Tada Shrine Treasure House

Tada Shrine is located in Kawanishi, Hyogo Prefecture, and is known as a sanctuary connected to the Genji clan, traditionally said to have been founded around 970 by Minamoto no Mitsunaka, the founder of the Seiwa Genji. Within the shrine grounds stand mausoleums of five generations of Genji warriors—Mitsunaka, Raiko, Yorinobu, Yoriyoshi, and Yoshiie—and the site has long attracted the devotion of samurai as the "Birthplace of the Genji." At this location, where the foundation of Genji prosperity was laid, the most renowned treasure is the Genji family blade "Onikirimaru" (also known as "Higekiri").

Onikirimaru is a Heian-period tachi traditionally attributed to the smith Yasutsuná and is celebrated as a legendary sword connected to the tale in which Minamoto no Raiko, the eldest son of Minamoto no Mitsunaka, severed the head of an oni (demon) during the subjugation of Shuten Dōji. In sword history, "Yasutsuná" is recognized as a master smith of Hōki Province, and blades attributed to his school are extremely rare among surviving examples. It should be noted that swords connected to the legends of Minamoto no Raiko and Shuten Dōji are preserved at multiple shrines and temples with different documented provenances, and Tada Shrine's Onikirimaru is positioned as one such legendary blade among them.

However, the Tada Shrine Treasure House is currently closed, and regular viewing opportunities for Onikirimaru are not provided. A special exhibition held from May to July 2021 is among the recent public exhibitions on record. When planning a visit, it is essential to contact the shrine directly in advance to confirm the current status of the Treasure House. The shrine grounds (9:00–17:00) and the mausoleums and worship hall connected to the Seiwa Genji remain open for regular prayer visits, conveying the rich historical atmosphere of the birthplace of the Genji to the present day.