninterrupted history of Japanese swords, tracing the footsteps of the alumni researchers of Kokugakuin University in the history of sword research.