Yabushiri sword

Found inside a shining stalk of bamboo by an old bamboo cutter and his wife, a tiny girl grows rapidly into an exquisite young lady. The mysterious young princess enthrals all who encounter her. But, ultimately, she must confront her fate.

The feudal lord of the Matsukura clan in Oshu was an enthusiastic collector of famous swords. He was eager to acquire two of the most famous swords in the world, Magoroku of Seki, and two swords, Kengun and Kunryu, large and small. Eizaburo Suwa, one of his retainers and the best swordsman in the clan, was ordered to acquire these two swords even if it cost his life.

Yoshindo Yoshihara was born in Tokyo on February 21, 1943 and first started making Japanese swords in 1965 after learning his art working as an apprentice swordsmith. Since that time he has won awards at 13 consecutive Shinsaku Meito exhibitions where the finest new swords are judged annually in Japan. His awards have included the prestigious Prince Takamatsunomiya Prize, the Japan Agency for Cultural Affairs Director's Prize, and the Kanzan Prize (named after the late Proressor Kanzan Sato, one of the foremost authorities on Japanese swords. Since 1982, when Yoshindo Yoshihara was formally recognized as a master craftsman in Japan, his works have been categorized as Mukansa. He has held numerous private exhibitions and has been commissioned to produce Japanese swords for the famous Ise Shrine in Japan and the National Museum of History in Tokyo. For many years, he has also been travelling overseas to promote a wider understanding of traditional Japanese art swords.

After the 'Incident at Honnoji' (assassination of Oda Nobunaga by Akechi Mitsuhide, a former trusted general), a group of Tokugawa samurai are rescued by a youth named Yagyu Munenori (2nd son of Yagyu Sekishusai from Yamato) and Kizaru (a Ninja), as they are chased by a bloodthirsty group of samurai. Tokugawa Ieyasu, the lord of his clan, then lave a very special gift to Munenori; a samurai's pillbox, (a veritable work of art, with beautiful lacquered designs) which signifies that he is to be hired by the Tokugawa Clan when he grows up. As a result of the assassination, Toyotomi Hideyoshi became the sole ruler of Japan, and confiscated the Yagyu lands since they had sided with the traitorous Akechi. The Yagyu Clan was considerably weakened, and all but disappeared during Hideyoshi's reign as 'Taiko'.

The story concerns the efforts of seven master swordsman who join together to protect the new inexperienced Shogun Tokugawa Yoshimune from the evil plans of the Owari Clan's corrupt Lord. It's a colorful bunch, a drunk samurai, a master thief, a sword instructor and a Lord who is disguised as a ronin since it is an executable offense for a lord to wander outside of their domain without permission. As the Chief Magistrate becomes suspicious of the Owari plot to send men to Kodenmacho Prison to start a riot he begins to investigate the rumors. He soon calls upon the Lord of Mikazuki Castle and the Shogun's best friend to help thwart the evil ambitions and battle the rouge swordsman hired by the Owari Clan.

1732, in the era of Yoshimune Tokugawa. West Japan suffers from a severe famine. Three years after wards, it appeared as though calm had been restored to the domain, but there is word that Jyuzo Matsumiya, the sword fighting instructor sent by the shogunate, is taking some suspicious actions.

During the reign of 5th Shogun Tokugawa Tsuneyoshi a troupe of Chinese acrobats travel to Japan to help celebrate the building of the Yushima Shrine. At the same time a series of mysterious assassinations take place with a strange and unknown weapon. Master swordsman Saotome Mondonosuke, a 'Hatamoto' (direct retainer of the Shogun) and a man who loves action takes it upon himself to get to the bottom of the mystery and and solve the puzzling crimes.

Ishibashi Ginjiro, a swordsman from Edo, comes to a northern domain to look for a legendary sword Umanohone, ordered by his uncle, a chief retainer of the domain. To gain information on the sword, Ginjiro decides to challenge six expert swordsmen of the school which is said to own the sword. As he continues his search, being wounded and fighting the solitary fights, Ginjiro finds out secret maneuvers plotted by those who are possessed with lust for power. Based on a novel written by Fujisawa Shuhei.

In 1730, the Tokugawa Shogunate orders the Yagyu Clan to repair a huge shrine. Since it cannot refuse the Shogunate's request, the impoverished Yagyu Clan tries to raise funds by obtaining a sword which holds the key to a wondrous, hidden treasure. After learning the sword's secret, Tange Sazen sides with the Yagyu Clan, but his motive seems to be more than just pure interest in the treasure...