The Honjo Masamune — forged around 1260–1300 by the legendary Masamune and designated a National Treasure in 1939 — was surrendered by the Tokugawa family in December 1945. The paperwork names “Sgt. C. B. More” as the recipient, but no matching US Army record exists; the blade has been missing since 1946. The video calls it the world's most important missing sword.
Honjo Masamune vanishes after its 1945 surrender to US occupation authorities
Key facts
- The Honjo Masamune was made around 1260–1300 by Masamune, also known as Goro Nudo Masamune, one of Japan's most celebrated swordsmiths.
- Masamune was renowned for differential hardening, which produced a hard edge while retaining flexibility in the blade's body.
- Its name refers to a 1561 battle in which samurai Hanjo Shigetsuna was struck in the head but survived.
- The blade passed through prominent owners before reaching the Tokugawa family, whose shogunate ruled Japan from 1603 to 1868.
- It was designated a National Treasure in 1939 under Japan's former designation system.
- During the first six months of the occupation, authorities confiscated about 810,000 firearms, 172,000 swords and 14,000 spears.
- The Tokugawa family, then headed by Tokugawa Naritaka, surrendered the blade in Tokyo in December 1945; there was no Tokugawa Yamasa serving as family head.
- Postwar documents identify the recipient as Sgt. C. B. More, but no matching US Army service record has been found; the sword's whereabouts have been unknown since 1946.
- The video calls it the world's most important missing sword and notes that other Masamune blades may remain unidentified because he did not sign every blade.
Sources
Mystery of The Enigmatic Honjo Masamune Swordswordsofnorthshire.com
In 1939 in Tokyo, it was designated a Japanese national treasure, a survivor of 700 years of turbulent history. It was only in the upheaval of the second ...
Masamune - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
Gorō Nyūdō Masamune was a medieval Japanese blacksmith widely acclaimed as Japan's greatest swordsmith. He created swords and daggers, known in Japanese as ...
Katana Swords: Japan's National Treasures & Samurai Artjapanhousela.com
Discover the legendary katana swords of Japan, crafted by masters like Masamune and preserved as National Treasures.
The Honjo Masamune: Japan's Legendary Sword | Tokyo Nihontotokyo-nihonto.com
The only real evidence authorities have is when Tokugawa Ieamasa surrendered it to the Meijro police in December 1945. One month later, the ...
The Legendary Honjo Masamune Sword - Katana Swordkatana-sword.com
The only proof authorities have is that Tokugawa Ieamasa surrendered it to the Meijro police in December 1945. A month later the sword was ...
Mystery of The Enigmatic Honjo Masamune Swordswordsofnorthshire.com
In 1939 in Tokyo, it was designated a Japanese national treasure, a survivor of 700 years of turbulent history. It was only in the upheaval of the second World ...
Japan's Perfect Sword: The Legend of the Honjo Masamunehistoricmysteries.com
The Honjo Masamune is possibly the greatest sword ever made. Its history can be traced through 700 years until its loss at the end of WW2.
The Legendary Honjo Masamune Swordkatana-sword.com
The government upgraded its status as an Kokuho (Japanese National Treasure) in 1939. The ownership of the Masamune symbolised the authority ...
Was this story useful?
Keep exploring
Every site on this page sits on the globe, and the people who research them are on the Discord.
3D Globe · Sites by country · Story Archive · Research Library · Weekly Journal · Search
AI-generated text · images from the original sources · always verify with the sources.