Kuwana City Museum （Kuwana City, Mie Prefecture）

　This is a museum that can be visited in about an hour, located in an area famous for clams.

Panoramic view of Kuwana City Museum

　As of May 2022, they are holding a special exhibition of Muramasa, who is famous for his swords.

　In the past, the eldest son of Matsudaira Sadanobu who was the Roju(Member of shogun's council of elders) when led the Kansei reforms in the late Edo period, when he was the lord of the Kuwana domain, so items related to Load Sadanobu are regularly exhibited here.

　The Muramasa, which is the selling point of this museum and its has an interesting story.

　When something has both advantages and disadvantages, it is said to be a "Double-Edged Sword".

　It is written for "諸刃" or "両刃" in Japanese, but it is a tautological expression. A double-edged weapon is a "Sword(剣)", 剣 is a double-edged weapon. If a single-edged weapon is a "刀".

　剣 were popular in ancient times, but professional warriors as Samurai appeared in the mid-Heian period(About 10th).

　Samurai used long curved single-edged swords as Tachi(太刀) that were easy to use on horseback.

　If they hold the handle and twist their hips to the right when the Tachi will come out, also they making easier to swing it. Similar to foreign horse tribes, crescent-shaped long swords became popular.

　In the Muromachi period(1336-1573), the number of amateur samurai as Ashigaru increased, and the blade changed to a straight shape specifically for stabbing, which was simpler than cutting which required training.

　This straight-shaped sword as Katana(刀) became popular, because the Samurai who commanded them dismounted from their horses and became infantry on the battlefield.

　Tachi and Katana can be distinguished by the way the sword rack is placed.

　Place the Tachi with the blade facing down, and the blade of the Katana with the blade facing up.

　When attacked, it was easier to counterattack more quickly by cutting the Tachi up from the bottom up, and cutting Katana down from the top down, so this placement became established.​

　During the Sengoku period(1467-1615), sword manufacturing became popular.

　Swordsmiths hone their skills at sword workshops after, they go independent and build their own workshops, when establish their own brand.

　The brand name of "Muramasa" is one of them.

　Sengo Muramasa, who was active in the first half of the 16th century, he built his own sword workshop in Kuwana and launched the Muramasa brand.

　The number of fans rapidly increased among Samurai warriors of the time due to the sharpness of the blade, which was said to make blood flow just by looking at it, and the beauty of the blade, which could be considered a first-class work of art.

　The skills of the legendary swordsmith were passed on to his successors, and the brand grew into a popular brand in the Sengoku period.

　Decades later, Muramasa brand, which had established itself as a prestigious brand which it was unexpectedly condemnation.

　In the first half of the 16th century, a young military commander name Kiyoyasu became the head of the Matsudaira clan. He was a powerful clan in the western part of Mikawa country(Now Aichi prefecture).

　Kiyoyasu, a skilled warrior who was expanded his power and became the ruler of Mikawa country, when gaining military fame in neighboring countries, but at the age of 25 when he was assassinated by a vassal.

　His sone Hirotada then became the head of the family, but at the age of 24 when he was too assassinated by another vassal.

　The Matsudaira clan, which was said to be "on the verge of unification of Mikawa country", it declined. Rumors circulated that both of the young heads of the families were assassinated, and that both of the murder weapons were "Made in Muramasa".

　This is evidence of Muramasa's popularity, but that fact that Hirotada's 8- year-old son Takechiyo became the head of the family left a source of trouble for Muramasa.

　Takechiyo later changed his name to Tokugawa Ieyasu and became a ruler of Japan.

　People as the time said; "Muramasa killed the ancestor of the God Lord Ieyasu".

　"Muramasa avenges the Tokugawa family".

　There are rumors going around.

　Its sharpness and beautiful yet mysterious blade drive people crazy. Therefore, the vassal assassinated the lord. An urban legend spreads about Muramasa as a "Demon Sword that drives people crazy".​

　Two conditions are necessary for an urban legend to spread.

　The subject must be famous and persuasive.

　"Muramasa is also possible";

　"I'm sure I will be fascinated by it".

　Everyone was understanding with its high name recognition and outstanding quality. The urban legends persist and prestigious brands are forced to pay the Celebrity-Tax.

　On the other hand, even back then people as the time didn't seriously believe in Muramasa's urban legend.

　The Tokugawa family itself owns many Muramasa-Signed Swords, but the feudal lords and samurai tend to shy away from the Tokugawa family and even avoid Muramasa.

　"The Right to Kill for Commoner by Samurai" is nothing more than a catchphrase expressing the superiority of the samurai.

　Both the shogunate and each feudal lords thoroughly eliminated the ethos of the turbulent Sengoku period in order to maintain stable territory management. Even if a samurai drew the sword in the public when they would be punished.

　On the other hand, in order to maintain dignity towards the people of the territory, it is essential to carry a sword when going out.

　"Single-edged Swords" has changed its appearance from "Doble-edged Swords", and its role has changed from "Weapons" to an "Accessories" that represents one's status.

　However, samurai though that the idea is "Muramasa is the best if they want to wear it and use it on a daily basis", so they removed the Muramasa brand mark.

Muramsa's long sword owned by the museum

　If they file down the inscription on the brand mark and make it "Unsigned" on the outside, which they can go out with Muramasa squarely. Muramasa fans also though about this method.

　Muramasa workshop is a military industry that manufactures and sells tools for killing purposes. The reputational damage caused by "The Demon Sword" has now become a "Dignified Name" that guarantees the quality of the product.