幕末

The arrival of Commodore Perry's Black Ships in 1853 triggered the upheaval of the Bakumatsu period. As the sonnō jōi (revere the Emperor, expel the barbarians) movement intensified, swords were once again used in real combat. Shinshintō smiths devoted themselves to creating blades combining cutting ability with durability. Imperial loyalists favored long swords, and many 'kinnō-tō' (loyalist swords)—robust uchigatana with shallow curvature—were commissioned. Koyama Munetsugu excelled in Bizen-style chōji hamon and earned high marks as a maker of sturdy combat swords. Kurihara Nobuhide carried on the Sōshū tradition in Edo, meeting the demands of warriors in the turmoil. After Kiyomaro's death, his disciples Yamaura Masao and Suzuki Masao continued the Sōshū legacy. In Satsuma, Oku Yamato-no-kami Motohira and Hōki-no-kami Masayuki forged combat swords fitted in the distinctive Satsuma koshirae, supporting Satsuma domain warriors. Shinsengumi members sought the finest blades of the age—Kotetsu, Kiyomaro, Kanesada—and their stories remain widely known today. However, the Haitōrei (Sword Abolishment Edict) of 1876 banned sword-wearing, forcing many smiths out of business. The Japanese sword ended its role as a weapon and began its new life as art and cultural heritage. Bakumatsu swords hold a special place among collectors for their romance as the last warrior swords and their historical significance at this pivotal turning point.