The Osaka Museum of History which stands right next to the majestic Osaka Castle recently held a “Special Exhibition in Commemoration of the Donation of the Katsuya Sword-Fitting Collection: The Definitive Introduction to the World of Sword Fittings.”

The museum exhibited around 200 pieces from the 927 piece collection of Katsuya Shunichi (1895-1980), who was a renowned collector and student of swords during the Showa Era, and which were donated to the museum by his heirs. There was also a segment introducing the sword fittings of Sakai Toshimasa, a metalsmith who was designated an intangible cultural property by the Osaka Municipal Government. It so happens that matching metal fittings in guribori made by the famed Takahashi Masatsugu in the Edo Period had been gifted by Sakai Toshimasa to the Mokumegane research Institute. And so we went to visit the exhibition which we will describe below.
It is rare to have the opportunity to view as many as 200 “tsuba” sword fittings at the same time, and as the exhibition was presented as “an introduction to appreciation,” there were, under the headings of “what are sword fittings?” detailed explanations of every portion of the sword, as broken down from every possible angle. We were able to speak with curator Naoko Naito who had curated this special exhibition, speculating on how Katsuya Shunichi had, within the framework of his research, built up his collection, and how it had then been reconstituted and exhibited.

There were introductions of the various base materials such as iron and copper, and an area for understanding the meanings behind the various designs that made up the patterns, as well as a presentation of the differing regional styles depending on the metalwork in various parts of the Japan during the Edo period. Takahashi Okitsugu was the representative artist for Edo and his guribori tsuba from the Mokumegane Research Institute was also on display.

During the Edo period, some metalsmiths were in the employ of various warrior clans in order to meet their needs, leading to the development of various regional techniques and designs for making tsuba.
 
As you doubtless know, since both the front and back of a tsuba are visible once it has been fitted onto a sword, there is a design on both sides. The exhibition curator, Ms. Naito was very creative in how the items were displayed in order for visitors to truly appreciate this. The way the exhibition was laid out, so that it was possible to see the designs both on the front and the back made it possible for people to appreciate the wit that was an integral part of the work of Edo craftsmen. Without any doubt, this was an unmatched offering with a plethora of small sword fittings and beautifully preserved decorative items that one could never grow tired of looking at.
 
Aside from the tsuba, there were also numerous other items on show such as kozuka, fuchi and kashira, with thorough explanations, including a very rare wooden kozuka.
 
The exhibition was so much fun that one emerged feeling that one had become an expert in sword fittings after touring it. On the day of our visit, there was also an interesting lecture on sword fittings by Dr. Minami Asuka, a professor at Sagami Women’s University. To our astonishment, she talked about the mention of Mokume Gane in a 1915 book published overseas on Japanese crafts, which made us very happy. We will talk more about that subject at a later date.

The exhibition ran from October 5 to December 1, 2019.

http://www.mus-his.city.osaka.jp/eng/exhibitions/special/2019/tousougu.html