* Image is for illustrative purposes only.Tachi by Osafune Kanemitsu (Meibutsu Fukushima Kanemitsu)
太刀 長船兼光（名物 福島兼光）
Also known as: Fukushima Kanemitsu
Description
Overview
Fukushima Kanemitsu is a tachi made by Kanemitsu of the Bizen Osafune school in the Nanbokucho period (14th century). It is an Important Cultural Property held by the Tokyo National Museum. The Agency for Cultural Affairs database lists it as "Tachi, Osafune Kanemitsu (Meibutsu Fukushima Kanemitsu)".
Smith and Style
Osafune Kanemitsu is described as a leading smith of the main Osafune line, active from the end of the Kamakura period into the Nanbokucho period. The database commentary points to a hamon of evenly sized, backward-leaning small gunome, and a carving of Kurikara Ryuo, a manifestation of Fudo Myoo.
Origin of the Name and Provenance
The name comes from the Sengoku-period daimyo Fukushima Masanori, who owned it. It is a meibutsu recorded in the Kyoho Meibutsucho and later passed to the Maeda family of Kaga. A list of Japanese swords on Japanese Wikipedia also says Masanori seized it from a temple or shrine in the castle town of Hiroshima, but this remains a tradition.
Today
It is held by the Tokyo National Museum. It is not always on display, so check the museum's exhibition information before visiting.
Legends & Stories
Named for its owner Fukushima Masanori, this Nanbokucho tachi was recorded in the Kyoho Meibutsucho and later passed to the Maeda family of Kaga.