Hotarumaru

Hotarumaru is an ōdachi forged by the swordsmith Rai Kunitoshi and an Important [Cultural Property |Important Cultural Property of Japan].

History

The name came from a legend that one night flaws on the blade were repaired by fireflies. The is also known as Aso no Hotarumaru since it was kept as a treasure of the Aso Shrine.
The was designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan on December 14, 1931. Since the end of World War II, however, it has been missing.
In 2015, Touken Ranbu fans raised 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.