Shinsengumi and Swords — Famous Blades Beloved by the Swordsmen of the Bakumatsu Period

The Last Swordsmen of the Bakumatsu Period — What Was the Shinsengumi?

The Shinsengumi was an armed police organization tasked with maintaining public order in Kyoto during the bakumatsu period, serving the Edo shogunate. Established in Bunkyū 3 (1863), it was responsible for maintaining security in Kyoto as anti-shogunate movements intensified. Many of its members came from peasant and merchant backgrounds, and the organization was governed not by social status but by martial prowess in swordsmanship and loyalty—a fact that has garnered widespread sympathy for embodying the ideals of bushidō. The era in which they were active was a turbulent period of transition as Japan transformed from a feudal society into a modern nation-state. The image of these warriors continuing to wield their swords for their convictions has been cherished to this day as a narrative symbolizing the end of the samurai age. This article details the relationships between major Shinsengumi officers and the famous swords they favored.

Kondo Isao and Nagasone Kotetsu — The Commander's Beloved Blade

Shinsengumi Commander Kondo Isao is said to have favored the Nagasone Kotetsu, known as one of the finest works of the Shintō period. Kotetsu (born Nagasone Okisato) was a renowned swordsmith representing the early Edo period who, while inheriting techniques of the Soshu tradition, created masterpieces optimized for the Edo era—blades combining practicality with beauty and highly valued as supreme grade works. The edge of a Kotetsu blade was exceptionally sharp and refined, so much so that a legendary saying arose: "There is nothing that Kotetsu cannot cut." That Kondo, born into a peasant family in Tama but pursuing the ideals of a warrior, chose such a masterwork reflects his philosophy of bushidō and refined aesthetic sensibility. Though the location of Kondo's Kotetsu is unknown today, the fate of its sharp blade through the turbulent bakumatsu period continues to stir the imaginations of history enthusiasts.

Hijikata Toshizo and Izumi no Kami Kanesada — The Vice Commander of Practical Warfare

Shinsengumi Vice Commander Hijikata Toshizo favored the Izumi no Kami Kanesada (eleventh generation, commonly known as "Nosada"). The works of Kanesada, a renowned smith of Mino Province, were highly regarded as practical combat swords, and the eleventh generation Kanesada that Hijikata chose possessed a resilient blade, crafted with the demands of intense battlefield use in mind. Hijikata's rigorous command style and thorough practical warfare mindset are reflected in this blade selection. It was a choice typical of Hijikata, prioritizing performance usable on the actual battlefield over samurai aesthetics. This Izumi no Kami Kanesada is said to have remained at his side until the final moment of the shogunate army's defeat in the Hakodate War. The Izumi no Kami Kanesada transmitted as Hijikata's personal effect is presently preserved along with related materials in the historical museum in Hino, Tokyo, his hometown. For matters concerning sword appraisal and authentication, see also "Sword Shop Appraisal and Authentication Services".

Okita Soji and Koa Kiyomitsu — The Genius Swordsman's Blade

First Squad Leader Okita Soji is said to have used the Koa Kiyomitsu. Okita was known as the most skilled swordsman in the Shinsengumi, and as a practitioner of Tennen Rishin-ryū, he passed through countless battlefields in bakumatsu Kyoto. Koa Kiyomitsu was a renowned smith of Owari Province (present-day Aichi Prefecture), and his works are known for their superior cutting ability and the bright, refined beauty of their hamon. An anecdote from the famous Ikedaya Incident tells that Okita's sword broke during intense combat, revealing how devastating his cutting technique was. Okita later developed tuberculosis and died young in Meiji 1 (1868), yet the fury with which he wielded his blade in his brief life is eloquently demonstrated by his choice of the Koa Kiyomitsu.

Saito Hajime and Kijinmaru Kunishige — The Talented Left-Handed Swordsman

Third Squad Leader Saito Hajime is said to have favored the Kijinmaru Kunishige. Saito was a particularly unique presence within the Shinsengumi, known as a left-handed swordsman who terrified his enemies with his distinctive "left-handed single-handed thrust" technique. This technique was hardly ever anticipated in standard sword training, having been developed from Saito's individual research and practical battlefield experience as a personal secret technique. Kijinmaru Kunishige is a masterwork of the koto period, and its subtle jihada and hamon are highly valued. Saito's preference for koto blades demonstrates respect for tradition while contrasting with his complex fate of later shifting allegiance to the new Meiji government, inspiring the imaginations of many storytellers.

Other Warriors and Sword Culture

The Shinsengumi included many other notable officers beyond Kondo, Hijikata, Okita, and Saito. Second Squad Leader Nagakura Shinpachi was renowned as a practitioner of Shintō Munen-ryū, and his favorite sword is also said to have been "Settsu no Kami Tadayuki." Harada Sanosuke was also known as a master of the spear, employing a unconventional style alternating between sword and spear. Many of the swords used by these warriors are now preserved in museums and private collections, treated as living witnesses to the bakumatsu period. The swords of the Shinsengumi were not merely weapons; they were witnesses to the era, bearing the marks of their users' convictions, ways of life, and deaths. For legal matters concerning Japanese swords, the "Complete Guide to Japanese Sword Law" is also useful as reference.

The End of Bushidō and the Aesthetics of the Sword

The bakumatsu period in which the Shinsengumi was active was also the final era in Japanese sword history when swords were used as actual combat weapons. After the Meiji Restoration, the edict banning swords (1876) prohibited samurai from wearing swords, and the katana transformed from a practical weapon into art and cultural property. However, the numerous famous swords that the Shinsengumi warriors wielded with their lives on the line, beneath whose blades some fell, are historical treasures bearing the most vivid testimony to the end of the samurai age. To know their swords is to touch the turbulent bakumatsu period and the resolve of those who lived through it.