The special exhibition “Pinnacle of Elegance: Sword Fittings of the Mitsumura Collection” at the Nezu Museum offers a fascinating look at the collection that Toshimo Mitsumura (1877-1955), a wealthy businessman, amassed at the end of the Meiji Era (1868-1912). Mitsumura’s passion for swords is reflected in the portion of his collection that the museum acquired — an array of 1,200 sword fittings and blades from the 13th to the 19th centuries.
For this exhibition, a total of 130 fittings and other items are on display, including sword blades and lacquered wooden scabbards. Nezu Kaichiro (1860-1940), founder of the museum, purchased much of the Mitsumura collection in 1909, resulting in this repository becoming part of the museum’s holdings.
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