Hanwei Toyotomi Hideyoshi Katana

The Hanwei Toyotomi Hideyoshi Katana is a finely balanced katana that is lighter and quicker than most Katana. The sweeping blade narrows to a fine tip, yet retains enough width to ensure that it can cut and slice decisively and its long bohi groove reduces much of the blade weight. The sword is artfully themed with its depictions of Osaka Castle and daimyo Hideyoshi Katana in excellent detailing on the tsuba and hilt fittings. Its keenly sharp and finely polished blade of T10 high carbon steel brings out the genuine hamon line which denotes the clay-hardened edge of 60 HRc steel and the shock-absorbing body of the blade which is 40 HRc.

The tsuba, fuchi and kashira are all crafted from antiqued brass with detailing picked out in silver and gold. In addition to Osaka Castle and Toyotomi Hideyoshi on the tsbua, the fuchi regally features the Japanese Tea Ceremony and Osaka castle on its kashira. The wooden tsuka grip is inlaid with high quality genuine rayskin which is overlaid with tightly bound black cotton tsuka ito of high quality to complete the sword. The sword is matched with a scabbard of carved wood which is finished with a glossy black lacquer and a black cotton sageo cord. Included is a cloth sword bag and a Hanwei sword maintenance kit with care instructions. Please Note: The exacting design and color of the sword bag can vary

Toyotomi Hideyoshi, born Hiyoshimaru in 1536, rose from peasant status to chief minister of the emperor in 1585 in attempt to complete the goal of unification of Japan by his fallen leader Oda Nobunaga. In 1568 when Nobunaga began his siege of central Japan Hideyoshi fought in many of those important battles. His judicious behavior, positive countenance and intelligence helped him rise through the ranks. Though his lowly origins bely the latter of those traits, Hideyoshi was the architect of many reforms of feudalism in Japan as well as becoming a master of the tea ceremony and educated himself in secret. In 1577 Nobunaga charged Hideyoshi with the subjugation of western Japan. After the betrayal of Nobunaga’s retainer, Akechi Mitsuhide, and Nobunaga’s suicide, Hideyoshi sought immediate revenge on his leader’s traitor and defeated him at the Battle of Yamazaki.

Hideyoshi followed by securing the line of succession by Nobunaga’s grandson. After subduing one the powerful vassals supporting Nobunaga’s third son, Hideyoshi began fortifying the country by securing all the strongholds and building Osaka castle. Soon after he started the unification process of Japan to complete his mentor’s work. After battling Tokugawa Ieyasu which led to a draw, they ended their conflict with an alliance. In 1585 Hideyoshi was appointed kampuku (chancellor to the emperor) and was given the family name of Toyotomi. After subduing the last of the resistance with his new ally, Ieyasu, they went about securing power and stability for Japan by disarming the population, reducing the number of castles and strongholds within the country and freezing the social classes. Hideyoshi abolished road checkpoints to encourage travel and trade. He also conducted large land surveys to develop mineral resources for the formation of coinage to also assist with economic growth.

In 1590, Hideyoshi was the head of daimyo alliance the formed the government of national unification. Soon after Hideyoshi passed on his position of kampuku to his nephew, Toyotomi Hidetsugu. In 1592 Hideyoshi began an invasion of Korea which ended in failure but tried again in 1597 and failed. Hideyoshi died in 1601 at the age of 62 where he spent his latter years burdened by his defeat in Korea. Two years after Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s death, Ieyasu took control of the government and founded the Tokugawa shogunate. Ieyasu continued Hideyoshi’s policies of unification which led into a time of peace in the Tokugawa era.