Sanada Yukimura's Muramasa Koshirae

Historical Background

Sanada Yukimura (1567-June 3, 1615) was a samurai who was active from Azuchi-momoyama period to the early Edo period. He and his father were known for being excellent military tacticians. Though their army was very small, they won many battles in which they were outnumbered. Sanada Yukimura was called "A Hero who may appear once in a hundred years". 

This Sanada Yukimura Koshirae reproduces Yoto Muramasa, a cursed blade made by Muramasa, which terrified Tokugawa Ieyasu even after he started his reign. It is said that Ieyasu had lost his son, friends, and relatives to Muramasa blades and had cut himself badly with one. He ended up forbidding his samurai to wear Muramasa blades. For this reason, Yukimura is said to have purposely carried Muramasa and had it in his hand at the battle of Sekigahara(1600), which he fought against Ieyasu.

Specifications

The fitting ornaments feature luck-bringing gourds with cherry blossoms on blackened Fuchi/Kashira, catfishes and gourds on Menuki, and bamboo leaves on 7 cm diameter Tsuba.
A synthetic leather Tsuka cord is wrapped over the blackened Tsukasame and Saya is lacquered Kuroro (black gloss finish). High-quality silk Sageo features the purple Kikko - tortoiseshell pattern.
A sand-cased, reinforced aluminum-zinc alloy blade provides superb balance for dynamic air-slashing moves. Each part is uncompromisingly hand-assembled by the Japanese sword craftsman, who is an expert in making the genuine Japanese sword, Shinken. The blade is available up to 2.45 shaku. Weight without Saya is approximately 800 grams (for 2.45 shaku). Proudly made in Japan.

*Iaito are made with an aluminum-zinc alloy blade and cannot be sharpened.