{"id":4346,"date":"2026-01-05T18:58:50","date_gmt":"2026-01-05T09:58:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/selected-japanese-swords.com\/ifu\/?p=4346"},"modified":"2026-01-05T19:30:14","modified_gmt":"2026-01-05T10:30:14","slug":"why-is-muramasa-called-a-cursed-blade-the-true-reason-the-tokugawa-feared-it-and-the-truth-behind-the-legend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/selected-japanese-swords.com\/ifu\/why-is-muramasa-called-a-cursed-blade-the-true-reason-the-tokugawa-feared-it-and-the-truth-behind-the-legend\/","title":{"rendered":"Why is “Muramasa” Called a Cursed Blade? The True Reason the Tokugawa Feared It and the Truth Behind the Legend"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"
Source: Token World<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

“Muramasa” is perhaps the most famous name in the world of Japanese swords, often shrouded in dark myths and whispers of “cursed blades.” But was it really magic, or was it a political coincidence? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s dive into the fascinating history of why the Tokugawa Shogunate feared these blades so much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u3000<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u3010The “Cursed Blade” Legend: Why is Muramasa Scary?\u3011<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In movies and anime, Muramasa is often depicted as a bloodthirsty sword that possesses its owner, forcing them to kill. Legend says that once a Muramasa is unsheathed, it cannot be returned to its scabbard until it has tasted blood\u2014even the blood of its own master.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But behind this scary story lies a practical reality. Muramasa was a real master swordsmith who lived in Ise\uff08\u4f0a\u52e2\uff09<\/strong> during the 1500s. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His blades were famous not for curses, but for their terrifying sharpness<\/strong>. During the Sengoku period, samurai wanted weapons that worked, and Muramasa\u2019s swords were the ultimate “high-performance tools” of the era.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u3000<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u3010The “Anti-Tokugawa” Sword: A Series of Unfortunate Events\u3011<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The real reason Muramasa became known as “evil” was because of a string of tragic accidents involving the family of Tokugawa Ieyasu\uff08\u5fb3\u5ddd\u5bb6\u5eb7\uff09<\/strong>, the great unifier of Japan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Imagine if a specific brand of car was involved in every accident your family ever had. You would start to think that brand was cursed. That is exactly what happened to Ieyasu:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • His grandfather was killed by a Muramasa sword.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • His father was wounded by a Muramasa.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Ieyasu himself accidentally cut his hand with one.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Most tragically, his son was ordered to commit ritual suicide (Seppuku\uff08\u5207\u8179\uff09<\/strong>), and the sword used for the execution was a Muramasa.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    To Ieyasu, Muramasa wasn’t just a sword maker; he was a symbol of bad luck for the Tokugawa clan. Eventually, the Shogunate banned Muramasa blades, ordering samurai to get rid of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u3000<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u3010The Rebellion’s Choice: Why Samurai Hid Their Muramasas\u3011<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Because the Shogunate feared the blade, Muramasa became a symbol of resistance<\/strong>. Samurai who secretly hated the Tokugawa government would keep Muramasa blades as a sign of their defiance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Some even went as far as to file off the signature on the sword\u2019s tang (Nakago\uff08\u830e\uff09<\/strong>) to hide its identity while keeping its legendary sharpness. To a rebel, holding a Muramasa was like holding the ultimate weapon against the establishment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u3000<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u3010The Art of the “Mirror Image” (Muramasa-ba)\u3011<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    The beauty of a Muramasa is as unique as its legend. While most swords have different patterns on each side, Muramasa perfected a style called Muramasa-ba\uff08\u6751\u6b63\u5203\uff09<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Imagine folding a piece of paper in half to make a perfectly symmetrical inkblot. In a Muramasa blade, the wavy pattern (Hamon\uff08\u5203\u6587\uff09<\/strong>) on one side is a near-perfect mirror image of the other side. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This symmetry is incredibly difficult to achieve and gives the blade a cold, haunting, and sharp beauty that is unlike any other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u3000<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u3010Conclusion: From Weapon to Legend\u3011<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Muramasa wasn’t evil; he was simply too good at his job<\/strong>. He created blades that were so sharp and so popular that they naturally found their way into the hands of the strongest warriors\u2014and the most violent conflicts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    At our gallery, we focus on the true craftsmanship behind these legends. We provide a bridge for collectors to own pieces that embody this intense history and skill. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    We invite you to explore our selected collection, where every blade tells a story that has survived centuries of war and mystery.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    “Muramasa” is perhaps the most famous name in the world of Japanese swords, often shrouded in dark myths and whispers of “cursed blades.” But was it really magic, or was it a political coincidence? Let\u2019s dive into the fascinating history of why the Tokugawa Shogunate feared these blades so much. \u3000 \u3010The “Cursed Blade” Legend: […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4373,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ocean_post_layout":"","ocean_both_sidebars_style":"","ocean_both_sidebars_content_width":0,"ocean_both_sidebars_sidebars_width":0,"ocean_sidebar":"","ocean_second_sidebar":"","ocean_disable_margins":"enable","ocean_add_body_class":"","ocean_shortcode_before_top_bar":"","ocean_shortcode_after_top_bar":"","ocean_shortcode_before_header":"","ocean_shortcode_after_header":"","ocean_has_shortcode":"","ocean_shortcode_after_title":"","ocean_shortcode_before_footer_widgets":"","ocean_shortcode_after_footer_widgets":"","ocean_shortcode_before_footer_bottom":"","ocean_shortcode_after_footer_bottom":"","ocean_display_top_bar":"default","ocean_display_header":"default","ocean_header_style":"","ocean_center_header_left_menu":"","ocean_custom_header_template":"","ocean_custom_logo":0,"ocean_custom_retina_logo":0,"ocean_custom_logo_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_tablet_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_mobile_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_max_height":0,"ocean_custom_logo_tablet_max_height":0,"ocean_custom_logo_mobile_max_height":0,"ocean_header_custom_menu":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_family":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_subset":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_size":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_unit":"px","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight_tablet":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight_mobile":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform_tablet":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform_mobile":"","ocean_menu_typo_line_height":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_unit":"","ocean_menu_typo_spacing":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_unit":"","ocean_menu_link_color":"","ocean_menu_link_color_hover":"","ocean_menu_link_color_active":"","ocean_menu_link_background":"","ocean_menu_link_hover_background":"","ocean_menu_link_active_background":"","ocean_menu_social_links_bg":"","ocean_menu_social_hover_links_bg":"","ocean_menu_social_links_color":"","ocean_menu_social_hover_links_color":"","ocean_disable_title":"default","ocean_disable_heading":"default","ocean_post_title":"","ocean_post_subheading":"","ocean_post_title_style":"","ocean_post_title_background_color":"","ocean_post_title_background":0,"ocean_post_title_bg_image_position":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_attachment":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_repeat":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_size":"","ocean_post_title_height":0,"ocean_post_title_bg_overlay":0.5,"ocean_post_title_bg_overlay_color":"","ocean_disable_breadcrumbs":"default","ocean_breadcrumbs_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_separator_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_links_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_links_hover_color":"","ocean_display_footer_widgets":"default","ocean_display_footer_bottom":"default","ocean_custom_footer_template":"","omw_enable_modal_window":"enable","ofc_meta_disable_footer_callout":"","ofc_meta_callout_button_url":"","ofc_meta_callout_button_txt":"","ofc_meta_callout_text":"","osh_disable_topbar_sticky":"default","osh_disable_header_sticky":"default","osh_sticky_header_style":"default","osh_sticky_header_effect":"","osh_custom_sticky_logo":0,"osh_custom_retina_sticky_logo":0,"osh_custom_sticky_logo_height":0,"osh_background_color":"","osh_links_color":"","osh_links_hover_color":"","osh_links_active_color":"","osh_links_bg_color":"","osh_links_hover_bg_color":"","osh_links_active_bg_color":"","osh_menu_social_links_color":"","osh_menu_social_hover_links_color":"","ocean_post_oembed":"","ocean_post_self_hosted_media":"","ocean_post_video_embed":"","ocean_link_format":"","ocean_link_format_target":"self","ocean_quote_format":"","ocean_quote_format_link":"post","ocean_gallery_link_images":"on","ocean_gallery_id":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[47],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4346","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-smiths-history","entry","has-media","owp-thumbs-layout-horizontal","owp-btn-big","owp-tabs-layout-horizontal","has-no-thumbnails","has-product-nav"],"yoast_head":"\nWhy is "Muramasa" Called a Cursed Blade? The True Reason the Tokugawa Feared It and the Truth Behind the Legend - \u5a01\u98a8 Ifu - The Authentic Katana<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/selected-japanese-swords.com\/ifu\/why-is-muramasa-called-a-cursed-blade-the-true-reason-the-tokugawa-feared-it-and-the-truth-behind-the-legend\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Why is "Muramasa" Called a Cursed Blade? The True Reason the Tokugawa Feared It and the Truth Behind the Legend - \u5a01\u98a8 Ifu - The Authentic Katana\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"“Muramasa” is perhaps the most famous name in the world of Japanese swords, often shrouded in dark myths and whispers of “cursed blades.” But was it really magic, or was it a political coincidence? Let\u2019s dive into the fascinating history of why the Tokugawa Shogunate feared these blades so much. \u3000 \u3010The “Cursed Blade” Legend: […]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/selected-japanese-swords.com\/ifu\/why-is-muramasa-called-a-cursed-blade-the-true-reason-the-tokugawa-feared-it-and-the-truth-behind-the-legend\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"\u5a01\u98a8 Ifu - The Authentic Katana\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/people\/Ifu-The-Authentic-Katana\/61579072987458\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-01-05T09:58:50+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-01-05T10:30:14+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/selected-japanese-swords.com\/ifu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/muramasa_samune-1024x683.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1024\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"683\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"\u5a01\u98a8 Ifu\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"\u5a01\u98a8 Ifu\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/selected-japanese-swords.com\\\/ifu\\\/why-is-muramasa-called-a-cursed-blade-the-true-reason-the-tokugawa-feared-it-and-the-truth-behind-the-legend\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/selected-japanese-swords.com\\\/ifu\\\/why-is-muramasa-called-a-cursed-blade-the-true-reason-the-tokugawa-feared-it-and-the-truth-behind-the-legend\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"\u5a01\u98a8 Ifu\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/selected-japanese-swords.com\\\/ifu\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/f7a89e1b6b81860c8656dbf56ee2c4e9\"},\"headline\":\"Why is “Muramasa” Called a Cursed Blade? The True Reason the Tokugawa Feared It and the Truth Behind the Legend\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-01-05T09:58:50+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-01-05T10:30:14+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/selected-japanese-swords.com\\\/ifu\\\/why-is-muramasa-called-a-cursed-blade-the-true-reason-the-tokugawa-feared-it-and-the-truth-behind-the-legend\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":591,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/selected-japanese-swords.com\\\/ifu\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/selected-japanese-swords.com\\\/ifu\\\/why-is-muramasa-called-a-cursed-blade-the-true-reason-the-tokugawa-feared-it-and-the-truth-behind-the-legend\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/selected-japanese-swords.com\\\/ifu\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/muramasa_samune.png\",\"articleSection\":[\"Smiths & History\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/selected-japanese-swords.com\\\/ifu\\\/why-is-muramasa-called-a-cursed-blade-the-true-reason-the-tokugawa-feared-it-and-the-truth-behind-the-legend\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/selected-japanese-swords.com\\\/ifu\\\/why-is-muramasa-called-a-cursed-blade-the-true-reason-the-tokugawa-feared-it-and-the-truth-behind-the-legend\\\/\",\"name\":\"Why is \\\"Muramasa\\\" Called a Cursed Blade? The True Reason the Tokugawa Feared It and the Truth Behind the Legend - \u5a01\u98a8 Ifu - The Authentic Katana\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/selected-japanese-swords.com\\\/ifu\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/selected-japanese-swords.com\\\/ifu\\\/why-is-muramasa-called-a-cursed-blade-the-true-reason-the-tokugawa-feared-it-and-the-truth-behind-the-legend\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/selected-japanese-swords.com\\\/ifu\\\/why-is-muramasa-called-a-cursed-blade-the-true-reason-the-tokugawa-feared-it-and-the-truth-behind-the-legend\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/selected-japanese-swords.com\\\/ifu\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/muramasa_samune.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-01-05T09:58:50+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-01-05T10:30:14+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/selected-japanese-swords.com\\\/ifu\\\/why-is-muramasa-called-a-cursed-blade-the-true-reason-the-tokugawa-feared-it-and-the-truth-behind-the-legend\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/selected-japanese-swords.com\\\/ifu\\\/why-is-muramasa-called-a-cursed-blade-the-true-reason-the-tokugawa-feared-it-and-the-truth-behind-the-legend\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/selected-japanese-swords.com\\\/ifu\\\/why-is-muramasa-called-a-cursed-blade-the-true-reason-the-tokugawa-feared-it-and-the-truth-behind-the-legend\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/selected-japanese-swords.com\\\/ifu\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/muramasa_samune.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/selected-japanese-swords.com\\\/ifu\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/muramasa_samune.png\",\"width\":1536,\"height\":1024},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/selected-japanese-swords.com\\\/ifu\\\/why-is-muramasa-called-a-cursed-blade-the-true-reason-the-tokugawa-feared-it-and-the-truth-behind-the-legend\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/selected-japanese-swords.com\\\/ifu\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Why is “Muramasa” Called a Cursed Blade? The True Reason the Tokugawa Feared It and the Truth Behind the Legend\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/selected-japanese-swords.com\\\/ifu\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/selected-japanese-swords.com\\\/ifu\\\/\",\"name\":\"\u5a01\u98a8 Ifu - The Authentic Katana\",\"description\":\"real antique katana from Japan\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/selected-japanese-swords.com\\\/ifu\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/selected-japanese-swords.com\\\/ifu\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/selected-japanese-swords.com\\\/ifu\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"\u5a01\u98a8 Ifu\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/selected-japanese-swords.com\\\/ifu\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/selected-japanese-swords.com\\\/ifu\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/selected-japanese-swords.com\\\/ifu\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/12\\\/logo-yoko2-badk.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/selected-japanese-swords.com\\\/ifu\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/12\\\/logo-yoko2-badk.png\",\"width\":800,\"height\":200,\"caption\":\"\u5a01\u98a8 Ifu\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/selected-japanese-swords.com\\\/ifu\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/people\\\/Ifu-The-Authentic-Katana\\\/61579072987458\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/ifu_the_authentic_katana\\\/\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/selected-japanese-swords.com\\\/ifu\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/f7a89e1b6b81860c8656dbf56ee2c4e9\",\"name\":\"\u5a01\u98a8 Ifu\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/ba63f124df2c5ed7bee2f724393c0cd3bb9d7e5cfc45691e1304e020e4bb9e69?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/ba63f124df2c5ed7bee2f724393c0cd3bb9d7e5cfc45691e1304e020e4bb9e69?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/ba63f124df2c5ed7bee2f724393c0cd3bb9d7e5cfc45691e1304e020e4bb9e69?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"\u5a01\u98a8 Ifu\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/selected-japanese-swords.com\\\/ifu\\\/author\\\/sjs\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Why is \"Muramasa\" Called a Cursed Blade? The True Reason the Tokugawa Feared It and the Truth Behind the Legend - \u5a01\u98a8 Ifu - The Authentic Katana","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/selected-japanese-swords.com\/ifu\/why-is-muramasa-called-a-cursed-blade-the-true-reason-the-tokugawa-feared-it-and-the-truth-behind-the-legend\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Why is \"Muramasa\" Called a Cursed Blade? The True Reason the Tokugawa Feared It and the Truth Behind the Legend - \u5a01\u98a8 Ifu - The Authentic Katana","og_description":"“Muramasa” is perhaps the most famous name in the world of Japanese swords, often shrouded in dark myths and whispers of “cursed blades.” But was it really magic, or was it a political coincidence? Let\u2019s dive into the fascinating history of why the Tokugawa Shogunate feared these blades so much. \u3000 \u3010The “Cursed Blade” Legend: […]","og_url":"https:\/\/selected-japanese-swords.com\/ifu\/why-is-muramasa-called-a-cursed-blade-the-true-reason-the-tokugawa-feared-it-and-the-truth-behind-the-legend\/","og_site_name":"\u5a01\u98a8 Ifu - The Authentic Katana","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/people\/Ifu-The-Authentic-Katana\/61579072987458\/","article_published_time":"2026-01-05T09:58:50+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-01-05T10:30:14+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1024,"height":683,"url":"https:\/\/selected-japanese-swords.com\/ifu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/muramasa_samune-1024x683.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"\u5a01\u98a8 Ifu","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"\u5a01\u98a8 Ifu","Est. reading time":"3 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/selected-japanese-swords.com\/ifu\/why-is-muramasa-called-a-cursed-blade-the-true-reason-the-tokugawa-feared-it-and-the-truth-behind-the-legend\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/selected-japanese-swords.com\/ifu\/why-is-muramasa-called-a-cursed-blade-the-true-reason-the-tokugawa-feared-it-and-the-truth-behind-the-legend\/"},"author":{"name":"\u5a01\u98a8 Ifu","@id":"https:\/\/selected-japanese-swords.com\/ifu\/#\/schema\/person\/f7a89e1b6b81860c8656dbf56ee2c4e9"},"headline":"Why is “Muramasa” Called a Cursed Blade? The True Reason the Tokugawa Feared It and the Truth Behind the Legend","datePublished":"2026-01-05T09:58:50+00:00","dateModified":"2026-01-05T10:30:14+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/selected-japanese-swords.com\/ifu\/why-is-muramasa-called-a-cursed-blade-the-true-reason-the-tokugawa-feared-it-and-the-truth-behind-the-legend\/"},"wordCount":591,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/selected-japanese-swords.com\/ifu\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/selected-japanese-swords.com\/ifu\/why-is-muramasa-called-a-cursed-blade-the-true-reason-the-tokugawa-feared-it-and-the-truth-behind-the-legend\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/selected-japanese-swords.com\/ifu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/muramasa_samune.png","articleSection":["Smiths & History"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/selected-japanese-swords.com\/ifu\/why-is-muramasa-called-a-cursed-blade-the-true-reason-the-tokugawa-feared-it-and-the-truth-behind-the-legend\/","url":"https:\/\/selected-japanese-swords.com\/ifu\/why-is-muramasa-called-a-cursed-blade-the-true-reason-the-tokugawa-feared-it-and-the-truth-behind-the-legend\/","name":"Why is \"Muramasa\" Called a Cursed Blade? The True Reason the Tokugawa Feared It and the Truth Behind the Legend - \u5a01\u98a8 Ifu - The Authentic Katana","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/selected-japanese-swords.com\/ifu\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/selected-japanese-swords.com\/ifu\/why-is-muramasa-called-a-cursed-blade-the-true-reason-the-tokugawa-feared-it-and-the-truth-behind-the-legend\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/selected-japanese-swords.com\/ifu\/why-is-muramasa-called-a-cursed-blade-the-true-reason-the-tokugawa-feared-it-and-the-truth-behind-the-legend\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/selected-japanese-swords.com\/ifu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/muramasa_samune.png","datePublished":"2026-01-05T09:58:50+00:00","dateModified":"2026-01-05T10:30:14+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/selected-japanese-swords.com\/ifu\/why-is-muramasa-called-a-cursed-blade-the-true-reason-the-tokugawa-feared-it-and-the-truth-behind-the-legend\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/selected-japanese-swords.com\/ifu\/why-is-muramasa-called-a-cursed-blade-the-true-reason-the-tokugawa-feared-it-and-the-truth-behind-the-legend\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/selected-japanese-swords.com\/ifu\/why-is-muramasa-called-a-cursed-blade-the-true-reason-the-tokugawa-feared-it-and-the-truth-behind-the-legend\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/selected-japanese-swords.com\/ifu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/muramasa_samune.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/selected-japanese-swords.com\/ifu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/muramasa_samune.png","width":1536,"height":1024},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/selected-japanese-swords.com\/ifu\/why-is-muramasa-called-a-cursed-blade-the-true-reason-the-tokugawa-feared-it-and-the-truth-behind-the-legend\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/selected-japanese-swords.com\/ifu\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Why is “Muramasa” Called a Cursed Blade? The True Reason the Tokugawa Feared It and the Truth Behind the Legend"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/selected-japanese-swords.com\/ifu\/#website","url":"https:\/\/selected-japanese-swords.com\/ifu\/","name":"\u5a01\u98a8 Ifu - The Authentic Katana","description":"real antique katana from Japan","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/selected-japanese-swords.com\/ifu\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/selected-japanese-swords.com\/ifu\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/selected-japanese-swords.com\/ifu\/#organization","name":"\u5a01\u98a8 Ifu","url":"https:\/\/selected-japanese-swords.com\/ifu\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/selected-japanese-swords.com\/ifu\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/selected-japanese-swords.com\/ifu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/logo-yoko2-badk.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/selected-japanese-swords.com\/ifu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/logo-yoko2-badk.png","width":800,"height":200,"caption":"\u5a01\u98a8 Ifu"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/selected-japanese-swords.com\/ifu\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/people\/Ifu-The-Authentic-Katana\/61579072987458\/","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/ifu_the_authentic_katana\/"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/selected-japanese-swords.com\/ifu\/#\/schema\/person\/f7a89e1b6b81860c8656dbf56ee2c4e9","name":"\u5a01\u98a8 Ifu","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ba63f124df2c5ed7bee2f724393c0cd3bb9d7e5cfc45691e1304e020e4bb9e69?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ba63f124df2c5ed7bee2f724393c0cd3bb9d7e5cfc45691e1304e020e4bb9e69?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ba63f124df2c5ed7bee2f724393c0cd3bb9d7e5cfc45691e1304e020e4bb9e69?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"\u5a01\u98a8 Ifu"},"url":"https:\/\/selected-japanese-swords.com\/ifu\/author\/sjs\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/selected-japanese-swords.com\/ifu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4346","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/selected-japanese-swords.com\/ifu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/selected-japanese-swords.com\/ifu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/selected-japanese-swords.com\/ifu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/selected-japanese-swords.com\/ifu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4346"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/selected-japanese-swords.com\/ifu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4346\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4368,"href":"https:\/\/selected-japanese-swords.com\/ifu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4346\/revisions\/4368"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/selected-japanese-swords.com\/ifu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4373"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/selected-japanese-swords.com\/ifu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4346"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/selected-japanese-swords.com\/ifu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4346"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/selected-japanese-swords.com\/ifu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4346"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}