Japanese Culture Experience

Japanese Culture Experience

Samurai Swords Gallery “Gi no Kokoro”

“GI-NO-KOKORO”, literally meaning “the heart of righteousness,” comes from a phrase in The Blue Cliff Record, from the dialogue between The Great Master Bodhidharma and Emperor Bu about the “Primary Principle,” the enlightenment of Buddha.

義の心

● Everything that exists in this world changes and moves along.
● Every single thing in this world did not come into being on its own, nor does it exist alone.
● Comfort exists in a mind that does not discriminate, be obsessed, and dwell.

It was Uesugi Kenshin, the warlord of Echigo province, who was deeply moved by this principle. When he built the temple gates for his master Monk Soken’s Rinsenji Temple, he engraved the word “Daiichigi” (The First Principle) on a large plaque and hanged it. Kenshin left the quote ” To me, a righteous mind is the beauty of humans being humans.” After the great earthquake and tsunami, the owner of ABBA Resorts IZU invited a party of 500 from Taiwan and held “The Righteous Mind and Love 20th Annivers ary Meeting” in Niigata Prefecture. The owner was deeply moved by Kenshin’s “Righteous Mind” and Naoe Kanetsugu’s “Love,” both men from Niigata, and took action to revitalize Japan’s sluggish tourism industry. As a token of appreciation, Niigata Prefecture awarded him with a tablet with the engraving “The First Principle.” Thus, the name of the art gallery comes from ABBA Resorts IZU owner’s longing and respect toward Kenshin.

Gi no Kokoro

Touching the heart of the Samurai.

It is our privilege to display one of the most amazing collection of Samurai swords.

Part of Exhibit

Living national treasure
Akitsugu Amata

  • Katana

    Autume2011, forged in Niigata.

    Hacho (Length) :75.0cm
    Sori (Warp) :2.0cm
  • Wakizashi

    Autume2011, forged in Niigata.

    Hacho (Length) :39.4
    Sori (Warp) :0.4cm

A work that can be said to be a culmination of the life time of Amata: swordsmith.

Kenshin Uesugi style daisho koshirae

Special order Kenshin Uesugi
style daisho koshirae
(Scabbard Set)
totally supervised:Kazuyuki Takayama
metalsmiths:Hiroshi Miyajima, Ikuo Nakata, Takeshi Miyashita
urushi painting:Tomoaki Kawanobe
tsukamaki (handle):Hisao Okabe
sageo (fouragere):Tetsuko Mudou

Izumo koku jyuu sadanaga

Katana NameIzumo koku jyuu sadanaga

Excellent work of unshuu tetsuanshi sadanaga.

May1980, forged in Shimane
Hacho (Length):74.9cm
Sori (Warp):1.75cm
Hours : 7:00~21:00

For any historical guidance, please contact the reception.