NEKKYO USAGI

A fascinating article about Date Masamune’s and other treasured Date swords! It just so happens to explain how Shokudaikiri-Mitsutada came into Masamune’s possession and how it received the nickname “candle-holder-cutter”.

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“In the fall of Keichō one (慶長, 1596) Date Masamune made Hideyoshi a splendid and practical present, namely a new 64m long and entirely red lacquered royal deluxe boat (gozabune, 御座船) which made it easier for the unifier to travel from and to Ōsaka Castle. One day after he received the present Hideyoshi invited Masamune to Ōsaka. On this occasion he wore a katana mounted with silver fittings and a red hilt wrapping, a rather loud combination but which reflected the pomp of the Momoyama era. As Masamune was constantly looking at the sword, Hideyoshi rose to speak: “It bears a blade by Mitsutada (光忠).*2 One of the 25 Mitsutada from the Uesugi family. Do you want to see it?”

“It would be an honour for me,” replied Masamune and the sword was handed-over. After re-sheathing the blade he gave it back to Hideyoshi with a deep bow: “Truly a masterwork!” “If you like it, I will offer it to you,” said Hideyoshi unexpectedly and of course Masamune agreed. The very next day they arranged a meeting to the south of Kyōto as Hideyoshi had to inspect the rebuilding of his castle Fushimi (伏見) after it had been destroyed in a major earthquake in the seventh month of that year. One of Hideyoshi’s escorts saw how Masamune proudly wore the eye-catching sword in his belt and shouted: “He has stolen the sword of our lord! Get it back!” The nearby samurai started to run towards Masamune but the latter was able to leave them behind. After a short moment of shock the confusion was cleared up and the attentive man was of course not punished.

Some time later Date Masamune argued with a servant whose name is not known. The servant hid behind a huge bronze candle holder (shokudai, 燭台) but his lord was so upset that he cut in half the candle holder and the poor devil crouching it with his sword. Thereupon he nicknamed the blade Shokudaikiri-Mitsutada (燭台斬り光忠, lit. “candle holder-cutter Mitsutada”). When Tokugawa Yorifusa (徳川頼房, 1603-1661), the first generation of the Mito-Tokugawa branch, stayed at the Date residence some years later, Masamune told him about the story of the Mitsutada and the candle holder and showed him the sword in question. The sword chronicle Buko Tōsan (武庫刀纂) of the Mito-Tokugawa family says that Yorifusa “fell undyingly in love” with the blade and mentioned frequently and emphatically that he wanted to have it. When this wish was not granted it is said that he acquired it by force and fled to his Edo residence, i.e. far away from Sendai.”

~ Nekkyo Usagi’s Commission Work ~

Banner design for @heart-of-the-date

Digital art by ATJ - Nekkyo Usagi - Jan 2017

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Commission Info: http://orcagirl2001.deviantart.com/journal/Nekkyo-Usagi-Commissions-updated-572833272

燭台切光忠 Shokudaikiri Mitsutada - Touken Ranbu

Masamune-kou loves “COOL” accessories!

Touken Ranbu Hanamaru - Episode 5