皆さまこんにちは。スタッフでHございます。

今朝歩いていると、色々な種類の紫陽花（あじさい）が咲いている公園をみつけました。私のイメージする紫陽花はこんもりと丸いブーケのような形なのですが、花が周りにだけ咲いている紫陽花も時々みかけます。（この花だと思っていたものは実は花ではなかったのですが…）

先ほど、花に見えるものは花ではないそうで…と書きましたが、ガクアジサイの周囲を囲む４枚の花弁に見えるものは花ではなく「がく」だそうで「装飾花」と呼ばれます。「がく」とは花びらの外側にある花葉のことで、普通は葉と同じ緑色をしていますが、紫陽花は花のようにカラフルな色をしています。

中央の複数の小さな粒のようなものの一つ一つが花だということです。よく見ると青い紫陽花の中心はまだ蕾で、紫の紫陽花の中心の花は咲いているように見えます。水色のガクアジサイの「がく」は八重になっており、もう私には花にしか見えません！

ブーケのような紫陽花も４枚の花弁に見えるものは「がく」でその中心に小さな小さな花が一つ咲いています。控えめすぎるお花です。

色々と調べてみますと「アジサイ」の語源は「アジ」が小さいものが集まることを意味する「あづ」。「サイ」が藍色を意味する「真藍（さあい）」からきていると分かりました。

漢字の「紫陽花」は平安時代中期の歌人であり学者でもあった源順（みなもとの　したごう）という人物が中国の白楽天の詩に登場する「紫陽花」の花の特徴から、ガクアジサイを同じ花だと勘違いし、この漢字を当てたといわれています。あじさいは日本原産ですので中国の紫陽花とは同じ花ではないとされていますが、現代までこの漢字は受け継がれ、紫陽花という文字を見ると日本の梅雨の時期のしっとりとした情景が思い浮かびます。

ふと思い出したのですが、昔実家でトイレに紫陽花が逆さまに吊るされていた時期がありました。

昔の人は紫陽花には霊力が宿るとして魔除けに使っていたようで、紅白の水引で結んだものを軒先や玄関に吊るすのだそうですが、なぜトイレに？と不思議に思い調べると、トイレに吊るすと婦人病を防ぐという言い伝えがあるのだそうです。今朝も家の庭先に咲くたくさんの紫陽花を見ました。家を守るという意味合いもあるのかもしれませんね。

紫陽花の花の色は土壌の酸性度によって変化するようで、酸性に近ければ青色の花が咲き、アルカリ性に近ければピンクの花が咲くそうです。土壌が弱酸性の日本では青色の紫陽花が多く見られ、今朝見つけた公園でも水色や紫の紫陽花が咲いていました。今日は日差しが強くバテ気味でしたが、涼し気な色の紫陽花が一瞬暑さを忘れさせてくれ、元気をもらいました。

それでは、また次の機会に。

皆さまこんにちは。スタッフでＴございます。

さて本日のブログは、ご実家のお片付けや相続品の整理などでご相談を頂きます「珊瑚」についてです。

海の生物として知られる珊瑚ですが、装飾品としても実は高い人気があります。珊瑚はその色味、色ムラ、傷などによって価値が変わってきますが、その中でも血赤珊瑚と呼ばれるものは買取価格も非常に高額になってきます。

そもそも「珊瑚」とはどういったものなのでしょうか？

珊瑚というと珊瑚礁を形成するもの（条約等によって国際的に保護されている造礁サンゴと呼ばれるタイプ）を想像しがちですが、「宝石サンゴ」、「石サンゴ」、「軟質サンゴ」、「ヒドロサンゴ」など珊瑚自体が種類分けすることができ、例えば宝石として取り扱われる珊瑚は「宝石サンゴ」と呼ばれるものだけになります。そして、１７４２年に、珊瑚は動物であることが確認され、珊瑚虫は「刺胞動物：花虫類」に分類され「ポリプ」と言う種群であることが解明されました。

珊瑚虫が珊瑚礁か宝石サンゴかは、口の周囲にある触手の数によって見分ける事ができます。

珊瑚礁は､六放（ろっぽう）サンゴといわれ、口の周囲にある触手の数は６本、浅海に生息していてその成長も早いとされています。よく海岸で見かける「イソギンチャク」も実はサンゴ礁の種類に入ります。

一方で、宝石サンゴは､八放（はっぽう）サンゴといわれ、口の周囲にある触手の数が８本です。100ｍ以上もの深海に生息している為人の目に触れる事はなく、成長もわずか１ｃｍ成長するのに、数十年近くかかるかかるものもあり、これが大きく成長した原木は大変貴重です。サンゴの成長は、原木の周囲を泳いでいる珊瑚虫が、一定の大きさになると原木本体に吸着される事によって成長を続けていきます。

珊瑚虫の中でも、感覚機能を持ったもの、平衡機能を持ったもの、外敵に対して保護機能を持ったもの、磨耗に対する保護機能を持ったものというように、それぞれ役割を持って一つの原木に成長します。潮の流れが速いほど、非常に美しい枝を作る為、原木自体自然が生み出した深海の芸術品と言えるでしょう。

また、宝石サンゴは動物ですからそれぞれの個体に寿命があり、その寿命を迎えたサンゴはやがて朽ち果て、海底の砂となります。高価な宝石の一つとして世界的に知られる珊瑚は真珠とあわせて「海の二大宝石」と呼ばれ、養殖ができない希少性ある天然宝石として古来より重宝されています。

そんな珊瑚を採取して装飾品や祭祀の神具・護符として活用するようになったのは、なんと紀元前のこと。ドイツの旧石器時代の遺跡からは珊瑚が見つかっています。
日本に珊瑚が伝わったのは、奈良時代のこと。当時はシルクロードを通って伝わった外来品として重用されていたそうです。その後、明治時代になると日本近海にも珊瑚が生息していることが判明し、珊瑚漁が行われるようになりました。

珊瑚は世界各地で装飾品として愛されていますが、実は産地は限られています。
スペインやイタリア・ギリシャなどの地中海は、珊瑚の一大産地です。地中海産の珊瑚は、赤珊瑚と呼ばれ高いグレードがつけられています。このほか、北太平洋のハワイやミッドウェー島などでは、白珊瑚と呼ばれる淡い色をしたものが採取されています。
日本の場合は、高知県の土佐沖や沖縄や小笠原列島・五島列島・奄美などの近海が代表的です。

そして、宝石として使用される珊瑚は主に「血赤珊瑚」「赤珊瑚」「桃色珊瑚」「白珊瑚」と、大きく分けて4つに種別されます。次回はこれらの特徴についてお話できたらと思っております。

ではでは、また。

Hello everyone. This is T. Staff.

Today, I would like to write about “coral,” a topic that we are often consulted about when cleaning out family homes or sorting out inheritances.

Coral is known as a sea creature, but it is also very popular as a decorative item. The value of coral varies depending on its color, unevenness of color, scratches, etc. Coral is called “blood red coral” and its purchase price is very high.

What is “coral” in the first place?

When we think of coral, we tend to imagine coral that forms coral reefs (the type called reef-building coral, which is internationally protected by treaties, etc.), but coral itself can be classified into different types such as “jewelry coral,” “stone coral,” “soft coral,” and “hydro coral,” and for example coral that is treated as jewelry is called “jewelry coral. Coral that is treated as jewelry, for example, can only be called “gemstone coral. In 1742, it was confirmed that corals are animals, and coral worms were classified as “cnidarians: bryozoans,” a group of species called “polyps.

Coralline worms can be distinguished from coral reefs and jewel corals by the number of tentacles around their mouths.

Coral reefs are called roppo corals, which have six tentacles around their mouths, live in shallow waters, and grow quickly. Sea anemones, which are often seen on beaches, are actually a type of coral reef.

On the other hand, gemstone corals, which have eight tentacles around their mouths, live at depths of more than 100 meters and are not visible to the human eye. Coral growth is caused by coral insects that swim around the logs, and when they reach a certain size, they are absorbed by the log itself and continue to grow.

Among the coralline worms, those with sensory functions, those with equilibrium functions, those with protective functions against foreign enemies, and those with protective functions against abrasion, all grow into a single log. The faster the tides flow, the more beautiful the branches are, so the log itself is a deep-sea work of art created by nature.

Since gemstone corals are animals, each individual coral has its own life span, and when it reaches the end of its life span, it eventually decays and becomes sand on the ocean floor. Coral is one of the most expensive gemstones in the world, and together with pearls is known as one of the “two jewels of the sea,” and has been treasured since ancient times as a rare natural gemstone that cannot be cultivated.

Coral has been collected and used as ornaments, ritual implements, and amulets since the B.C. period. Coral has been found in Paleolithic remains in Germany.
Coral was introduced to Japan in the Nara period (710-794). At that time, coral was valued as a foreign product introduced via the Silk Road. Later, in the Meiji period (1868-1912), coral was found to inhabit the seas around Japan, and coral fishing began.

Coral is loved as an ornamental item in many parts of the world, but its origin is actually limited.
The Mediterranean Sea, including Spain, Italy, and Greece, is a major coral producing area. Mediterranean coral is called red coral and is highly graded. In addition, light-colored corals called white corals are collected from Hawaii and Midway Island in the North Pacific.
In Japan, the most representative areas are off the coast of Tosa in Kochi Prefecture and the waters around Okinawa, the Ogasawara Islands, the Goto Islands, and the Amami Islands.

Coral used as jewelry is classified into four main categories: blood red coral, red coral, peach coral, and white coral. In the next issue, I would like to talk about the characteristics of these types of coral.

皆さまこんにちは、スタッフYでございます。

弊店でもよく問い合わせがございます刀剣。

〝ご先祖が持っていた刀が､家で見つかったのですが、どうすればよろしいですか？〟
〝所有していた家族が亡くなり、持っていた刀はどうすればよいか教えてください〟
〝以前は興味がなかったのですが、最近、先祖が持っていた刀が家にあることが判り、今後、どのようにすれば所持できるのか教えてください〟

など、刀剣を見つけてしまった！、どうすればよいのか…などのご相談もございます。

刀剣を所持扱う際はルールがございますので、本日はそちらについて綴ってまいりますので、是非ご参考になさってみてください。

Hello everyone, this is Staff Y.

We often receive inquiries about swords.”I found a sword that belonged to my ancestor in my house, what should I do with it?”A family member who owned a sword has passed away, what should I do with the sword I had?
“I wasn’t interested before, but recently I found a sword that belonged to my ancestor in my house, please tell me how I can possess it in the future.I have found a sword, such as! What should I do with it?There are rules and regulations regarding the possession and handling of swords, so please take a look at them today.according to the “Law on Firearms and Swords Possession,” anyone is allowed to possess a Japanese sword that meets the criteria for registration by the “Firearms and Swords Registration Board” of each prefectural board of education and for which a “Firearms and Swords Registration Card” (registration certificate) has been issued.So, the first points to note are

1) Check to see if any “Japanese swords” (long or short, large or small) found or kept at home have a “Firearms and Swords Registration Card” (registration card) attached to them.

If you have the registration card, you may possess the sword as it is. However, you may need to report a change of ownership, so please call the person in charge of swords at the board of education listed on the registration certificate. Please call the representative of the local board of education and ask for the person in charge of swords (Japanese swords).
It is best to have your registration card ready at hand and provide the registration number. 2.

(2) If you cannot find your registration card.

In this case, too, please call the person in charge of swords at the local board of education and tell him or her about the situation.
We will be happy to consult with you. The important thing to remember is that the “Japanese sword” found should be left in its original state without being moved from its location. Please be careful not to move it without permission.

After that, you should proceed with the advice of the person in charge of swords at the Board of Education.

Normally, after the “report of discovery” process at the police department, the actual item and necessary documents are finally brought to the “Firearms and Swords Registration Board” of each prefectural board of education (*If you have a “report of discovery” instead of a registration certificate, you can bring the item to the board, which means you can bring it to the board), and if the item meets the criteria for registration, it will be issued a If the item meets the criteria for registration, a “Firearms and Swords Registration Certificate” (Registration Certificate) will be issued. Examination dates (once every one to three months) vary from board of education to board of education. Please contact the board of education for details.

How should swords and other items be handled? Here are a few points to consider

Do not send your swords to be sharpened until they have been examined for registration. If you find a sword, please leave it as it is. Please leave the swords as they are.

The following are points to keep in mind when handling a report of discovery (from the standpoint of the police, the following points should be noted).

1.Give due consideration to the handling of the sword so as not to cause unnecessary inconvenience to the person who notified of the discovery in good faith.

2. handle the presented swords with care, bearing in mind that they may be valuable works of art, and if it is difficult to remove the koshirae to check the blade length, eye nail holes, or inscription, do not attempt to do so by force.

3.With regard to requests for registration, respect the wishes of the notifier of the find and make no judgment as to whether or not the item is eligible for registration.

4. not to take temporary custody of the swords. However, this shall not apply when it is necessary and unavoidable.

5. It is acceptable for a responsible person who knows the circumstances of the discovery to report the discovery on behalf of the finder.

6. even swords that have been found and reported cannot be transferred to others without registration, and possession of swords for purposes other than registration is illegal, so the person who found or reported the discovery should be informed of this fact.

7. in cooperation with the Prefectural Board of Education, take necessary measures, such as confirming the intention to dispose of or donate to a public museum, etc., swords that have not undergone a registration examination after being discovered and notified or that have not been registered as a result of the registration examination.

Once you have completed the registration procedures and have been issued a “Firearms and Swords Registration Certificate” by the local board of education, please polish the sword to prevent rusting and keep it in a safe place. The registration certificate is also required when considering the sale of the sword, so please keep it in a safe place.

Although we have given a general explanation, we believe that each family has its own unique circumstances. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or concerns about handling, notification, purchase, etc.

皆さまこんにちは。スタッフでＴございます。

今朝ふと「そういえば昨日は令和6年6月6日だったな」と過ぎ去ってから気づきました。

なぜか数字が並ぶとテンションが少し上がりますが、みなさまはいかがですか？

気が付いたのが今日ですが、遅ればせながら少しＳＮＳを覗いてみましたら、皆さま熱く「6」集めされておりまして、「R6.6.6」がトレンド入りしておりました。

数字が揃うと、皆さん「もっと6を並べたい」と考えるようで、「6月6日6時6分6秒」に写真を撮影された方も多くおられました。そして、「6月6日6時6分6秒」に加えて湿度を「66％」に調整して撮影した人も。偶然ではなく、揃えるために早起きされたのでしょうか。朝が弱い私には尊敬しかありません。

なぜ数字が並ぶとこんなに嬉しいと思うのでしょう。人は同じ数字が並ぶと、縁起の良さと結びつけるため期待感が上がったり、気分が上がる人が多いような気がします。どうやら、この考え方は世界でも広く見られる共通の認識のようです。

数字の「6」については、時間の単位が6の倍数になっているので、割と接する機会が多い数字かもしれません。

時間の単位は、1年が12カ月、1カ月は（基本的に）30日、1日が24時間、1時間は60分、1分は60秒となっており、ここで現れてくる「12」、「24」、「30」、「60」は、全て6の倍数です。

「6」という数字は、縁起の良い数字、縁起の悪い数字どちらなのでしょうか。

日本では、とくに「6」という数字に「よい」意味はないようですが、中国では異なるようです。

中国で「6」は「8」（「発」（fa ファ）と同じ発音であることから転じて、発展、繁栄などの意味）や「9」（「久」（jiu ジウ）と同じ発音であることから転じて、永遠、長寿などの意味）の次に「いい数字」とされています。「六六大順」（順調、うまくいく）などの言葉もあり、好んで使われるようです。

さらに、ここ数年、Z世代の若者がネットで使ったことから、「666」が「超いいね！」「すごいね！」などの意味になり、若者だけでなく、幅広い世代の人々が、ネットの生中継などを見て「超いいね」と示したいときに「666」と押すようになったそうです。

一方で、キリスト教においては、「6」は不完全な数、「666」は獣の数字とされています。
聖書においては、神が人類を創造した「7」が聖なる数とされているのに対して、それに１つ足りない数字として、「6」は不完全な数字とされています。

また、「666」は、新約聖書の「ヨハネの黙示録」に記述されている１匹の怪物を表現するシンボルである「獣の数字」とされ、「悪魔の数字」ともいわれています。ヨハネの黙示録第15章16～18節には、「ここに知恵が必要である。思慮のある者は、獣の数字にどのような意味があるかを考えるがよい。その数字は人間を指している。そして、その数字は666である。」と記されており、長年にわたって「666」は悪魔や反キリスト教徒など、様々なものと関連付けられているようです。

私はと言えば、「666」と聞けば、アメリカのホラー映画『オーメン』（1976年）が頭に浮かびます。6月6日、午前6時に生まれた悪魔の子、ダミアンが引き起こす恐怖のストーリー。「666」と聞けば「不吉な数字」「悪い数字」のイメージが強いかもしれません。

とはいえ、同じ数字の並びが何度も目に入る、なんとなく気になる…そんな数字はエンジェルナンバーともいわれ、メッセージ性があるとも言われています。占いのように楽しみながら、自分自身を見つめるためのヒントを見つけられるかもしれませんね。

ではでは、また。

Hello everyone. This is T. Staff.

This morning I suddenly realized that yesterday was June 6, 2024.

For some reason, I get a little excited when I see numbers in a row.

Since I noticed it today, I took a look at some social networking sites and found that everyone was passionately collecting “6” and “R6.6.6.6” was trending.

It seems that everyone wants to line up more 6’s when the numbers are all lined up, and many people took a photo at “6:06:06 on June 6,” and then took a photo at “6:06:06 on June 6,” and then took a photo at “6:06:06 on June 6,” and so on. And there were also those who took pictures at “June 6, 6:06:06” and adjusted the humidity to “66%. I wonder if it was not by chance that they woke up early in order to take the same picture. I have nothing but respect for those who are weak in the morning.

Why do you feel so happy when the numbers line up? I feel that when people see the same number lined up, they associate it with good luck, and therefore their expectations rise and their moods are lifted. Apparently, this idea is a common perception that is widely shared around the world.

As for the number “6,” I feel that it is a number that we come into contact with rather frequently because the unit of time is a multiple of 6.

A year is 12 months, a month is (basically) 30 days, a day is 24 hours, an hour is 60 minutes, and a minute is 60 seconds, and the “12,” “24,” “30,” and “60” that appear here are all multiples of 6.

Is the number “6” a good or bad omen?

In Japan, the number “6” does not seem to have a particularly “good” meaning, but in China it seems to have a different meaning.

In China, the number “6” is considered to be the next best number after “8” (pronounced like “fa fa”, meaning development and prosperity) and “9” (pronounced like “jiu”, meaning eternity and longevity). It is also used in the Japanese language to express “good luck” and “good fortune”.

In addition, in the past few years, the use of “666” on the Internet by young people of Generation Z has led to the use of words such as “Super nice! That’s great!” and so on. Not only young people but also people of all ages now press “666” when they want to show “super nice” when they watch live broadcasts on the Internet.

On the other hand, in Christianity, “6” is an imperfect number and “666” is the number of the beast.
In the Bible, “6” is considered an imperfect number as it is one short of “7,” the number God created mankind with, while “7” is considered a holy number.

Also, “666” is considered the “number of the beast,” a symbol representing one monster described in the New Testament’s “Revelation of John,” and is also known as the “number of the devil. Revelation 15:16-18 says, “Herein is the need of wisdom. Let him who is wise consider what the number of the beast means. That number refers to man. And that number is 666.”
It is written, and over the years “666” seems to have been associated with many things, including the devil and anti-Christians.

As for me, when I hear “666,” I think of the American horror film “The Omen” (1976), about the terror caused by Damien, a child of the devil born on June 6 at 6:00 a.m. The film was made in the United States in 1976. The number “666” may conjure up images of “bad luck” and “bad numbers.

Nevertheless, if you see the same sequence of numbers over and over again, or are somehow curious about them… such numbers are also known as angel numbers and are said to have a message. While enjoying it like fortune-telling, you may be able to find hints to help you look at yourself.

See you soon.

皆さまこんにちは、スタッフYでございます。

ここ名古屋、本日はなんだかどんよりとしたお天気であります。この曇天のせいか、曇天のおかげでか、街中の紫陽花の花が際立って目に入ってきます。今朝も様々な紫陽花を眺めながら勝手に品評会をしておりました。あ、でも私の中ではどの紫陽花も「最優秀賞」ですが。

また、そろそろ梅雨のお知らせも入ってきそうです。花粉もひと段落したこの時期はご自宅ご実家のお片付けなど、個人的にはおすすめの季節ではあります。

さてさて、そんな紫陽花を横目に、先日偶然にも名古屋市昭和区にて豊臣秀吉の母（大政所）宅跡ではないか？はたまたここで太閤秀吉を生んだのではないか？と、言われる場所を発見いたしました。

え？ここ？と言われそうなところだったのですが、屋敷跡のものであろう古木が。

どうやら母宅ではないかといわれる「御器所屋敷」と呼ばれるお屋敷がこの辺りにあったようでして、劇やドラマでは貧しい足軽からスタートだった秀吉も、実はお坊ちゃまだったのではなかろうか？と、思っていまったのですが、真実はどうなのでしょうね。

そこはまた別の機会に深掘るとして、ここ愛知県（尾張・三河）近辺は戦国三英傑を輩出したこともあり、このように「歴史的偉人の母」のストーリーや史跡が所々残っております。

かの徳川家康の母、於大の方も愛知県東浦町が出生の地であり、こちらは町内に於大の方にちなんだ寺院や史跡が多数残っているのですが、こちらは町をあげて「於大の方」を推しております。

とまあ現在の生母たちの存在は様々なのですが、史実や歴史を追っていきましても、どの偉人の母もご多分にもれず偉人本人同様、素晴らしい母であることはみなさま周知の事実。

それと同時に、偉人の生母のストーリーは聖母マリアやエジソンの母ではありませんが、全世界にもあったりと、「偉人がなぜ偉人になりえたのか、そのルーツは何なのか。」などとといったことは、今も昔もお国も問わず気にはなるところではあるようですね。

そんな自分も一児（もう大人）の母なのですが、たまに見かける超天才児や特別な才能を持ったお子さんをみると、何が違うのかなぁ…、先天的な遺伝子レベルなのか、後天的な育て方なのか、はたまた他の要因なのかなど…、などと気にはなりながら子育てをしておりました。

これは世の母たちの永遠に気にはなるテーマなのでしょうが、我が家の場合、凡人の子はどうも凡人だな…ということが薄っすらわかってまいりまして、私が偉人の生母でないことは確かではあります笑。

それではごきげんよう。

Hello everyone, this is Staff Y.

Here in Nagoya, the weather today is somewhat gloomy. Perhaps it is because of this cloudy weather, or perhaps it is because of the cloudy weather, but the hydrangea flowers in the city stand out. This morning, as I looked at the various hydrangeas, I was having my own evaluation contest. But in my mind, all the hydrangeas won the “best of the best” award, lol.

It seems that the rainy season is just around the corner, and I personally recommend this time of year for cleaning up your home and parents’ house after the pollen count has subsided.

With such hydrangeas by my side, the other day I happened to visit the site of Hideyoshi Toyotomi’s mother’s (Oyosho) house in Showa Ward, Nagoya City, and wondered if it might be the site of Hideyoshi Toyotomi’s mother’s house. Or perhaps this is where Toyotomi Hideyoshi was born? We found the place where Hideyoshi TOYOTOMI’s mother (Omasasho) lived in Showa Ward, Nagoya City.
What? Here? but there was an old tree that might have been the remains of the house.

It seems that there was a mansion called “Gokisho Yashiki” around here, which is said to be his mother’s house, and Hideyoshi, who started out as a poor foot soldier in plays and dramas, may have actually been a monk. I was wondering if Hideyoshi, who started out as a poor foot soldier in the plays and TV dramas, might have actually been a monk.

I will dig deeper into this another time, but here in Aichi Prefecture (Owari and Mikawa), which produced the three great heroes of the Warring States period, there are many stories and historical sites of “mothers of historical figures” like this.

The mother of Tokugawa Ieyasu, Oodai, was also born in Higashiura Town, Aichi Prefecture, and there are many temples and historical sites associated with her in the town.
The “Oodai-no-michi,” a 2-kilometer path on both banks of the Myotokuji River from National Highway 366 to Kengonin, is a historical walking trail, and in spring, the Oodai Festival is held with great fanfare. Along the path, 600 double-flowered cherry trees of about 20 varieties are planted, and monuments with motifs of the nightgowns worn by the Oda people are placed along the path.
In the midst of all this, “Odai-chan,” Higashiura Town’s tourism mascot, was born in April 2012. (Of course, “Oodai-no-Kata” is the model.) Her age is eternal 5 years old! Odai-chan, whose charm point is her cherry-colored cheeks, was also issued a special certificate of residence on April 1, 2013, the following year.

The mothers of the great men and women of the past are as well known as the mothers of the great men themselves.

At the same time, the stories of the birth mothers of great people are not the Virgin Mary or Edison’s mother, but they are found all over the world, and people still wonder why great people became great people and what their roots are. I guess people are interested in such things now and in the past, no matter what country they are from.

I myself am a mother of a child (now an adult), and when I see a child who is a super genius or has special talents, I wonder what the difference is…whether it is congenital at the genetic level, acquired in the way of upbringing, or some other factor. I was raising my child while wondering if it was a congenital genetic level, acquired upbringing, or other factors.

I am sure this is a theme that is forever on the minds of mothers around the world, but in the case of our family, we have come to realize that the children of ordinary people are very ordinary………………………….

I wish you all the best.

皆さまこんにちは。スタッフHでございます。

２．登録票の取得

個人の所有も含め、象牙の原型をとどめている１本物は登録票がないと譲渡・売買ができません。たとえ彫り物がしてあっても、原型が残っている象牙は環境省に登録する必要があります。

この「国際希少野生動物種登録票」がなければ所有することができません。ただし、加工されていて原型が残っていない象牙製品は該当しません。

象牙製品は高級な嗜好品ですので、査定を受ける際には特別国際種事業者として認定されているお店を選ぶことが重要です。ご自宅にある象牙の価値はどのくらいだろう？と疑問に思われましたら、信用のある業者で一度鑑定してもらうことをお勧めします。

Hello everyone. This is Staff H.

Today, I would like to write about the handling of “ivory,” which is often consulted among the items that are difficult to dispose of when cleaning out one’s house.

Ivory has been treated as a precious article since ancient times, and has been used for sculptures, antiques, furniture, and ornaments since ancient times because it has both moderate hardness and softness that can be easily processed. The tusks of most mammals have well-developed canine teeth, while ivory has well-developed portal teeth.

Ivory, also called ivory, is characterized by a light yellowish color. The smooth milky-white skin and the warm candy-colored texture produced by age have attracted people. Ivory has a characteristic stripe pattern called rosette pattern, which is a standard to distinguish the authenticity of ivory. Also, the further to the tip, the closer to the center, the more valuable it is considered.

I will briefly explain the points to be noted when handling ivory artifacts.

Regulations by Washington Convention

It is thought that ivory taken from elephants that died of natural causes in Africa was used until the Middle Ages. However, due to their beauty and ease of processing, elephants were overhunted for their ivory. As a result, the number of African elephants, which had numbered 10 million at the beginning of the 20th century, plummeted to 650,000. With a sense of crisis, the international trade of ivory was banned by the Washington Convention in 1989. Only ivory or its processed products that were owned domestically before this treaty are allowed to be transferred and sold.

2. obtaining a registration card

The transfer and sale of one original ivory that retains its original form, including private ownership, is not allowed without a registration slip. Even if it is carved, ivory that still retains its original form must be registered with the Ministry of the Environment.

Without this “International Rare Wildlife Species Registration Card”, you cannot own it. However, ivory products that have been processed and do not retain their original form do not fall under this category.

3. ivory can be handled by the following companies

From June 1, 2018, in order to prevent illegal trade of ivory products in Japan, the revised “Law for Conservation of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora” (Law for Conservation of Species) has been enforced, and businesses that manufacture and sell ivory products, etc. in Japan are required to notify the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry as a “Special International Species Business Operator,” and renew the registration every 5 years In addition, if they fail to register as a “Special International Type Business Operator”, they are required to renew their registration every five years.

In addition, the penalties for failing to register or engaging in transactions that violate the “Law for the Conservation of Species” have been strengthened, and prison sentences are now also sought.

4.Ivory Crafts

It is said that the technique of carving ivory was introduced to Japan from China in the Nara period (710-794). In the Edo period, ivory crafts such as netsuke, hair ornaments, and combs were favored by samurai and common people, and their artistic value was gradually enhanced.

In the Meiji period (1868-1912), elaborate ivory crafts were exhibited at international expositions as part of the industrial development industry.　In the Taisho and Showa periods, Western pipes were introduced and ivory smoking implements were made. In modern times, ivory is also used for seals and Japanese musical instruments.

5. famous ivory artists

With the increase in the artistry of ivory crafts, there appeared artists who carved ivory, called “tusk carvers”. Some of them are introduced below.

Asahi Gyokusan (1843-1923)

He was born in a temple in Asakusa, Tokyo, and once became a Buddhist priest, but taught himself to carve, producing elaborately carved netsuke with frogs, dogs, spiders, and other creatures as his subjects. In the Meiji era (1868-1912), he became interested in human bones, and his “dokuro” netsuke were well received. After serving as a juror at expositions, he exhibited his “Kannjo Okimono” at the Japan Art Association in 1901, a large work made by joining several pieces of tusk wood, which was highly acclaimed.

Mitsuaki Ishikawa (1852-1913)

Born into a family of shrine carpenters responsible for building temples and shrines, Ishikawa became an active sculptor based on his skills. Together with Asahi Gyokusan, he started a sculpture study group that later became the “Tokyo Engraving Society. His representative work is “Ancient Hawk Hunting Ornament,” which was exhibited at the Paris Exposition of 1900 and was highly regarded as representing the very moment of releasing a hawk.

Ando Ryokuzan (1885-1955)

Active as a tusk carver from the Taisho era (1912-1926) to the early Showa era (1926-1989), Ando left more than 50 works featuring familiar objects such as vegetables and fruits.

His works are characterized by their superb technique and super-realism, and are characterized by the use of coloring on ivory. At that time, the royal road of tusk carving was to carve on a white surface, but in his own unique style, Midoriyama applied vivid colors, saying, “When colors are applied to ivory, they bleed into the ivory and produce a unique flavor. However, the high level of skill was not appreciated at the time because it was considered to be out of the mainstream.

In the 21st century, Ryokusan’s craftsmanship was praised as “superb technique,” and his fame increased. His representative work, “Bamboo shoots and plum blossoms,” is made with such precision that it could be mistaken for the real thing, and even the hairs of the bamboo shoots are delicately expressed.

Ivory products are high-class luxury goods, so it is important to choose a store that is certified as a special international species business when receiving an appraisal. How much is the value of the ivory in your home? If you wonder how much your ivory is worth, we recommend you to have it appraised once at a trustworthy business.

See you next time!

皆さまこんにちは。スタッフでＴございます。

今日の名古屋はカラッと晴れて過ごしやすい日となりました。梅雨入り前にのこのお天気をりようして、なんとかお洗濯やお片付けを進めたいところです。

お洗濯やお片付けも気になるところですが、毎年この時期にしか出回らない、スーパーに並び始める”梅”や”らっきょう”が気になっておりまして、先日、いつ仕込もうかと気になっていたらっきょうを今年もたくさん漬けましたよ。梅はどうやら今年は全国的に不作と言われているようですが･･･。

土付きの生らっきょうが店頭に並び始める5月から7月。らっきょう好きにはたまらない季節です。この時期の生らっきょうは、身が引き締まってシャキシャキと歯応えが心地いい旬野菜。採れたてを漬けると、一年中みずみずしい味を楽しむことができます。下処理など多少手間がかかる部分もありますが、それを乗り越えるだけの価値はあります！

らっきょうという名前、よく考えると不思議ですね。その語源は、中国名の「辣韮（らっきゅう）」だそうです。ちなみに野菜のエシャレットは、らっきょうを軟白栽培して早採りしたものだそう。よく似た名前のエシャロットは小型玉ねぎの一種で、全く別の野菜ですよ。

らっきょうはユリ科の野菜で、ネギ、ニラ、ニンニクの仲間です。私たちが食べている白い部分は「鱗茎（りんけい）」と呼ばれる根の部分。この鱗茎は、健胃、整腸などの漢方薬として使われることもあります。
らっきょうには、血行促進や疲労回復、殺菌作用、コレステロール値を下げる、高血圧やむくみも予防してくれ、食物繊維も豊富で便秘予防にも効果的。 またアンチエイジング効果もあり、免疫力も高めてくれます。 栄養価の高さから「畑の薬」とも言われ、漢方薬の原料としても利用されてきました。

好きなものはついついたくさん食べてしまいがちですが、らっきょうも然り。やはり食べすぎはよくないようで、1日3～4粒がいいようです。何事もほどほどがいいようですね。

今でこそらっきょう好きと言っておりますが、実は大人になってから食べられるようになった食べ物のひとつなんです。あの変な甘酸っぱさ、歯ざわり、ツーンとした臭いが苦手だったのですが、大人になると味覚が変わるものなんですねぇ。

ではでは、また。

Hello everyone. This is T. Staff.

Today in Nagoya, the weather is dry and sunny, making it a comfortable day. We hope to take advantage of this weather before the rainy season starts and get some laundry and cleaning done.

While laundry and tidying up are also on my mind, I am also thinking about the plums and rakkyo that are only available at this time of year and begin to appear in the supermarkets. The other day, I was wondering when I would be able to make more of them, and I made a lot of pickles this year, too.

The season is from May to July, when the fresh, soil-soaked Rakkyo begins to appear on the shelves. This is the best time of year for those who love Japanese cucumbers. The flesh of fresh radish during this season is firm and crispy, making it a pleasant seasonal vegetable. Freshly picked and pickled, you can enjoy its fresh taste all year round. Although some preparation is required, it is worth the effort!

The name “rakkyo” is a curious one when you think about it. The name “rakkyo” is a curious one when you think about it. It is said to be derived from the Chinese name “rakkyo” (辣韮). The vegetable shallot, by the way, is said to be an early harvest of the soft white Chinese chive. The shallot, which has a similar name, is a type of small onion and is a completely different vegetable.

Rakkyo is a member of the lily family and is related to leeks, chives, and garlic. The white part we eat is the root part called “rinkaku. This rhizome is sometimes used in Chinese herbal medicine for stomach health and intestinal regulation.
Rakkyo is effective in promoting blood circulation, relieving fatigue, sterilizing, lowering cholesterol, preventing high blood pressure and swelling, and preventing constipation due to its high dietary fiber content. It also has anti-aging effects and boosts the immune system. Because of its high nutritional value, it is also called “field medicine” and has been used as an ingredient in Chinese herbal medicines.

We tend to eat a lot of what we like, and the same is true of rakkyo. It seems that eating too much is not good, and 3 to 4 grains per day is a good amount. It seems that everything is good in moderation.

Now I say that I like rakkyo, but in fact it is one of the foods that I became able to eat after I grew up. I used to dislike the strange sweet and sour taste, the texture, and the sharp smell, but I guess one’s sense of taste changes when one grows up.

See you later.

皆さまこんにちは。スタッフHでございます。

さてそんな雨模様の天気の中、少しでも湿気を吹き飛ばそうと店内の南部鉄器の風鈴を手動で無理やり鳴らしてみますと、まるでヨガなどで使用するティンシャの音のように余韻の続く心地よい音が響きます。思わず瞑想にふけってしまいそう…いえ気力が湧いてまいります。

皆さまこんにちは、スタッフＴでございます。

昼間の日差しがとても暑く感じる名古屋です。街ゆく人々も、一気に夏らしい装いの方が多くなった気がします。店内には、入り込む風が爽やかに感じる風鈴が、いよいよ出番が来たぞと存在感を表しております。

さて、本日から６月ですね。

6月といえば、さくらんぼや梅が旬を迎えたり、紫陽花が美しく咲いたりする時期ですね。父の日やボーナスなどの楽しみもある中、お気づきの方もいらっしゃることと思いますが、一年のなかで唯一祝日のない月なのです。平日が真っ黒な数字ばかりのカレンダーは気分も上がりませんね。

しかし、「6月と言えば？」と聞かれて思い浮かべることといったら、ほとんどの方が「梅雨」「雨」ではないでしょうか。毎年乾かぬ洗濯物にイライラし、濡れる足元に憂鬱になるこの時期ですが、先日傘を新調したので、その出番が来てほしいと、じつは雨はまだかと楽しみにしているところです。

ここで豆知識。天気予報の「降水確率0％」は、「ゼロパーセント」ではなく「レイパーセント」と読まれていることにお気付きでしたか？「ゼロ」は「皆無」ですが、「レイ」には「きわめて小さい」という意味が含まれるため、「降水確率0％」でも雨が決して降らないわけではありませんよ。

そしてぱっと思い浮かぶのは「ジューン・ブライド」。

「ジューンブライド」は「6月（June）の花嫁（Bride）」という意味です。「6月に結婚した花嫁は幸せになれる」という言い伝えがあり、6月に結婚するカップルがたくさんいます。

ジューンブライドの起源は西洋にあるとされています。諸説ありますが最も有名なのは、ローマ神話の主神ユーピテル（Jupiter。英語読みでジュピター）の妻で、女性の結婚生活を守護するユノ（Juno。英語読みでジュノ）が6月を守っているからというもの。ユノは女性の守護神であり、結婚や出産を司る最高位の女神。その女神が守っている6月に結婚した花嫁は、生涯幸せな結婚生活を送ることができるとされたのです。なお、6月を英語で「June」というのも、6月を守る女神「Juno」に由来します。

そして6月と言えば「衣替え」。ですが最近の学校では、明確に6月1日を衣替えとせず、個人の体調に合わせて服装を変えてよいので、あまり6月と言えば･･･に当てはまらないかもしれませんね。

衣替えは、平安時代に中国から伝わった習わしです。宮中行事として、年に2回、衣を替えるようになりました。当初は「更衣（こうい）」といいましたが、「更衣」という言葉が女官の役職名に用いられるようになったため、「衣更え（衣替え）」と呼ばれるようになったようです。

江戸時代になると着物の種類が増え、気候に合わせて年に4回の衣替えが武家社会で定められ、庶民にも広がっていきました。やがて明治時代に洋服が取り入れられると、役人や軍人などが制服を着るようになり、暦も新暦に変わったため、夏服と冬服を年に2回替えるようになり、この衣替えの意識が学校や家庭にも浸透し、現在に至っています。

今は合理的な収納のおかげで、服の入れ替えをしない家庭もあります。また、エアコンが整っているので、1年中同じような格好の方もいるかもしれませんね。ですが、衣替えを通じて衣服の季節感を養ったり、衣服の手入れ・管理・整理整頓のしかたを身につけたりするには実はとてもよい機会。衣替えは単なる家事ではなく、暮らしの行事として、季節ごとに繰り返すことによって、子ども達も学べるよい機会になります。

皆さまこんにちは、スタッフYでございます。

気がつけば、道路脇やお宅の玄関先などの紫陽花が開花の準備に差し掛かっていたり、もう咲いているものもあったり。このところ季節が爆速で移り変わって、いよいよ暑い時節に移っていく感じがいたします。もう少しまってくれよ…と、言いたくなる気分でありますが、とはいえ、私の大好きな紫陽花がいろいろなところでいろいろな花をつけて咲いていくのこの季節は楽しみであります。

さてさて、先日から刀剣のお話をしておりますが、引き続き刀剣のつぶやきをしていきたいと思いますので少々お付き合いくださいませ。

ところで、国宝の工芸品に分類される文化財の中でも、その数が多い（約半数）のが刀剣（日本刀）ということをご存知だったでしょうか（太刀、大太刀、短刀など。剣や槍、薙刀も広義には含まれる）。そのうち「名物」と称されるもの、固有の名称（号）を持つ太刀は14振りでして、名物の刀剣は、名（号）と刀工の名「銘」を併せて呼ばれるが多いのですが、たとえば、三日月（号）＋宗近（銘）など銘刀はこのような呼びます。なんだかその銘からすでにその佇まいの緊張感が伝わりますね。

また、日本刀を作る(鍛刀)「刀工」は、地域や特徴により流派「刀派」に分類されますが、刀派では山城国来派（らいは）、粟田口派、備前長船（おさふね）派、備前福岡一文字派、備中古青江派、三条などがあり、刀工は「安綱」「宗光」「来国光」「吉光」「長光」「国重」「左文字」「兼貞」「村正」「肥前国忠吉」「正宗」「虎徹」「貞次」「光世」などが著名であります。

その中でも日本刀の中でも特に銘刀とされるものにご存じの方もお出ででしょうが「天下五剣」。その中で国宝に指定されている3点は「三日月」「童子切」「大典太」、御物の「鬼丸」、重要文化財の「数珠丸」の5剣のことを「天下五剣」と呼びます。なお、5振とも日本刀の分類上は「太刀」であります。（※「御物」とは皇室の所有品のことで、宮内庁が所蔵する。）

諸説ありますが、室町時代の頃にはすでに”天下五剣”という言葉は使われていたようでして、完全に定着したのは明治以降とされています。室町時代にはすでに銘刀が価値あるものとして大切に受け告げれて来たようです。

それでは簡単ではありますが、天下五剣の詳細について説明いたしましょう。

1.童子切安綱（どうじぎりやすつな）

童子切安綱は平安時代の刀工、「大原安綱（おおはらやすつな）」作の太刀で、東京国立博物館が所蔵する国宝。平安時代末期に作られたといわれる名刀、「大包平（おおかねひら）」と共に、日本刀の「東西の両横綱」と賞賛されており、刃長は約80cm・反りは約2.7cmの太刀で、「驚くような切れ味」を誇る刀としても有名であります。

その切れ味は、試し切りの達人「町田長太夫」が折重なった罪人6人の遺体に対して、「童子切」を振りかざすと一刀で切断したうえに、下の土台まで刃が斬れ込んだという逸話があるほどですので、ちょっと怖い。

童子切安綱といえば、平安時代中期の武将である「源頼光」が、丹波国大江山に棲みついて人々を困らせた非常に凶悪な鬼、「酒呑童子（しゅてんどうじ）」の首を切り落としたという伝説もある刀です。その伝説が由来となり、「童子切」の号が付けられたといわれたということで、このように伝説的なエピソードが名前になることもあるんですね。童子切安綱は年1回程度のペースで、東京国立博物館にて展示されています。

2.鬼丸国綱（おにまるくにつな）

鬼丸国綱は鎌倉時代の刀工、「粟田口国綱（あわたぐちくにつな）」作の太刀で、天下五剣で唯一となる皇室の所有品「御物（ぎょぶつ）」であります。「粟田口一門」は鬼丸を始め、多数の著名作を作刀したことで有名。刃長は約78cm・反りは約3.2cmの太刀で、鬼丸国綱は北条家の重宝として知られる刀であります。「鬼丸」という号は、鎌倉幕府5代執権「北条時頼」が鬼の悪夢に苦しめられるという怪事を、この刀を手にしたことで払ったという古伝に由来したものでして、これまた伝説的エピソードの銘ですね。
そのため、鬼丸国綱のことを「鬼切りの太刀」というイメージを持たれている方も少なくはありません。また、この刀の所有家は戦に破れてきたという縁起の悪さを忌み嫌い、無類の日本刀好きである豊臣秀吉でさえ、この刀の所有を避けたという伝来もあります。

また、「御物」という性格上、天下五剣の中では唯一、鬼丸国綱のみ「国宝」及び「重要文化財」としての文化財指定を受けておりません。一般向けに展示される機会が非常に限られているため、書籍などに掲載される写真も数少ない機会に撮影されたものに限られております。

3.三日月宗近（みかづきむねちか）

三日月宗近は平安時代の刀工、「三条宗近（さんじょうむねちか）」作の太刀で、東京国立博物館が所蔵する国宝です。三条宗近は山城国京の三条に住んでいたことから、「三条宗近」という呼称がありますが、平安時代末期の名工として知られております。

天下五剣の中で”最も美しい”と評される優美な刀で、「名物中の名物」といわれ続ける名刀です。
刀剣にあまり詳しくない方でも、「三日月」のことは知っているという方も少なくありませんよね。

「三日月」という号は、刀身に三日月形の模様が浮き出ていることが、由来として伝えられております。刃長は約80cm・反りは約2.7cmの太刀で、足利家の重宝だったと伝えられていますが、長く徳川将軍家に伝来したことでも知られており、三日月宗近も年1回程度のペースで、東京国立博物館にて展示されています。

4.大典太光世（おおでんたみつよ）

大典太光世は平安時代の刀工、「三池典太光世（みいけでんたみつよ）」作の太刀で、東京都目黒区にある公益財団法人の前田育徳会が所蔵する国宝。元々は足利将軍家に伝来する宝刀でしたが、豊臣秀吉の手を経て前田利家に渡り、現在に至るまで前田家が代々守っている名刀であります。刃長は約66cm・反りは約2.7cmの太刀で、他の太刀と比較すると短めの刀身と、広い身幅が特徴。

「大典太」という号は、前田家が所蔵する「典太光世」作の刀剣には「長いもの」と「短いもの」が二振りあり、単純に長い方を「大典太」と呼んでいたことに由来しています。病気や妖かしからの守護ができる霊刀としても知られ、秀吉の養女「豪姫」の病気を治したり、伏見城で妖かしを退けたという言い伝えも残されています。

5.数珠丸恒次（じゅずまるつねつぐ）

数珠丸恒次は鎌倉時代の刀工、「青江恒次（あおえつねつぐ）」作の太刀で、兵庫県尼崎市にある本興寺が所蔵する国の重要文化財。鎌倉時代の僧で日蓮宗の開祖である、「日蓮」が所持していたとされる刀で、身延山に配流された際、信者から護身用に贈られたと伝えられております。

日蓮は贈られたこの太刀の柄に数珠を巻き、武器としてではなく魔除けの守り刀として用いていたことは著名な話です。「数珠丸」という号は、このエピソードが由来しているともいわれています。刃長は約81cm・反りは約3cmある太刀で、天下五剣の中で”最も長い”のが特徴。

この数珠丸恒次（じゅずまるつねつぐ）ですが、日蓮の没後数珠丸は長らく所在不明となりましたが、宮内省の刀剣研究家「杉原祥造」氏が、ある華族の競売の中になんと数珠丸があるのを発見。
自身の私財を投じて数珠丸を落札し、日蓮にゆかりのある「身延山久遠寺」へ返還を申し出ますが、真贋が定かではないことからこれを断られたとのこと。
「杉原祥造」氏は仕方なく、当時自宅の近くにあった日蓮宗の寺院「本興寺」に相談。その結果、現在に至るまで「本興寺」に奉納されることになったとこのと。

いやあ、是非拝見してみたいですね…。と、呟きたいところなのですが、実は2年前の東京国立博物館の「国宝展」にて、童子切安綱（どうじぎりやすつな）、三日月宗近（みかづきむねちか）を拝見することができたのですが、銘刀を前にしてどんな気分だったか？

展示の仕方も素晴らくなおさらだったのですが、まずは何も考えず全体の形を拝見し、さらに刃の景色を眺めておりますと、景色の中にすーっと引き込まれていくような感覚をとても覚えております。

こと、三日月宗近（みかづきむねちか）の刃に広がる三日月を眺めておりますと、刃の中に確かに薄墨の夜景に浮かぶ三日月が。ずぶの素人ではありますが「これが景色がみえるということなのか…。」などと感銘を受けました。また、ほど述べた説明のように有名な武将たちもこの刃先や景色に引き込まれていったのかと思いますと、それはテンションがあがります。あの刃の輝きと共に今でも記憶に鮮烈に焼き付いていますので、こうやって人は刀剣に沼っていくのでしょうね。

それではごきげんよう。

Hello everyone, this is Staff Y.

I noticed that the hydrangeas on the side of the roads and at the entrance of houses are getting ready to bloom, and some of them are already in bloom. It feels like the season is changing at a blinding speed and we are finally moving into the hot season. I feel like saying, “Wait a little longer…” However, I am looking forward to this season when my favorite hydrangea blooms in various places with various flowers.

Now, I have been talking about swords since the other day, and I would like to continue tweeting about swords, so please bear with me for a while.

By the way, did you know that among cultural properties classified as national treasures, swords (Japanese swords) are the most numerous (about half) (Tachi, Otachi, Daitachi, Tanto, etc…)? (Swords, spears, and naginata are also included in a broad sense.) There are 14 swords that are called “Meimono,” or swords with a unique name (No.). Meimono swords are often referred to by both the name (No.) and the swordsmith’s name (inscription). For example, a sword with the inscription “Mikazuki (No.) + Munechika (inscription)” is called in this way.

The swordsmiths who make (forge) Japanese swords are classified into schools or schools of swordsmanship according to region and characteristics. The most famous swordsmiths are “Antsuna”, “Munemitsu”, “Raikokumitsu”, “Yoshimitsu”, “Nagamitsu”, “Kunishige”, “Saumonji”, “Kanesada”, “Muramasa”, “Hizen-no-Kuni Chukichi”, “Masamune”, “Toratoru”, “Teiji” and “Mitsuyo”.

Among these, there are five swords known as “Tenka Goken,” which some of you may know as the most famous swords in Japan. The five swords are Mikazuki, Dojikiri, and Odonta, three of which are designated as national treasures, Onimaru, a Gomotsu sword, and Sujumaru, an important cultural property. All five swords are classified as “Tachi” in the Japanese sword classification. (*“Gomotsu” refers to items owned by the Imperial Household and held by the Imperial Household Agency.)

There are various theories, but it is said that the term “five swords under heaven” was already in use during the Muromachi period (1333-1573), and it was only after the Meiji period (1868-1912) that the term was fully established. In the Muromachi period, it is said that the swords were already considered valuable and valued.

Let me briefly explain the details of the Five Swords of Heaven.

Dojigiri Yasutsuna

Dojigiri Yasutsuna is a national treasure owned by the Tokyo National Museum and was made by Ohara Yasutsuna, a swordsmith of the Heian period. It is a national treasure owned by the Tokyo National Museum. Along with the Ookanehira, a famous sword said to have been made in the late Heian period (794-1185), it is praised as the “double grand champion of the East and West” of Japanese swords, with a blade length of about 80 cm and a warp of 2.7 cm, and is famous as a sword with “amazing cutting ability.

The blade is so sharp that there is an anecdote that “Machida Chotao,” a master of test cutting, cut off the bodies of six criminals with a single swing of the “Dojikiri” and the blade even cut into the foundation below, which is a bit scary.

Speaking of the Dojikiri Yasutsuna, legend has it that “Minamoto no Yorimitsu,” a military commander in the mid-Heian period, cut off the head of “Shuten Doji,” a very vicious demon who lived in Oeyama in Tamba Province and annoyed people. It is said that the name “Dojikiri” was given to the sword because of this legend, and so legendary episodes can become the name of a sword in this way. Dojikiri-Yasutsuna is exhibited at the Tokyo National Museum about once a year.

2. Onimaru Kunitsuna

Onimaru Kunitsuna is a tachi sword made by Awataguchi Kunitsuna, a swordsmith of the Kamakura period (1185-1333), and is the only one of the Five Swords of Japan owned by the Imperial Family. The Awataguchi clan is famous for having produced many famous swords, including Onimaru. Onimaru Kunitsuna is a sword with a blade length of approximately 78 cm and a warp of approximately 3.2 cm, and is known as a treasured sword of the Hojo family. The name “Onimaru” is derived from an old legend that the fifth regent of the Kamakura Shogunate, “Hojo Tokiyori,” was tormented by a nightmare of a demon, which he dispelled by holding this sword in his hand, which is also the name of a legendary episode.
Therefore, not a few people have an image of Onimaru Kunitsuna as “the sword of the devil cutter”. There is also a legend that even Toyotomi Hideyoshi, an unparalleled lover of Japanese swords, avoided owning this sword because the owners of this sword abhorred the bad luck of having been defeated in battle.

Due to its nature as a “goimono,” Onimaru Kunitsuna is the only one of the Five Swords of Japan that has not been designated as a “national treasure” or “important cultural property. Because of the limited opportunities to exhibit the sword to the general public, photographs of the sword in books and other publications are limited to those taken on the rare occasions when they are available.

3. Mikazuki Munechika

Mikazuki Munechika is a tachi sword made by the Heian-period swordsmith Sanjo Munechika, and is a National Treasure owned by the Tokyo National Museum. Sanjo Munechika lived in Sanjo, Kyoto in the Yamashiro Province, and is known as a master swordsmith of the late Heian Period.

This graceful sword has been described as “the most beautiful” among the five swords under heaven, and it continues to be called “a masterpiece among masterpieces.
Many people who are not familiar with swords are familiar with “Mikazuki.

The name “Mikazuki” is derived from the crescent-shaped pattern on the blade. It is said to have been a treasure of the Ashikaga family, but it is also known to have been handed down to the Tokugawa shoguns for a long time, and Mikazuki Munechika is exhibited at the Tokyo National Museum about once a year.

4. Mitsuyo Oodenta

Oodenta Mitsuyo is a tachi sword made by the Heian-period swordsmith Miike Denta Mitsuyo, and is a national treasure owned by the Maeda Ikutoku-kai, a public interest incorporated foundation located in Meguro-ku, Tokyo. Originally a treasured sword handed down to the Ashikaga shoguns, it passed through the hands of Toyotomi Hideyoshi to the Maeda Toshiie family and has been protected by the Maeda family for generations to the present day. With a blade length of approximately 66 cm and a warp of approximately 2.7 cm, this sword is characterized by a shorter blade and a wider body width compared to other swords.

The name “Odonta” comes from the fact that there were two swords in the Maeda family collection, one long and one short, both made by “Nenta Mitsuyo,” and the longer one was simply called “Odonta. It is also known as a sacred sword that can protect against illness and demons. Legend has it that it cured Hideyoshi’s adopted daughter “Gohime” of illness and repelled demons at Fushimi Castle.

5. Suzumaru Tsunetsugu

Juzumaru Tsunesugu is a sword made by Aoe Tsunesugu, a swordsmith of the Kamakura period (1185-1333), and is a National Important Cultural Property owned by Honko-ji Temple in Amagasaki City, Hyogo Prefecture. It is said to have belonged to Nichiren, a monk of the Kamakura period and founder of Nichiren Buddhism, and was given to him by his followers for protection when he was exiled to Mount Minobu.

It is a well-known story that Nichiren wrapped beads around the handle of this sword and used it not as a weapon but as a protective sword to ward off evil. It is said that the name “Sujumaru” is derived from this episode. With a blade length of 81 cm and a warp of about 3 cm, it is the longest sword among the Five Swords of Heaven.

After Nichiren’s death, the whereabouts of Suzumaru Tsunetsugu were unknown for a long time, but Shozo Sugihara, a sword researcher from the Ministry of the Imperial Household, found Suzumaru in an auction held by a noble family.
He offered to return it to “Minobu-san Kuon-ji Temple,” a temple associated with Nichiren, but the temple refused his offer because the authenticity of the sword was not certain.
Shozo Sugihara had no choice but to consult with Honko-ji Temple, a Nichiren Shu temple near his home at the time. As a result, it has been dedicated to Honko-ji Temple to this day.

Well, I would love to see it…. I would like to mutter, “I would love to see them,” but in fact, I was able to see Dojigiri Yasutsuna and Mikazuki Munechika at the “National Treasure Exhibition” at the Tokyo National Museum two years ago, and how did I feel in front of the famous swords?

I remember how I felt in front of the swords, especially the way they were displayed. I first looked at the overall shape without thinking, and then I looked at the scenery of the blade and felt as if I was being pulled into the scenery.

In particular, when I looked at the crescent moon on the blade of Mikazuki Munechika, I was sure that I saw a crescent moon floating in a night scene of light black ink in the blade. Although I am a novice, I was impressed by the crescent moon floating in the light-ink nightscape. I was impressed. I was also excited to think that famous warriors were also drawn to the edge of the blade and the scenery, as I explained earlier. The brightness of the blade is still burned vividly in my memory, so I guess this is how people become swamped with swords.

So long, and have a good day.