What a sword tells us: Ryoma's beloved sword

Ryoma Sakamoto's beloved sword, Mutsunokami Yoshiyuki - the sword of a patriot who ran through the end of the Edo period

The flames flicker.

The iron glowing red in the furnace,

The shape changes with the sound of the hammer.

It's not just iron.

Yoshiyuki's iron cuts dreams,

Yoshikuni's blade cuts through the wind.

Yasumitsu's wakizashi is

Shining light into the gaps of history.

The sword that Sakamoto Ryoma held.

The warmth of his palm,

I feel like it's still on the blade.

The future that man saw,

What kind of light did it have?

Freedom or

Hope,

Or was it just a fleeting dream?

Swords are a mirror that reflect people's thoughts across the ages.

The end of the Edo period when Ryoma ran through

What will Yoshiyuki's iron cut through?

What will Yoshikuni's blade pierce?

Yasumitsu's wakizashi,

What moment in history did you capture?

--The answer is,

Sleeping within the ripples of the blade.

In the swordsmith's furnace,

Iron is no longer just iron,

Will and power

Prayers are infused.

With each sound of their hammers, the iron comes to life.

Into the hands of a nameless warrior,

It will be passed onto the hands of the innovators of the times.

The wakizashi forged by Yasumitsu Osafune

Their breathing,

It still breathes quietly.

A story connected by a single sword.

When I find out the rest of the story,

The past,

It comes alive in your hands.

Yes, a sword is not just a blade.

It is the prayer of man,

It is a memory of the times,

It's a quiet promise for a future yet to be seen.

---

remarks

Ryoma Sakamoto and his beloved sword, Mutsu no Kami Yoshiyuki

Ryoma Sakamoto (1836-1867) was a patriot who ruled Japan during the final days of the Tokugawa shogunate.

In his hand was the inscription: "Mutsu no Kami Yoshiyuki."

There was a sword that said,

Who was Mutsu no Kami Yoshiyuki?

—Characteristics of the sword chosen by Ryoma

The relationship between the patriots of the late Edo period and swords

Mutsunokami Yoshiyuki is a tachi made by Yoshiyuki, a swordsmith active in the late Edo period.

Yoshiyuki's swords are known for their practicality and ease of use.

It was an important tool for self-defense for patriots like Ryoma.

Blade pattern and structure of Mutsunokami Yoshiyuki

• Blade length: Approximately 69 cm (2 shaku 3 sun) → A standard length even when compared to modern Japanese swords.

• A straight blade with a moderate curvature → suitable for actual combat and allows for quick drawing.

• Tenacious jigane (metal) → Has the durability to survive turbulent times.

The Omiya Incident: Ryoma's Final Moments and Mutsu no Kami Yoshiyuki

November 15, 1867 (October 25, lunar calendar),

Ryoma was assassinated at Omiya in Kyoto.

At that time, beside him was

There was Mutsu no Kami Yoshiyuki, who he always carried with him.

However, the assassin's attack was sudden,

Ryoma lost his life before he could even draw his sword.

Where can you see Mutsu no Kami Yoshiyuki today?

Ryoma's beloved Mutsu no Kami Yoshiyuki remains to this day.

It is sometimes exhibited at museums such as the Kyoto National Museum.

➡ Related information:

Kyoto National Museum official website ( https://www.kyohaku.go.jp/)

Japanese Sword Culture Promotion Association ( https://www.touken.or.jp/)