| Omori Hikoshichi [大森彦七] was a samurai from Iyo Province active during the Nanboku-cho period. He sided with Ashikaga Takauji [足利尊氏] and defeated Kusunoki Masashige [楠木正成] at the Battle of Minatogawa. He received a reward for taking Kusunoki's head and, as a celebration, performed a sarugaku (traditional Japanese musical theatre) performance. On his way there, he encountered a beautiful woman on a mountain path and invited her to join him. As he carried the woman across a muddy patch, she suddenly transformed into an eight-foot-tall demon and attacked him. Omori Hikoshichi drove the demon away with his bravery, but realized it was the vengeful spirit of Kusunoki Masashige, seeking to reclaim the Kikusui sword, which Hikoshichi had acquired at Minatogawa. He calmed the spirit with sutras. "Omori Hikoshichi" is a popular subject for Noh plays, Joruri puppet theater, Kabuki, and sword fittings. The two-character inscription on this tsuba, "Nagaharu [永春]," differs from the inscription "Joi Nagaharu [乗意永春]," but it is well-made and I would like to think of it as a different Nagaharu. |
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