About the Blade
Swordsmith
Unknown
Forge Date
Kamakura period (13th century)
Inscription
None
Current Sword Length
79cm
Current Blade Hamon (Historical)
Sheath
Current Location
Bizen Osafune Japanese Sword Museum (備前長船刀剣博物館) in Setouchi City, Okayama Prefecture
Public Viewing
Blade Appearance
History
- Ancestral sword of the Uesugi Clan acting as Kantou Kanrei
- In 1556, Nagao Norikage bestowed this sword to Nagao Kagetora (later known as Uesugi Kenshin) when he went to battle in Joushuu Shirai.
- When Emperor Meiji visited the Yamagata Prefecture in 1881, this sword was ordered to be displayed along with Takagi Nagamitsu, amongst other swords.
- In 1937, this sword was designated as an Important Art Object.
- In May of 1940, this sword was designated as one of Japan's Cultural Properties.
- In 1948, Uesugi Noriaki (15th head of the Yonezawa Uesugi family) transferred the ownership of the sword by assignment to Okano Taromatsu, a businessman from Okayama Prefecture.
- On March 9, 1952, this sword was designated as one of Japan's National Treasures.
- In 1968, it was displayed as part of the 'National Treasure Japanese Sword Special Exhibition' commemorating the opening of the Japanese Sword Museum in Tokyo.
- In 2016, Jouetsu City (Niigata Prefecture) had plans of buying the sword but due to lack of funds as well as dissent from the citizens, this undertaking was abandoned.
- In 2018, Setouchi City (Okayama Prefecture) launched a project referred to as the Yamatorige (Sanchoumou) Homecoming project which aimed to bring back the sword to its place of origin. This included a crowdfunding campaign with rewards for the donors such as the sword's facsimile, full length oshigata (drawing of the sword), posters, t-shirts, etc. During this time, the sword was valued at more than 500 million yen.
- After many twists and turns, the crowdfunding goal was achieved in 2020, and Sanchoumou was successfully purchased by Setouchi City. It is now under the care of Bizen Osafune Japanese Sword Museum located in said city.
Miscellaneous
- A tachi crafted by Fukuoka's Ichimonji School. Excels in commanding, he spearheads the Ichimonji Clan. The blade pattern that has been described as gorgeous by several sources manifests in the form of flame marks and red pupils on him. This sword was so cherished by the Uesugi Clan that they kept it in a private collection for hundreds of years, enveloping it in a mysterious veil.
- At present, it is determined to be the work of Bizen Fukuoka Ichimonji from the Kamakura period, but during the time when it was in the Uesugi Clan’s possession, it was considered to be the work of Osafune Kanemitsu.
- There are cut marks in the sword's habaki, possibly from its use in battle.
- It is said that the sword was named such due to the small featherlike (産毛) patterns similar to that of a mountain bird (山鳥) on the hamon. However according to its description in the Cultural Properties records, such claim cannot be ascertained.
- Incidentally, the Uesugi Clan referred to this sword as 'Sanshoumou' since the pattern is thought to be similar to 'the scenery of a distant mountain being engulfed in flames at night'.
- In the game, its name is read as 'Sanchoumou' but in its Cultural Properties entry, it is read as 'Yamatorige'. Other readings include Yamatemau, Sanshoumou, amongst several others. Its name is also sometimes written as 「山鳥毛一文字」(山鳥毛 + Ichimonji).
- Sanchoumou was implemented in the game during the crowdfunding period as a collaborative effort from Nitro+. Because of this, it can be said that Touken Ranbu has some influence in the success of the crowdfunding effort.
- Sanchoumou calling the saniwa ‘kotori’ is thought to be a reference to 部領使 (kotoridzukai / buryoushi). This is a term used to refer to envoys who deliver supplies and escort personnel.