Swords designated as national treasures featured at Mitsui Memorial Museum

The Mitsui Memorial Museum in Tokyo’s Nihonbashi district is now running a special exhibition featuring two celebrated samurai swords — tanto (short swords) known as “Hyuga Masamune” and “Tokuzen-in Sadamune” — both of which are designated as national treasures of Japan, and were passed down in the merchant Mitsui family.

Entitled “National Treasure Swords, Historic Armor, and Warrior Paintings,” the exhibition showcases the two swords along with other known swords (some of which are designated as important cultural properties), mountings and armor from among the museum’s collections. Classic paintings depicting samurai in and out of battles are also on view.

National Treasure Swords, Historic Armor, and Warrior Paintings

Apr. 12 (Sat) – June 15 (Sun), 2025

Mitsui Memorial Museum
(Nihonbashi, Tokyo)

*See outline below for details

Among the must-sees other than the two swords aforementioned are ancient swords including the tachi (long sword) signed “Norimune” (12th-13th century) and another signed “Sadazane,” both of which are designated important cultural properties of Japan. The illustrated scrolls of the “Tales of Shuten Doji” and “The Battle of the Twelve Zodiac Animals and Japanese racoon dogs” may attract viewers interested in Japanese paintings from pre-modern Japan.

The museum is simultaneously running a thematic exhibition featuring Children’s Day (May 5) dolls passed down in the Mitsui family.

The exhibition runs through June 15, 2025.

(Photos by Kazuki Matsuura)