The exhibition 『Special Exhibit: Famous Swords of the Maeda Family of the Kaga Domain』 will be held at the Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art from March 26 (Tuesday) and will feature the “Maeda Family’s Three Famous Swords. The three famous swords are 「Odenta Mitsuyo」, 「Maeda Toushiro」, and 「Tomitago」. Among them, do you know the legend concerning 「Odenta Mitsuyo」?
Anecdotes about Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s adopted daughter, Princess Gohime
The Toyotomi family member, Ukita Hideie, was played by Shuntaro Yanagi in the NHK Taiga Drama 『What to do about Ieyasu』 (2023). Although it was not shown in close-up in the drama, Hideie’s wife is Princess Gohime.
Gohime was born the fourth daughter of Maeda Toshiie (her birth mother was Matsu) and was adopted by Toyotomi Hideyoshi at his request. She eventually became the wife of Ukita Hideie in her mid-teens.
One day, Princess Gohime suffered from an unexplained illness and was told by a fortune teller that she was possessed by a fox.
Toshiie Maeda borrowed a “sacred sword” from Hideyoshi Toyotomi in order to save Princess Gohime. The “sacred sword” was placed in Princess Gohime’s bed, and her illness was cured in about three days.
The “sacred sword” was 「Odenta Mitsuyo」. As soon as she returned the sword to Hideyoshi, Princess Gohime fell ill again. She immediately borrowed Odenta Mitsuyo and placed it on her sickbed, and her illness was cured once again. Hideyoshi recognized the magical power of Odonta Mitsuyo and gave it to the Maeda family for Princess Gohime.
What is Odenta Mitsuyo?
The 「Odenta Mitsuyo」 is considered one of the 「Five Swords of Heaven」, the greatest masterpieces of Japanese swordsmanship. It is so called because it was made by Mitsuyo Miike Nenta, a swordsmith in Chikugo Province at the end of the Heian period (794-1185), and is sometimes abbreviated to 「Odenta」. Chikugo Province is located in the southern part of Fukuoka Prefecture, and it is widely believed that the sword was made in the vicinity of present-day Omuta City.
Event Details
| Event Name | Special Exhibit: Famous Swords of the Maeda Family of the Kaga Domain -The Five Swords of the Tenka God Swords: The Treasure 「Odenta Mitsuyo」 is on display in Ishikawa- |
| Period | Tuesday, March 26, 2024 – Sunday, May 26, 2024 |
| Venue | Ishikawa Prefectural Art Museum, Maeda Ikutoku-kai Sonkei Bunko Branch |
| Address | 2-1 Dewa-cho, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture |
| Phone | 076-231-7580 |
| Official Site | Famous sword of the Maeda family of the Kaga Clan |
