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Japan’s greatest sword was surrendered to a US sergeant in 1946. Nobody knows where it is.

Ellsworth Toohey
Jun 19, 2026
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Unknown authorUnknown author / Public domain (via Wikipedia)

The Honjō Masamune, forged in the 13th or 14th century and passed from shōgun to shōgun as a symbol of the Tokugawa dynasty, is considered one of the finest Japanese swords ever made. It was designated a National Treasure in 1939. In December 1945, the last owner, Tokugawa Iemasa, surrendered i…

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