Hotarumaru (蛍丸, "Firefly" [1]) is an ōdachi ( Japanese huge greatsword) forged by the swordsmith Rai Kunitoshi (来国俊) [2] and an Important Cultural Property of Japan. [3]
The name came from a legend that one night flaws on the blade were repaired by fireflies. [4] [5] The ōdachi is also known as Aso no Hotarumaru (阿蘇の蛍丸) since it was kept as a treasure of the Aso Shrine. [6]
The ōdachi was designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan (then-National Treasure) on December 14, 1931. [3] Since the end of World War II, however, it has been missing. [6]
In 2015, Touken Ranbu fans raised ¥45 million through crowdfunding to construct a replica of the Hotarumaru. During the reconstruction, the Aso Shrine was destroyed from an earthquake in April 2016. A ceremony for the completion of the replica was held on August 27, 2016, and it is now displayed at the Aso Shrine. [7]
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Hotarumaru (蛍丸, "Firefly" [1]) is an ōdachi ( Japanese huge greatsword) forged by the swordsmith Rai Kunitoshi (来国俊) [2] and an Important Cultural Property of Japan. [3]
The name came from a legend that one night flaws on the blade were repaired by fireflies. [4] [5] The ōdachi is also known as Aso no Hotarumaru (阿蘇の蛍丸) since it was kept as a treasure of the Aso Shrine. [6]
The ōdachi was designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan (then-National Treasure) on December 14, 1931. [3] Since the end of World War II, however, it has been missing. [6]
In 2015, Touken Ranbu fans raised ¥45 million through crowdfunding to construct a replica of the Hotarumaru. During the reconstruction, the Aso Shrine was destroyed from an earthquake in April 2016. A ceremony for the completion of the replica was held on August 27, 2016, and it is now displayed at the Aso Shrine. [7]
{{
citation}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (
link)