#samuraisword #花の慶次＃前田慶次
This exhibition is a collaboration between the manga "Hana no Keiji: Beyond the Clouds," whose main character is the eccentric Maeda Keiji, who was the greatest ronin in the world and ruled the Warring States period, and Seki city in Gifu prefecture, known for its blade production.
This exhibition features exact reproductions based on the original work of the "thickly layered Nanban iron short sword forged by a swordsmith in Seki" which the protagonist Keiji specially obtains when he meets Toyotomi Hideyoshi, with the intention of assassinating Hideyoshi and living his life as a renowned eccentric. Also featured is Keiji's symbolic weapon, the "kaishu spear," which was only permitted to be used by a select few powerful people during the Sengoku period.
The "large thickly layered Nanban iron short sword" is about three times the width (thickness) of a normal short sword, making it as thick as a hatchet or axe, and therefore heavier than a normal Japanese sword, making it an extremely bold short sword that only Keiji could handle. The "Minshu Spear" is a reproduction of a typical spear from among the various spears used by Keiji in the original work, with a fairly large tip and handle to be wielded by Keiji, who was over 6'5" (approximately 197cm) tall, and a total length of 8'2" (approximately 2.5m). The color of Minshu is a reproduction of the vermilion lacquerware of Kaga, where the Maeda clan, Keiji was from, was located. The swords were made by two Seki blacksmiths, the 26th Fujiwara Kanefusa swordsmith for the "Nanban iron large short sword" and Tamba Kanenobu swordsmith for the "Minshu Spear," using the best of their techniques and made from modern Nanban iron.
In addition, the venue will display a set of "Seki Blacksmiths and Sengoku Warlords," featuring original illustrations of warlords who are said to have used swords made by Seki blacksmiths, such as Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Tokugawa Ieyasu, Uesugi Kagekatsu, and Hattori Hanzo, who appear in the work, along with works by swordsmiths associated with each of them. Monitors at the venue will also show interviews with the swordsmith who made the sword and footage of the production process.
[Introduction to "Hana no Keiji"]
This historical manga was serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump from 1990 to 1993, and is based on the work "Ichimyuan Furyuuki" by Keiichiro Ryu, with illustrations by Tetsuo Hara and screenplay by Mio Aso. It depicts the free-spirited lifestyle of Maeda Keiji, a man who lived as the greatest eccentric man of his time during the Warring States period. It was republished under the title "Hana no Keiji - Beyond the Clouds -", ​​and has sold over 20 million copies to date.
本展は、戦国の世を駆け抜けた天下一の傾奇者・前田慶次を主人公としたマンガ「花の慶次 －雲のかなたに－」と、刃物の産地で知られる岐阜県関市がコラボレーションした展覧会。
本展では、作品中で主人公・慶次が太閤秀吉との謁見に際し、自らの傾奇者としての生き様を貫き通すため、秀吉暗殺を念頭に特別に入手する「関の刀工が鍛えた厚重ね南蛮鉄の短刀」と、慶次を象徴する得物であり、戦国時代当時は一部の豪の者にしか使用が許されなかった「皆朱の槍」（かいしゅのやり）が原作に基づいて完全再現されている。
　「厚重ね南蛮鉄の大短刀」は身幅（厚さ）が通常の短刀のおよそ3倍という鉈や斧のような厚みを持つため、重さは通常の日本刀より重くなっており、まさに慶次でないと扱えない超・豪快な短刀。「皆朱の槍」は、原作に登場する様々な慶次所用の槍の中から典型的なものを再現し、身の丈が六尺五寸（約197cm）以上ある慶次が振るうことをイメージしたかなり大ぶりな穂先と柄として、全長は八尺二寸（約2.5m）という長さとなっている。皆朱の色は慶次の出身である前田家のあった加賀の朱塗り漆器をイメージした朱色で再現塗装された。作刀は「南蛮鉄大短刀」が二十六代藤原兼房刀匠、「皆朱の槍」が丹波兼信刀匠と、二人の関鍛冶がその技術の粋を尽くし、現代の南蛮鉄を使用して制作。
　さらに会場では「関鍛冶と戦国武将」として、作中に登場する織田信長・豊臣秀吉・徳川家康・上杉景勝・服部半蔵など、実際に関鍛冶の刀を使用したと伝わる武将の原作イラストと、それぞれ関わりのある刀工の作品をセットで展示。会場モニターでは制作した刀匠のインタビューと制作風景の映像も放映される。
【「花の慶次」作品紹介】
週刊少年ジャンプで1990年から1993年に渡って連載された、原哲夫氏（漫画）、麻生未央氏（脚本）による隆慶一郎作「一夢庵風流記」を原作とした歴史漫画。戦国の世を当代きっての傾奇者として生きた漢・前田慶次の奔放な生きざまを描いた作品。「花の慶次 -雲の彼方に-」と改題し再版され、現在までの累計発行部数は2,000万部を超える。