The nation under one sword

Dragon King pays homage to the renowned military leader, Oda Nobunaga of the Sengoku period in the Tenka Fubu Katana which was his motto “the nation under one sword.” Powerful, ruthless and audacious the Tenka Fubu Katana possesses all the elements that Oda Nobunaga was known for during his rule in medieval Japan.

Most prominent on the tsuba (guard) features the kabuto of Oda Nobunaga and on the fuchi-kashira (pommel) the kabuto of his most bitter rival, Takeda Shingen.  The fuchi (collar) bears a war fan and battle flag to commemorate his victory in 1560 at Dengakuhazama where he raised his battle flags over the rise of a hill to fool Imagawa's forces to think he was encamped there, while he and a handful of men snuck around for a sneak attack which afterward changed the course of Japan’s history.

Oda Nobunaga’s passion for warfare to bring about a unified Japan was only matched by his love for poetry and tea ceremony which are memorialized by the silver menuki (handle ornaments). The red lacquered saya holds the true symbol of Oda Nobunaga’s power, a 28 ½” forged steel blade, and symbolizes the blood that was shed to achieve his ambitions.  The saya is adorned with a buffalo horn kurikata (knob) and kojiri (cap) and brown and gold sageo (cord) which unifies the piece to the brown tsuka-ito (handle wrap) over white same (ray skin).

A must have for collectors but very much a functional piece, one especially built well enough that Oda Nobunaga himslef would be proud to carry.