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The legendary warriors of Japan and the swords they cherished
Discover the sword culture of Japan's great fortresses
Legendary blades that shaped history
123 entries
Maeda Toshitsune
Second lord of Kaga domain, famed for feigning foolishness to protect the million-koku domain
## Origins and Succession Maeda Toshitsune (1594-1658) was born on 16 January 1594 as the illegitim...
Takechi Hanpeita
Leader of the Tosa Kinno-to Party and Master of the Three-Stage Thrust
Takechi Hanpeita (1829–1865) was a late Edo period loyalist and founder of the Tosa Kinno-to Party, ...
Yagyū Toshitoshi
Yagyū Hyōgonosuke, third-generation head of Shinkage-ryū and founder of the Owari Yagyū line
## Origins Yagyū Toshitoshi (1579-1650) was a swordsman active from the Azuchi-Momoyama period into...
Hasekura Tsunenaga
The Sendai domain samurai who became a Roman noble while leading the Keicho Embassy to Europe
## Life Hasekura Tsunenaga (1571-1622) was a retainer of Date Masamune, lord of the Sendai domain. ...
Iba Hachirō
The one-armed Shingyōtō-ryū swordsman known as the "Little Tengu of Iba," fallen at Hakodate
## Origins and Shingyōtō-ryū Iba Hachirō (1844-1869), personal name Hidesato, was a shogunal retain...
Maeda Gen'i
From monk to one of Hideyoshi's Five Commissioners — the Kyoto shoshidai who managed the court and the temples
## Origins Maeda Gen'i (1539-1602) came from Mino Province and is said to have been a monk in his y...
Akizuki Tanezane
16th Head of the Akizuki Clan
## Life Born in 1548 as the second son of Akizuki Fumitane, a local lord of Chikuzen Province. In 15...
Doi Toshikatsu
The Powerful Rōjū Who Served Three Tokugawa Shoguns, Rumored to Be Ieyasu's Hidden Son
## Life Born on March 18, 1573, Doi Toshikatsu was appointed guardian (moriyaku) to the infant Toku...
Ōkubo Tadayo
One of the Sixteen Divine Generals of Tokugawa — a Mikawa warrior of both valor and administrative skill, entrusted with governing the former Later Hōjō domain
Ōkubo Tadayo was born in 1532 in Kamiwada, Aomi District, Mikawa Province (present-day Okazaki, Aich...
Shirai Tōru
Swordmaster of the Tenshin Ittō-ryū: an Edo swordsman who attained the spiritual state of 'Shinbu Fusatsu' (victory without bloodshed)
Shirai Tōru (1783–1843) was a swordsman who flourished in the late Edo period and is known as the fo...
Shimada Toranosuke
One of the three great swordsmen of the Bakumatsu era and teacher of Katsu Kaishū
## Origins and Training Shimada Toranosuke (1814-1852) was a swordsman of the late Edo period. Born...
Sasaki Rui
Cross-Dressing Swordmaster — An Edo Original Who Fought to Restore Her Family Name
Sasaki Rui was a female swordmaster said to have lived in the early Edo period. She was the daughter...