* Image is for illustrative purposes only.Special Exhibition: Swords of the Warlords — The Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Hidenaga Brothers (Nagoya Token Museum, 2026)
特別展「戦国武将ゆかりの刀剣―豊臣秀吉・秀長兄弟―」
A special exhibition held by the Nagoya Token Museum (Nagoya Token World) from 11 July to 27 September 2026, presenting National Treasure, Important Cultural Property and Important Art Object swords connected to the brothers Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Hidenaga, across two exhibition periods.
Description
Overview
The Nagoya Token Museum (Nagoya Token World) is holding the special exhibition “Swords of the Warlords — The Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Hidenaga Brothers” from 11 July to 27 September 2026 in the Special Exhibition Room on the fourth floor of the North Building. The exhibition focuses on the brothers Toyotomi Hideyoshi and his younger brother Toyotomi Hidenaga, a warlord who supported Hideyoshi's regime, and traces their personal network through famous swords that were transmitted around the two men. The run is divided into two periods, the first (11 July–16 August) and the second (18 August–27 September), with exhibits replaced between them.
First-Period Highlights
The centrepiece of the first period is the Important Cultural Property “Osaka Nagayoshi,” a tanto by Nagayoshi of the Bizen Osafune school. Accounts of the origin of its name differ: it is said either that Toyotomi Hideyoshi gave it to Maeda Toshiie at Osaka Castle, or that Maeda Toshitsune purchased it in Osaka. It was passed down as a treasured possession of the Maeda family of Kaga.
Second-Period Highlights
In the second period, the National Treasure “Uraku Rai Kunimitsu” will be shown. This tanto is said to have been bestowed by Toyotomi Hideyori, son of Hideyoshi, on the tea master Oda Urakusai (a younger brother of Oda Nobunaga), and is counted among the representative works of Rai Kunimitsu. Also on display are the Tokubetsu Juyo sword “Yoshioka Ichimonji,” said to have been brought by Kikuhime, daughter of Hidenaga, as part of her wedding trousseau, and the Important Art Object “Kuwayama Taima,” owned by Kuwayama Motoharu, a retainer of Hidenaga. Through the provenance of these swords, the exhibition interprets the human relationships within the Toyotomi household.
Events and Significance
On 24 July, members of the Nagoya Omotenashi Bushotai will appear in the roles of Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Maeda Toshiie, and related events including a tea ceremony, festival stalls, photo sessions and gallery talks are also scheduled. Beyond the artistic value of the swords themselves, the exhibition concretely shows the social functions swords served, such as gifts, wedding trousseau items and lord–retainer ties, through the real relationships among historical warlords.
Real Swords Featured
Uraku Rai Kunimitsu (Uraku Raikunimitsu)
A tanto said to have been bestowed by Toyotomi Hideyori on the tea master Oda Urakusai (a younger brother of Oda Nobunaga). It is one of the representative works of Rai Kunimitsu and is designated a National Treasure. It will be shown at the Nagoya Token Museum as the highlight of the second period of this exhibition (18 August–27 September).
Yoshioka Ichimonji (Yoshioka Ichimonji)
A tachi of the Bizen Ichimonji school said to have been brought by Kikuhime, daughter of Toyotomi Hidenaga, as part of her wedding trousseau. It is designated a Tokubetsu Juyo sword and is on display in this exhibition.
See authentic Japanese swords
See authentic Japanese swordsThis page is intended to introduce Japanese sword culture and is not affiliated with any of the works mentioned.