Mihara Castle

Connection to Swords

## Kobayakawa Takakage and the Aesthetics of Swords Kobayakawa Takakage was both a talented military strategist and a man of profound cultivation in tea ceremony and the cultural arts. His sword collection reportedly included works by distinguished swordsmiths from Bizen, Bichū, and Aki provinces; he is said to have owned multiple master blades forged by celebrated craftsmen of Bizen Osafune. Takakage revered swords as a spiritual pillar of the samurai, collecting both practical fighting blades suited to battlefield use and famous appreciative swords for the tea ceremony and formal occasions. ## Mihara as a Sword-producing Center Mihara, located in Bingo Province (Hiroshima), was a region where Bizen Osafune swords circulated abundantly through the Seto Inland Sea trade routes. Beneath Mihara Castle, swordsmiths and blacksmiths established themselves, producing practical weapons for naval forces—swords, naginata, and tantō. The sailors and foot soldiers of the Mihara naval forces wielded short wakizashi and tantō designed for close-quarters boarding combat. ## The Korean Campaigns and the Testimony of Swords Takakage's participation in the Bunroku Campaign (1592–93) marked a pivotal moment in Mihara's sword culture. The naval and land forces of Mihara under Takakage's command saw combat in Korea, during which many swords were deployed, damaged, and replaced. Upon their return, the warriors refined their discernment of blades based on their battlefield experience. Famous swords brought back from Korea spread throughout the realm. Mihara Castle stands as a place where the memory of such historic swords is concentrated—a site of special significance for sword enthusiasts.