Ask John: Does the Masamune Sword Exist?

Question:
I’ve played a lot of RPGs in my time, and almost every one features the Masamune, which ends up being the most powerful sword in the game. I’d like to know some actual history behind this sword, and what the name actually means. Or is it just a cool name that everyone runs with?

Answer:
The Masamune sword, and references to the sword-maker Masamune commonly appear in anime, video games and even American films including Highlander. In fact, Masamune did exist and is known to have forged at least 61 blades, ranging from swords to cooking knives, some of which still exist today in the collections of museums and very wealthy collectors.

In 1714 emperor Toyotomi Hideyoshi chose Goro Nyudo Masamune (1264-1343), founder of the Soshu school of swordsmithing, Etchu Matsukura Go Umanosuke Yoshihiro, and Awataguchi Toshiro Yoshimitsu to be listed in the Kyôho Meibutsu Cho, a written record of the greatest Japanese swords. Masamune had 41 blades listed in the first volume of the Kyôho Meibutsu Cho, almost double the number of blades from either other swordsmith recorded. Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s well-known preference for the Soshu school swords created a great demand for blades from swordsmiths of this school, and elevated Masamune to the reputation of greatest sword maker of all time.