Announcing the Listing of an Historic Presentation Sword to Japanese GENSUI PRINCE ARITOMO YAMAGATA

[matthewbrice]

A rare and historic sword owned by Gensui Prince Aritomo Yamagata, who led the new modernized Imperial Japanese Army in their defeat of the Satsuma Rebellion--ending the era of the Samurai.

 

An historic Presentation sword to Japanese Field Marshall and twice-elected Prime Minister Aritomo Yamagata. 

 

Yamagata led the new modern Japanese Army in their defeat of the Satsuma Rebellion led by samurai Saigo Takamori of Satsuma in 1877 (as detailed in the movie The Last Samurai).

 

 

 

A sword of special interest to historians and to those that collect items from historical figures featured in famed Hollywood movies.  

 

 

This sword is a U.S. model 1852 Navy Sword modified for Presentation to Field Marshall Yamagata.  This sword is published on pages 246 & 247 of Jim Dawson's Swords of Imperial Japan 1868-1945--a Cyclopedia.

 

The sword is etched on the blade 'T.A. Yamagata'.  A quick historical search of Aritomo Yamagata shows that he was born Tatsunosuke Yamagata.  He changed his name to Aritomo Yamagata at the start of the Meiji Restoration.  Thus the 'T. (Tatsunosuke) A. (Aritomo) Yamagata' inscription.

 

 

Yamagata held innumerous positions of the highest levels--both in the Japanese Military and in the Japanese Government.  Among his many positions:

 

--Chief of the General Staff of the Imperial Japanese Army for three different terms. 1878-1882, 1884-1885, and 1904-1905.  

--Awarded the level of Field Marshall in 1898, also referred to as Gensui or Gensui Prince (5-Star General).  

--Served two terms as the Prime Minister of Empire of Japan.  1889-1891, and 1898-1900.  

--President of the Japanese Privy Council for three terms.  1893, 1905-1909, and 1909-1922.

--Acting War Minister and Commanding General during the First Sino-Japanese War.

--Commanding General of the Japanese First Army, Russo-Japanese War.  

 

 

Also, among his most notable achievements:

 

--Yamagata succeeded in urging Emperor Meiji to write the Imperial Rescript to Soldiers and Sailors in 1882.  This document was the moral code of the Imperial Japanese Army & Navy until Japan's defeat in World War 2.

--As noted above, Yamagata led the new modern Japanese Army in their defeat of the Satsuma Rebellion led by samurai Saigo Takamori of Satsuma (as detailed in the movie The Last Samurai).  

 

 

CONDITION:

 

This historic sword is in exceptional condition.  Some of the original gold gilt is still present on the blade.  There is no scabbard as the original leather scabbard with brass fittings (assuming it had one) did not survive the last 146 years.  

 

 

 

$35,000 obo

 

(If paying via Paypal or credit card, add 4% fee)

 

 

 

--Matthew Brice

 

www.StCroixBlades.com

[matthewbrice]

The nmb appears to be having difficulty allowing the uploading of photos at the moment.  So until that is fixed, the photos of this sword can be found here:

 

https://stcroixblade...ce-aritomo-yamagata/

[DTM72]

I got you Matt.

 

[matthewbrice]

Thank you Dan!!