Western sword 400 years ago If you try to solve the mystery, November 15th 15:42

There is a Western sword that has been introduced to a shrine in Shiga Prefecture. A sword called "Rapier", which is a slender sword used in fencing with a gorgeous decoration. Although it was thought to have been a legacy from Europe about 400 years ago, scientific research reveals surprising results. The only rapier confirmed in Japan. Who made it for what?
(Otsu Broadcasting Station reporter Hirohisa Kawakami)

Mysterious Western sword `` Mizuguchi Rapier ''

A sword that stretches straight and is close to 1 meter. There are three-dimensional decorations around the collar and the collar has a two-headed eagle pattern.

This sword, whose shape and decorations do not seem to be Japanese in any way, has been thought of as a legacy from Europe about 400 years ago.

Rapier is a weapon used in Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries. It is considered to be a symbol of the chivalry spirit, and the portrait of the upper class at the time depicts a figure that is worn on the waist.

Such a sword has been transmitted to a small shrine in Koka City, Shiga Prefecture. It is called “Mizuchi Rapier” from the area name.

Although it is now stored in a local library, there are no materials that can be traced back to it, and so far it has received little academic attention.

Survey started from "Najakoya"

The milestone was 6 years ago. One researcher came to the museum for a different job.

“At first, I think it's a curiosity of researchers, but I started to want to know more about things that I don't understand well.”

Director of Kobayashi Kouji's Office of Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties. He has been studying cultural assets for many years, but he didn't know the existence of Mizuguchi Rapier. However, the intuition as a researcher worked, and a research team was formed by talking to domestic and foreign experts. They started to solve the mystery.

Different from other rapier!

During the six-year survey, Mr. Kobayashi was surprised when a CT scan was performed.

The internal structure was found to be different from other European rapiers.

The part that connects the sword. European ones are stabbed deeply and fixed firmly by hitting the protruding part from above.

On the other hand, Raipia Mizuguchi used “screws” here.

“I was surprised when I saw it,” said Kobayashi-san. “The screw was a technique used by gunsmiths at that time. I did n’t expect this sword to be there.”

The spear gun, which came to Japan during the Sengoku period and changed the battle, has a screw in the rear part of the tube. Mizuguchi Rapier applied the technology that blacksmiths learned in the production of guns.

Made in Japan, not a traditional product

A research team with great clues. Furthermore, in order to get closer to the inside of the sword, the world's largest synchrotron radiation facility “SPring-8” in Hyogo Prefecture was also investigated. Again, unexpected results become clear.

“Forging is very similar to“ Japanese sword ””

I want you to see an image of the elements inside the sword.

It can be seen that there are many layers of chopped pieces, forming a millefeuille. This is due to the manufacturing method used when forging the blade.

Folding training is a technique that equalizes the carbon of the blade and eliminates impurities by repeatedly folding and striking iron. The characteristic seen in the manufacturing method unique to Japanese swords also appeared in Mizuguchi Rapier.

Further investigation revealed that the sword was “sweet” and not suitable for combat.

It looks like a European rapier itself. However, Japan's unique technology is used for production, which is not suitable for actual battles.

"It's" Made in Japan "imitated by the imitation of Japanese craftsmen about 400 years ago, with reference to the genuine rapier that came at that time."

Multi-faceted research has revealed the unexpected facts of Mizuguchi Rapier.

Try to solve new questions

When Mizuguchi Rapier was a “domestic imitation”, a new question arises.

・ Who made it for what, or let blacksmiths make it?
-Where did the model Rapier come from?

From here on, the hypotheses will be repeated, but history is interesting only by discussing the mystery.

I would like to examine them one by one based on Mr. Kobayashi's ideas. Mr. Kobayashi points out “who”, the first question, as follows.

“If you consider the rapier symbolism that the upper class carried, it is highly likely that it was a gift from a person in Europe to a person in Japan.

One of the most promising candidates with Rapier in hand is Yoshiaki Kato, Sengoku warlord.
Serving Hideyoshi Toyotomi, he was praised as “Seven Bodhisattva in Kasumigadake” for his achievements in the battle of Mt.

“Mizuguchi Pass” was in Koka City in the Edo period. The first lord is the grandson of Kamei, and the shrine that Mizuguchi Rapier has been introduced to is a great ancestor. The locals say that Rapier got Kamei from Hideyoshi.

Jia Ming is also known for having a strong curiosity about the Nanban culture, and possesses a cloth called “velvet” that wears a helmet and armor, as well as a cloth called “velvet”. It was.

I don't know if Kamei directly got the model Rapier, or whether he was worshiped by Hideyoshi who was the lord, but it would not be misguided that Kamei was involved in some way. .

It is very difficult to solve the next “for what”. Mr. Kobayashi points out that, “It can be said that a strong curiosity about Western culture was behind the imitation of rapier because it was not intended for use in actual battles.”

Where is the “real” model?

The last thing I want to consider is the existence of the model rapier. Looking at the elaborate creation of Mizuguchi Rapier, it is natural to think that it was made by placing a “genuine” of Western origin alongside.

The research team investigated the actual rapier and painting materials left in various parts of the world, and compared the shape with Mizuguchi Rapier.

As a result, a few similar examples were found.

The "San Diego" sank in Manila Bay in the Philippines in 1600. The rapier found from this sunken ship was found to be very similar. A similar rapier is also depicted in the portraits of Dutch nobility in the same era.

However, this alone cannot reach the original sword.

Mr. Kobayashi told us that he would like to advance the investigation based on the characteristics of the two-headed eagle pattern engraved on the brim.

“I think it's easy to find answers that are not easy to find.

“Mizuguchi Rapier” has been researched by researchers with no knowledge of the origin. From the puzzle, the curiosity that ordered the imitation of an unfamiliar sword, and the spirit of the craftsmanship that responded to it by using devices such as screws, can be imagined.

I would like to continue to convey these research results that make me feel the joy and depth of history.

Otsu Broadcasting Station reporter Hirohisa Kawakami Joined in 2017 in charge of the ecosystem, academics and culture of Lake Biwa. My favorite Sengoku warlord is Kiyomasa Kato.