and Yashiro Kageyori. Honjo Masamune sword Honjō Shigenaga was particularly known as the wielder of the famous sword Honjo Masamune, built by Gorō Nyūdō Masamune (五郎入道正宗, c.1264–1343), a medieval Japanese blacksmith widely acclaimed as Japan's greatest swordsmith. Honjo Masamune is a katana representing the Shogunate during most of the Tokugawa Era. Shigenaga was attacked by Umanosuke who already possessed a number of trophy heads. Umanosuke struck Shigenaga with the Honjo Masamune which split his helmet, but he survived and took the sword as a prize. The blade was kept by Shigenaga until he was sent to Fushimi Castle, during the Bunroku era, or around 1592 to 1595. Shigenaga ran out of funds and was forced to sell the sword to Toyotomi Hidetsugu, Toyotomi Hideyoshi's nephew and retainer. It was bought for 13 Mai, 13 O-Ban, which was 13 large gold coins. References Samurai 1540 births 1614 deaths