The Date Clan and Swords — Sword Culture of the Sendai Domain
The Date clan, from which DATEKATANA takes its name, has deep ties to Japanese sword culture.
Date Masamune and swords: Known as the "One-Eyed Dragon," Date Masamune was both a formidable warlord and a man of culture. Among his favorite swords was the "Shokudaikiri Mitsutada," still celebrated as a masterpiece today.
Sendai domain smiths: The Sendai domain nurtured its own sword-making tradition. The Kunikane lineage served as official smiths and was renowned for the beauty of their jihada.
Date clan mountings: The Date clan was meticulous about koshirae design. Their stately mountings featuring gold maki-e on black lacquer are known as "Date-goshirae," preserving the warrior aesthetic to this day.
Sendai and modern sword culture: The Sendai City Museum houses numerous swords from the Date collection, displayed in regular exhibitions. In recent years, the "Touken Ranbu" phenomenon has attracted younger sword enthusiasts, bringing more visitors to Sendai.
From this land of Date, DATEKATANA continues to share the allure of Japanese swords with the world.