Shibusawa Heikurō’s daishō
The Japanese Wikipedia relates that of the swords of Shibusawa Heikurō, adopted son of Shibusawa Eiichi, who fought at the battle of Hannō (1868) and took his own life after the defeat, three are known: a long sword and a short one by Katsumura Norikatsu, which he carried in the battle, and a long one by Gassan Sadakazu. The short one, which he carried when he died, was kept by a soldier of the opposing side and returned to Eiichi in 1893; the long one, which he had left with the owner of a teahouse, also returned to him.
Documented works
| Work | Designation | Where it is |
|---|---|---|
| Long sword (大刀, daitō) and short sword (小刀, shōtō) of Shibusawa Heikurō | Not recorded | Returned to Shibusawa Eiichi; today, not recorded |
| Blade forged at the Koishikawa residence with iron sand from Mito | Not recorded | Not recorded |
| Blade for Sakakibara Kenkichi | Not recorded | Not recorded |
In the lists
He does not appear in Tomita Kiyama’s list of shintō swordsmiths (1933), according to the translation of the Japanese Sword Index, nor is any blade of his designated by the State recorded in the sources consulted.
Gallery
Katana by Katsumura Norikatsu, signed and dated on the tang, with the inscription on its wooden scabbard (鞘書, sayagaki): 水府住勝村徳勝 (Suifu-jū Katsumura Norikatsu). Photo: dealer in Japan