* Image is for illustrative purposes only.Ikeda Sadamune
池田貞宗
Also known as: A Masterpiece Tanto by Sadamune (Soshu Sadamune), Passed Down Through the Ikeda Family
Description
Ikeda Sadamune is a tantō (short sword) forged by Sadamune (Hikoshirō Sadamune), the successor to Masamune of the Sōshū tradition, and is designated as an Important Cultural Property. The name "Ikeda" derives from its former possession by Ikeda Terumasa, a great daimyō who once ruled Bizen, Harima, and other provinces. Although this work is designated as an Important Cultural Property, its current location remains unknown, and the Agency for Cultural Affairs is seeking information about its whereabouts.
The Ikeda family, through Ikeda Terumasa, son-in-law of Tokugawa Ieyasu, served as lords of Okayama and became a leading daimyō house of the Seto Inland region, dedicating themselves to the promotion of culture and the arts. They possessed deep expertise in swords; the Ikeda family's sword collection was known to be broad and of high quality, ranging from blades by the Osafune school of Bizen to celebrated masterpieces of the Sōshū tradition. Ikeda Sadamune is known as a celebrated treasure that Ikeda Terumasa possessed.
The blade of Ikeda Sadamune is regarded as a masterwork among Sadamune's tantō creations, particularly demonstrating exceptional refinement and technical excellence. It exhibits a somewhat broad blade width, with the clean and pellucid construction characteristic of hirazukuri (flat forging), presenting an upright, graceful form with subtle uchizori (inward curve). The hamon (blade pattern) displays the gentle nie-deki (boil finish) characteristic of Sadamune, with an elegant undulating design in which gunome intersperse with notare (wave patterns). The nie (boil pattern) is fine, uniform, and bright, with soft, refined luster at the blade edge. Standing apart from the intense beauty of Masamune, it embodies the "perfected beauty" of the Sōshū tradition inherited from Masamune. The jigane (ground steel) displays densely packed koitame-hada (small plank grain structure) that is clean and pellucid, with fine and uniform ji-nie (ground boil patterns) and gently developed jikei (ground patterns) that reveal beautiful steel surfaces. This work is unsigned; it has been attributed to Sadamune through the origami (authentication certificate) of the Honami family.
Highly esteemed as a masterwork of Sōshū Sadamune and as a celebrated treasure associated with Ikeda Terumasa.
Legends & Stories
The name 'Ikeda Sadamune' derives from the fact that Ikeda Terumasa (1564–1613), lord of Himeji Domain, possessed this tanto. Originally owned by Hasui Tsunetomo, a Kyoto merchant, it passed through the mediation of Honami Koetsu to Hosokawa Fujitaka (Yusai), then descended through the Hosokawa family via Tadaoki and Tatsutaka, before Terumasa acquired it in exchange for one hundred gold coins. Terumasa is said to have treasured this tanto. After Terumasa's death, the blade was presented to Tokugawa Hidetada, the second shogun, and was later granted to Maeda Toshitsune, lord of Kaga Domain, where it was passed down through the Maeda family. A legend has been transmitted about this blade that when placed at one's pillow, it would emit a faint sound to warn of impending danger—a tale befitting a spiritual sword. In sword history, there is a saying that 'Sadamune swords choose their masters.' The fact that this blade passed through the hands of such illustrious daimyo families as Hosokawa, Ikeda, Tokugawa, and Maeda has only enhanced its prestige. Today it is designated as an Important Cultural Property and is regarded as a precious blade that conveys the essence of samurai culture to the present day.