The Nagasone Kotetsu was one of two katana wielded by Seta Sōjirō.
About[]
The Nagasone Kotetsu school of sword smithing was originally based out of Omi Province, serving Ishida Mitsunari, the general and one of the closest retainers of Shogun Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Originally an armorer, Kotetsu began his sword smith career at a later date at the age of 53, learning his trade from the Kaneshige school based out of Edo, who descended from one of Masamune's Ten Disciples. Because of his knowledge of creating armor, Kotetsu's swords were sharp enough to cut through helmets, but his works were later copied to the point that fakes were so well made, Kotetsu himself could not differentiate between his works and others.
History[]
The Nagasone Kotetsu was first wielded in Seta's and Kenshin's first duel in Shingetsu Village. Resting in Shishio's quarters in the nearby spahouse upright on a tachikake, it is thrown to Sojiro as Shishio and Yumi make their getaway for him to wield.
In the split second duel between Seta and Kenshin, the result of their clash of swords saw Kenshin's sakabato split into two, while the Nagasone Kotetsu was shattered by its hardened cutting edge throughout the blade crumbling upon the force of their clash. Now made worthless to wield, their duel ended in a draw, although Seta did have the advantage, if by handicap.
Trivia[]
- In the context of how the sword of the samurai must match their own soul, Kotetsu was said to have been a temperamental and even ill-tempered individual; it is believed that him leaving Omi for Echigo Province was out of him violently killing a complaining customer who did not find his swords strong looking enough, while another documented tale states that his change of career from armorer to sword smith was because of him halting a cutting test during its execution upon him second guessing that his helmet was not positioned right, resulting in him losing face. Appropriate for Sojiro, the sword suits his ill will to kill freely, but it is lost because of him not being a good gauge of strength.